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Frequently Asked Questions & Answers:
1. Consultation Fees and Process:
What is a Fixed Price Proposal?
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A fixed price proposal is essentially a quote which entails the definite costs of your project. It is not be mistaken with an "estimate", as the proposal is only created once all factors have been accounted for and agreed upon.
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Are the consultation fees refundable if, for whatever reason, we decide not to use your company?
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The consultation fees are only refunded in the form of a deduction from the proposed costs.
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What type of projects or circumstances would warrant an increase in the cost of a consultation?
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There are a number of factors which are taken into account prior to assessing the cost of a consultation, such as: distance traveled and resources invested if you're outside of the Greater Victoria area; evaluating a chimney where scaffolding and potentially CCTV is required; multiple design options where price comparisons and more than one proposal is necessary; the custom designing and building of large projects where CAD drawings are needed; visiting distributors or quarries to further design decisions in regards to your project, etc.. Once we have a clear understanding of what your project entails, we will let you know if there may be additional costs involved.
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Why do you charge a consultation fee?
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Because we are a small company that is dedicated to quality control and due to the amount of requests we receive for quotes each year, it's not economically feasible for us to provide quotes for free. Our consultation fee of $75.00 helps to cover the fuel and labor costs associated with providing a thorough proposal for your review.
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Do you provide rough-cost estimates?
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We no longer provide rough-cost estimates. We have found that supplanting a number prior to considering all project parameters is both misleading and detrimental to the quotation process.
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What sets you apart from other masonry companies in Victoria, BC?
When choosing Lennox Masonry for your project, you have the added benefit of having the owner and operator design and conduct the work himself. Sean Lennox and his team of certified masons are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their craft, as well as very particular about quality control. We have chosen to remain a small masonry company which continues to achieve service and craftsmanship awards year after year. Please visit our Referrals page to hear from some of our clients.
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2. Location & Business Hours:
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​​​Where are you located?
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We have two locations: Our office is located in South Fairfield, right in the heart of Victoria, BC, as well as a shop space located in Langford, BC. In essence, we're always around the Greater Victoria area, ready to provide masonry services, even emergency calls.
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What are your business hours:
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We are open from 9:00am until 5pm Monday through to Saturday and are closed on Sundays and holidays.
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What are your service areas?
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Lennox Masonry provides masonry services throughout both the Greater Victoria and Cowichan Valley areas, as well as the surrounding Gulf Islands when needed.
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How busy are you? Are you able to take on my project?
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We are typically booking projects months in advance, year-round. We always recommend setting up a consultation as soon as possible and placing a deposit with us to ensure that we can complete your project in a reasonable time-frame. If it's a smaller project, we can usually squeeze it in among our larger projects.
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How do you get the majority of your work?
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The majority of our projects are obtained through word-of-mouth. Though more and more people are finding us through Google and a variety of other social media platforms. We provide quality workmanship and good communication skills with a proven track record for safety. Our referrals are a testament as to why our services remain sought after year after year.
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3. Insurance & Licensing:
Is Lennox Masonry Fully Licensed and Insured?
Yes, Lennox Masonry is licensed to work throughout Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands. We carry $5,000,000 in liability insurance through a local insurance provider which fully insures both you and us while we are working on the premises. We also carry additional insurance for our employees through WCB of Canada and have an impeccable safety record.
4. Chimney & Fireplace Repairs:
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What exactly is involved with chimney inspections?
Our first priority at Lennox Masonry is safety. Though we can typically assess the state of a chimney from the ground floor (exterior and the interior firebox), we highly recommend utilizing scaffolding (as per WCB regulations and Liability Insurance purposes) in order to safely reach your roofline and thoroughly inspect your chimney and the flue liners. This up-close inspection process provides a much more accurate quote for your chimney repairs. It can take anywhere from one to eight hours to set up scaffolding and perform a thorough inspection, depending on the heights involved and the accessibility of your chimney. Please note that additional consultation fees will be incurred through this process but that the initial consultation fee will be deducted from the overall costs. Please visit our Chimney Repairs page to learn about how the state of your chimney affects the overall well being of your home.
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What does repointing a chimney entail?
The first step is setting up scaffolding that meets any and all WCB regulations and liability insurance requirements. We cannot use ladders safely while hauling heavy materials and equipment onto a roof or around a chimney. At times, depending on the location of the chimney and the slope of the roof, a secondary scaffold may be built on the rooftop to ensure a safe and professional chimney repair.
Once the scaffolding is in place, the mortar between the bricks or stones is recessed to an ideal working depth and then replaced with fresh mortar. The type of mortar being used will depend on the type of materials used in the structure of the chimney. The chimney is then fully cleaned after the mortar has had several days to fully cure. Read our blog post for more information: How To Repoint Brick & Stone Structures
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​​​​​​​​​​​What does building a new chimney cap or crown entail?
The initial setup is no different than repointing a chimney but the current cap is safely demolished and disposed of prior to us forming and pouring a new concrete chimney cap which meets the code requirements set out by City of Victoria or any other municipality.
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5. General Project Inquiries:
​Will you clean up after the project?
Here at Lennox Masonry, we know that maintaining a clean and organized jobsite is the key to efficiency, safety, and professionalism. We always clean up the site throughout the duration of the project and thoroughly afterwards. We appreciate a clean house and yard, and extend that courtesy to our clients.
When washing off tools and equipment covered in mortar, will it negatively impact our garden or grass?
Lennox Masonry utilizes lime-based mortars rather than Portland cement-based mortars. The native plants here in Victoria, BC tend to thrive off of diluted, natural hydraulic lime and the sand used to create the mortar. If anything, our clients have always appreciated the addition of lime to their gardens but if you have any concerns, please voice them to us while we go over the jobsite layout with you.
What is an acid-wash?
An acid-wash is applied to stubborn mortar stains on brick or stonework after a repair or new installation is complete and the mortar is fully cured. Muriatic acid is diluted with a specific amount of water to help ease the mortar stains off of the surface. All safety precautions are taken by Lennox Masonry while working with Muriatic acid and it is not harmful to any other materials on or around the area. Copper being the exception, as the acid can stain it.
Please note that we rarely apply an acid-wash but we’ll notify you if the need arises.
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Do you offer masonry cleaning services?
Lennox Masonry operates a unique stone and brick masonry cleaning apparatus which is designed to steam clean masonry surfaces without saturating the materials and mortar involved, unlike pressure washers and cleaning chemicals. It is designed to be the most environmentally friendly cleaning option on the market and the safest when it comes to maintaining the integrity of masonry structures.
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