Whether you’re looking for masonry repair or construction, hiring a mason should never be done in a rush. When it comes to constructing buildings and houses, there’s very little room for error as correcting those mistakes can be quite costly and take up lots of time.

That’s why you want the job done right and at a reasonable fee. Take some time picking out and hiring the right masonry company for the work, and you’ll end up with a piece of art rather than an ugly pile of bricks and concrete.

First of all, you need to check whether masons in your state require a license in order to work. If that is the case, then you can check with the local licensing commission to find out more about a certain mason. Check if there were any complaints against him. Another thing to ask is whether the mason is insured as this can save you lots of money in case of accidents.

Apart from the licensing commission, you should ask relatives and friends to recommend you a mason. Word of mouth is very important in all professions as the feedback previous customers provide is almost always accurate. If people close to you have lots of complaints about a mason, then maybe you shouldn’t hire that same person.

Next up, you should start interviewing masonry contractors in person. Find out more about them and the kind of work that they’ve been doing recently. If you need masonry repair for a fireplace, for instance, then you should look for someone who has experience in doing that kind of work. A mason might be the best at doing certain construction work, but if it’s not the same kind of job that you need, then you should keep looking.

Try to find out how long a masonry contractor has been in business, too. Clearly, the longer they’ve been around, the more you can trust them. People whose work isn’t that great don’t tend to last too long in the business.

Ask them if they have a portfolio or some images of their previous projects to show you. Resumés are great but they don’t always tell the whole story. Nothing will be more accurate than a bunch of images showing you the actual finished work. You can then choose the mason that has the portfolio that you like the most.

Once you feel comfortable enough hiring someone, ask them how much it’ll cost them to do the job. You should also ask how much the materials are going to cost and if they can take care of ordering them for you. Some masons will let you order the materials needed yourself. Make sure to ask in case that’s not something you’re comfortable with.

Hiring a contractor for masonry repair or construction seems like a chore, but it’s one that’s worth the effort. Take your time and hire someone you trust and one with adequate experience for the best results.