Keeping Brick-layers on Track

The guy who runs the brick-laying business and his son haven't been around since the first week of the job. The exception to this has been when they want me to give them a check to pay their workers. I've been trying to contact the head guy about a few things and I can't get in touch with him. His mobile phone goes directly to voicemail without ringing, and he apparently does not check his messages. I've left him two in the last 24 hrs.

I need to tell him that the address plaque is here and show him where I want it installed. I could just show the workers, but none of them speak English well enough to give me a good comfort level that the conversation will be productive. I've also got to ask him about the lop-sided arch on the garage. It's not their fault, but I want to know if he's seen occasions where something like that has been corrected after the bricks are laid. My framer says it can't be corrected from his end...

As I passed by yesterday afternoon, I noticed the workers had done the soldier course over the middle window in the front bay window. They had done it like the other soldiers on the house (with the bricks standing up and showing their long side). But I had covered twice with the owner of the business that I wanted that bay window done differently. I wanted the soldiers on these 3 windows to have the bricks showing their short end instead. This is why I wish the owner was around more often.

I went over first thing this morning with a photo of another house to show them what I was looking for. They seem to speak English well enough, but then something happens in the conversation to make you walk away and wonder if you just got your point across. I asked if their boss was there. "No." Was he going to be coming? "Maybe Friday." I showed them the photo and explained what I wanted. They understood. Then I asked if it was going to be hard to change it since they had already done it the day before. "Yes." But he said it in a tone that seemed too polite for the context. So I asked if they would be able to change it. "Yes." So I had doubts if I got my point across. Well, they changed it, so I guess it wasn't too bad! It looks fine now!

My dad and I went over and put a few more pieces of wood in the walls where towel racks and toilet paper holders will go. We also spent a good deal of time cleaning the mortar and debris off the back patio. It's amazing how much extra mortar gets flung everywhere! When it's piled up in big clumps and dried, it's hard to get off the concrete. When it's just a small splatter, one hit with a hammer breaks it up. So we got it all off and hosed down the patio. It looks nice again!

I had a guy come and look at the exterior trim and gutters. His quote was $8,100. There's another guy I've been trying to get. He's busy and hasn't come over yet.

Over the next few days, I'll start looking at the columns I'll need for the patio. The trim guy said I should find out what the new codes are for how those get fastened. A neighboring parish makes you do all kinds of things with it to resist uplift in high winds.