I chose to go with Affordable Tuckpointing Pros for the following reasons: they seemed to be the most knowledgeable, they certainly were among the most affordable and they gave me the impression that they wanted the job more than anyone else. Knowledge – Of all the companies that came to look at my home, Affordable Tuckpointing Pros was the only one that addressed the fact that my chimney was not properly lined. It was the ATP estimator that alerted me that my home had this problem; estimators from other companies never mentioned it.
When I asked others about the issue, I was told, “Sorry, we don’t install chimney liners.” My modest brick ranch was built in 1947 and has had little work done to it over the years. The chimney was as originally constructed and was open to the elements. Because of this, my chimney was slowly deteriorating on the inside. ATP installed the proper size stainless steel chimney liner. The draw of the gases from my gas furnace and hot water heater is now much stronger. Rain and snow are no longer coming in. And during the winter, the warm vented air will no longer be condensing inside my chimney and causing unwanted moisture. Affordability – Yes, they live up to their name. I had gotten four written quotes and the range was surprisingly wide; ATP’s price fell in the middle of the range. When I took into consideration their knowledge about the chimney flue issue, I viewed ATP’s price as a bargain.
I learned long ago to beware of low-ball prices, but I’ve also learned that paying a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean better quality. Customer Satisfaction – A week or so later, upon closer examination, I spotted a few joints that weren’t done to my liking. The spots in question were minor and cosmetic. I made one call and ATP responded quickly and corrected those minor problems to my complete satisfaction. Don’t take the word of a stranger on the internet. Call around and get several quotes. However, do yourself a favor and call Affordable Tuckpointing Pros first. When you start contacting other companies, you’ll quickly see for yourself just how knowledgeable, thorough and reasonably priced they are.