Decide the specific scope of work you are looking for before looking at masonry companies

Do you want a field stone retaining wall built or do you want the sidewalk in front of your house replaced? Just as every auto mechanic has his specialty, masonry companies also have their specialty. The last thing you want to do is search through page after page of concrete masonry contractors when you are looking for professional brick work. Narrowing down your project scope will narrow down the field of contractors to choose from, making it more likely that you will find an honest one to meet your needs.

I recommend: The DIY Network website, while providing instructions on how to complete the project yourself, also offers photos of many different kinds of masonry work for you to refer to when deciding specifically what kind of style you are looking for. If you want to do more in-depth research on the different types of masonry available, The Masonry Advisory Council offers a library of information pertaining to masonry products and projects.

Research local masonry contractors extensively

Ask any person ripped off by a contractor what one of their biggest regrets was, they are likely to tell you they didn't research enough. Consumers are savvier these days, but that doesn't mean that every victim performed exhaustive research into a prospective brick layer.

I recommend: Ask former customers and the masonry contractor himself if you can see examples of work. Don’t settle for just one example either. Even one unhappy customer is a red flag. A great place to start is Angie's List to check for reviews, both good and bad. Contractors.com is a one-stop shop when it comes to finding contractors in your area. You can search by zip code and a list of contractors as well as contact information comes up.

Collect at least 4 estimates from prospective masons and don't assume anything

You want to get the best deal possible and contractors know this. Beware of estimates that seem too good to be true. It is important to gather as much masonry information as you can ahead of time so you have a ballpark figure in your head of what the job will cost. Many times a contractor will want to show you a lower price, so he won't include everything in the estimate such as the cost of disposing of the refuse, container rental or specific licenses you may need to have the work performed.

I recommend: Remodelers-Online lets you submit information about your job to receive no-obligation quotes from contractors in your area. Just type in your zip code to find your area website, click on “consumer information” and request an e-quote. CostEstimator.com will provide you with highly accurate project estimates. They also offer a free 30-day trial run. That should be plenty of time to get the masonry information that you need to make an informed decision.