Masonry done right has a sequence. Skipping steps is why other companies' work cracks, settles, and disappoints. Here is exactly how every Allgood project runs — from the first phone call to the final walkthrough.
Mark visits your property in person. He asks about your goals, the way you use the space, what you've seen elsewhere that you like, and what your budget range is. He walks the site, reads the grade, looks at drainage patterns, and identifies any sub-surface issues that need addressing before material goes down. Nothing is promised at this stage — just honest information.
Mark draws up the project scope based on what he saw and what you described. This is a written document that clearly describes what will be built, what materials will be used, and what the boundaries of the project are. No vague language. If there's a decision to make about material color or pattern, it's resolved at this stage — not mid-job. You receive a firm written estimate, not a range.
Work begins on a scheduled date. Mark manages the crew personally. Sub-base preparation gets as much attention as the surface — proper compaction, correct base depth, edge restraints installed before the first unit goes in. Brick and stone work follows the same principle: correct mortar mix, full bed joints, consistent coursing. No shortcuts that won't be visible for three years but will fail at year four.
Transitions, edges, and finishes get Mark's full attention at the end of the project. This is where the difference between a journeyman and a laborer shows. Cuts are clean. Transitions to existing surfaces are tight. Mortar joints are consistent and tooled to the correct profile. Any sealing or polymeric sand installation is done at the right time — not rushed to hit an end-of-day deadline.
The project wraps at the number in the written estimate. Mark does a final walkthrough with you, points out what was done and why, and answers any care or maintenance questions. If anything doesn't meet your standard, it's addressed before payment is collected. No invoice padding, no add-on charges, no "we had to go deeper than expected." What's quoted is what's billed.
Why sequence matters
Georgia clay moves. A paver or stone surface on an improperly prepared base will settle within 2–3 winters. Correct sub-base depth — and proof of compaction — is the single most important factor in longevity.
Water standing under pavers or behind retaining walls destroys them. Every Allgood project is designed so water has somewhere to go — not just during installation, but in the ten-year storm that hits two years from now.
Masonry mortar mixed at the wrong ratio, placed in the wrong conditions, or not cured properly will crack and crumble within a few freeze-thaw cycles. Getting it right means respecting both the mix and the weather.
What to expect
Step 1 is free
Call or submit a request and Mark will schedule a time to come out. No commitment required.