East Coast Masons
11007 Drumm Ave
Kensington, MD 20895 240-606-5258
Kensington, MD 20895 240-606-5258
Ratings
Consumer Ratings for East Coast Masons — 3 Ratings
Percent of customers who rated service "superior" for:
Doing service properly on first try
Promptness
Letting you know cost early
Neatness of work
Pleasantness
Advice on service options and costs
Overall quality
Prices
Consumer Comments for East Coast Masons
Feb 20, 2020
Sep 17, 2019
Aug 10, 2014
Declan Twohig and a subordinate replaced the chimney. The result was visually flawless, but unfortunately, after two years during which the fireplace and chimney were unused, the flagstone fell off the right chimney shoulder. The left flagstone also showed cracking in the concrete below it. I emailed Declan, requesting a repair. He offered to reset the right flagstone for $200. I replied that if he charged more than materials to repair the flagstone on an unused chimney that he built two years before, I would have someone else do the repair. Declan replied: "due to the very cold winter we had that sometimes happens with stone on shoulders they separate sorry." I responded: "If you don't take measures, I agree that things 'sometimes happen'. You might want to review your building methods." Declan replied: "you got to realize in America construction material is very poorly made especialy [sic] mortar and won't hold up to hot or cold weather i don't need to change America needs to make better material."
A quick walk around the neighborhood showed that only Declan's flagstones protruded from the chimney shoulders (by about one foot), so their extra, unnecessary weight added stress to the concrete adhering them to the chimney shoulders. I had another company repair both flagstones. The flagstones were cut to fit the shoulder, and masonry nails were used to support the chimney shoulders properly.
I recommend against hiring East Coast Masons, but if they build your chimney, tell Declan that he should cut the flagstones to fit the chimney shoulders and that he should use masonry nails to support them.