Makeover #1

My back porch was literally falling apart.  Over the years I had painted it and patched it the best I could.  There were squatters residing in its crevices (see fourth photo below).  Last Monday I hired a mason named Terry off of Craigslist.  It was a leap of faith since I was choosing him without getting other bids to tear out and re-do my back porch.  A couple of years ago the guy who cut down a tree in my backyard said he would do it for about $400 so when Terry gave me his bid I knew he was in the ballpark.

Terry's ad said he was out of work and I could relate to that.  I met with him about an hour after talking to him on the phone.  He looked over the situation and asked for a $200 check so he could pick up materials and get started the next day.  After he left I wondered if he'd be back.  I don't like to be cynical but in this economy I couldn't be certain.

But he did come back the next day, despite the forecast of rain, rain and more rain over the next few days.  He started with this:

He made a lot of progress by the end of the first day:

By the end of the day on Wednesday he had poured the cement for the slab and came back on Thursday to set the steps:

If the rain ever stops around here, it will dry out and look beee-u-t-ful!  He suggested I coat it in a couple of weeks.  We'll see about that.  Terry also repaired some bricks and mortar on my front porch and replaced those steps too.  I feel so much better with these relatively simple repairs.  It's the simple things.  If you live in the Detroit area and are in need of a good, fair mason, let me know and I'll pass along his information!

Tomorrow I'll show you another makeover......