It’s spring 2025, many people are ramping up for outdoor home improvement, I’llsuggest a few things to look for.
In the state of Texas a contractor’s license doesn’t exist, if you’re new to the state, we don’t have a contractor’s licensing agency. So many people with a little bit of experience and a truck can say they’re a contractor, keep this in mind, anybody can place an ad and put a name to it. Are they insured? Workman’s compensation insurance for home improvement isn’t really needed or required in Texas. Liability insurance is extremely important, this is needed usually to obtain a permit if a permit is needed. Some HOA’s are now requiring it. The most important thing about liability insurance is for you, the customer. If something or someone damages your home or property and the contractor cannot afford to fix things, they could just drive away and you, the homeowner is stuck with the bill to fix the problem. If the contractor has liability insurance, at least you have someone to lean on to fix things.
Although every honest person deserves a chance to run his/her own business, experience does matter, McFall Masonry has been in business for over 4 decades & is family-run & operated. Look for reviews, we have over 140 reviews, when you see 1000s of reviews, those are paid reviews, not real.
Look at the customer’s website, not just a Facebook page. Look at the services on the website, look at the portfolio, pictures do matter, we have plenty to look at, and all are our finished jobs.
Be very wary if a contractor asks you the customer to pull a permit if it’s required, this would be a warning sign.
Every contractor should, at least by the time you receive an estimate, explain how the project is run, chain of events, how each item is being built. Walls of any type should have a concrete base (foundation), not just a couple inches of mortar below ground. This includes stone borders to retaining walls, if it doesn’t have a concrete footing with rebar in the concrete, you will have problems. All concrete patios must have rebar installed, concrete thickness must be 4 inches thick at a minimum.
All in all, it may cost a bit more to do all the above and hire someone reputable but in the end you’ll be happy you did. Will the contractors you hire come back if an issue arises?
Check out McFall Masonry & Construction, in over 4 decades, there probably isn't anything we haven’t built.
