I was in the process of building a new home, so no water, power, and only a construction driveway. I contacted several masonry contractors to obtain bids to add Pennsylvania Bluestone pavers to an existing concrete patio. I was working between construction milestones to ensure overall home build stayed on track and needed the project completed within a one month period to ensure additional projects (railing, trim, paint) were not delayed. I contacted Mottern Masonry and explained all of the above. They sent out an estimator, Guy, to estimate and provide a proposal. Guy reviewed the project and conditions at the construction site and submitted a bid based on those conditions. Guy's proposal was right in the middle of other contractors bids. Based on pricing and the high reviews on yelp, I decided to sign a contract with Mottern Masonry and provided a 50% deposit. Fast forward to scheduled install, Jeff (owner) at Mottern Masonry decided not to move forward with the project even though we had a signed contract and they accepted and deposited my down payment. Initially they blamed sight conditions (no water) as the issue but after offering to source water containers for their use and work through other issues, Jeff explained that his estimator underbid the project and sent me a revised bid that added 20% to the project and would not move forward unless I accepted the new terms. Needless to say, I was shocked since Mottern has stellar reviews on Yelp. Ultimately I decided not to sign the new proposal. Jeff did refund my deposit but it took over two months of emails and calls before I received a check. Overall, a bad experience that caused delays on other projects with dependencies on completion of the porch. Ultimately it delay the final completion of the house and issuance of residency permit by the county as I needed railing installed before county would issue the permit. ---the below is in response to Jeff's reply to my original review above--- As per the contract, the schedule was flexible and provided two-week period, at a time of Mottern Masonry's choosing, but they were supposed to call me 24-hours prior (as per the contract) to start of work. That did not happen, and they chose to start work on the fifth day of consistent rain showers. Had I been contacted via phone, as they were supposed to, I would have waived them off and let them know the condition of the driveway... which happens to construction driveways after constant rain. After the fact, I was notified they had attempted to start the work and got stuck, and I relayed the fact that I had order two loads of stone the prior day and expected the delivery the next day. Concerning water and electricity, it was construction site, there were no assurance provided that these utilities would be available on-site nor did the contract stipulate this requirement. Upon notification that there was a need, I called my project manager to schedule access to a generator and water container, but Jeff pushed the new proposal asking for additional funds stating there was more work than they originally anticipated. With regards to the delay in returning funds, I provided a mailing address for my place of work via email as soon as it was apparent that Jeff would not honor the original contract. It took several calls and emails over a two-month period to finally receive a refund. His claims that he called me 20+ times and the fact that I ever received the original "postmarked" check are completely false. Happy to forward emails from him to attest to his utter lie. read more

I am the owner of a duplex townhouse and we agreed with my next-door neighbor to completely replace both our ugly concrete and plain driveways and walkways as well as to re-point our old front porch brick staircases at the same time. We are both renting our places so none of us live on site. It is important to note that the entire process had to be conducted by email and over the phone with occasional exchanges of photos. Despite this handicap things could not have gone smoother and been more pleasant. Mottern came in the Spring to do their assessment very shortly after my initial phone call. They sent us a very detailed estimate by email the same day and we discussed some details over the phone. They made some very good suggestions and convinced us to modify some of our initial ideas for better more suited options. The price was very reasonable for a job of that scale but we felt a little bit "short in cash" at that time. Mottern told us that if we could wait until the Winter/off season in December they would be able to shed some money off the quote. We agreed and re-contacted them at the end of November. We signed the contract and set the construction date for mid-December. When we contacted our tenants to alert them of what was coming, we found out that one of them was pregnant and due at the end of the month. She was extremely anxious and very hostile to the idea of having such a major construction in front her house so close to her due date. We explained the situation to Mottern and they handled the situation flawlessly with a lot of tact. They personally called her, explained the entire process and reassured her. In parallel, they negotiated with another client of them to switch dates so they could start the 1st week of December on our project. They estimated that it would take about 6-7 days (weather permitting of course) and after the first day of demolition it started to pour rain for 2 straight days. Nevertheless, they kept their promise and the job was done in exactly one week. The result is beautiful (we came by the house at the end of December to check their work personally) and all of our neighbors in the street gave us compliments. During the entire construction time, and without me asking, the manager would send me photos every day to show me their progress. At the end, they had to repair more spots on our brick stairs than what they had quoted us and they did not charge us a penny more (it was worth about an extra $1,100). They also put down rolls of sod in places where the grass had been damaged in the front lawn. I have used a lot of contractors in my life, but I think I can safely say that I had never encountered a company that is as professional and reliable as Mottern Masonry Design. They get the Contractor Golden Globe from me! read more

In two words: highly satisfied Here's what we needed done: a) Fix all cracks in mortar of patio wall b) Fix stone steps that had sagged like 3 inches away from the house c) Repair entire walking surface, which had begun to sag in spots and whose mortar was half gone. The total job involved pulling up all the pavers, destroying the entire existing foundation, pouring a new foundation (including a 16" pit of concrete below the foot of the steps: "those steps will never move again" we were told), laying the pavers back down (including new ones to replace the 50% of ones that got broken when pulling them up), deconstructing the steps, reconstructing the steps, recapping the patio walls and repairing all mortar cracks in the patio walls. They ended with an "acid wash" which brought out the color in the stone as if it were brand new. We interviewed 4 different companies before hiring Mottern. While their prices were highest, the margin was small (about 5% above others), but well worth it. Highlights: - Jeff Mottern spent 2 hours with me during the estimation process, discussing what we needed done, offering solutions, and generally making me comfortable that this company knew their stuff - They wrote up a detailed contract with exact prices and services to be performed - They estimated one start date, but then when I signed the contract they tried to move it to two weeks later. When I explained that this would overlap with my time out of town they worked with me to find another start date that was within a few days of the original estimate. - The workers were phenomenal. Working in 95 degree weather from about 7 am until late afternoon. A crew of 3 was always on site. Half the job was deconstruction, the other half re-construction. When it came to re-construction, they brought in a new crew member who must've been a master mason, because his stonework was impeccable! - Because one issue was steps sagging from the house (letting rain get in and rot wood), they arranged for a carpenter to come in, mid-job, and repair the rotten wood between stair-deconstruct and stair-reconstruct. - They had to work around existing lighting and electrical cables that ran under and through the existing patio, and did so without any issues. For the sake of being genuine, if I had to find one flaw it was that, as I had concerns or questions throughout the job, it sometimes took 1-2 days before I got an answer back from Guy (their "answer guy"). Thankfully this didn't lead to any issues, but it would've made me less nervous to have immediate responses. In the end, we are thrilled with the work they did, and would recommend them for any masonry work. read more

I recommend Mottern Masonry Designs to anyone needing high quality masonry work on their home. My recommendation is based on the excellent work they recently did restoring and upgrading the brick and stone work at my home. I hired Mottern Masonry to replace and enhance the brick and stonework at the front of our home. This included a long, serpentine brick walkway, a front stoop and steps covered with flagstone, a brick patio at the front of the house and a low walled-in garden between the patio and front stoop. The goal was not only to repair and replace the original brick and stonework, which had cracked and settled in several places, but also to enhance the appearance and look of the house. Mottern's crew removed all of the old brick and stonework, the garden walls and the front steps. They removed the old concrete base and poured a new 4-inch reinforced concrete base for the serpentine walkway, patio and garden walls and poured new front steps, tying the new steps into the stoop with rebar. They recovered the stoop and steps with an attractive, thick Pennsylvania bluestone and built a matching threshold at the front door. The low garden wall was rebuilt and topped with thick Pennsylvania bluestone to match the steps and front stoop. The serpentine walkway and patio were done in traditional red brick pavers, which complemented the brick house. In addition, all vertical areas (i.e. the garden wall, step risers, and front and sides of the stoop) were faced with an attractive chocolate grey stone veneer. This extensive project was completed on schedule (it required three men for three weeks) and on budget. I was very impressed with the high quality of the material and craftsmanship. The thick flagstone that Mottern used was a vast improvement on the thinner flagstone used originally on the stoop and steps. All elements - walkway, patio, stoop - fit together well and the fine quality of materials and workmanship has enhanced the appearance and look of the house. My wife and I could not be happier with the results. I interviewed five contractors and received three bids on this project. Mottern's proposal was competitive in cost, but superior in terms of quality of materials and scope of work. I feel it was the most cost-effective proposal I received. read more

I was in the process of building a new home, so no water, power, and only a construction driveway. I contacted several masonry contractors to obtain bids to add Pennsylvania Bluestone pavers to an existing concrete patio. I was working between construction milestones to ensure overall home build stayed on track and needed the project completed within a one month period to ensure additional projects (railing, trim, paint) were not delayed. I contacted Mottern Masonry and explained all of the above. They sent out an estimator, Guy, to estimate and provide a proposal. Guy reviewed the project and conditions at the construction site and submitted a bid based on those conditions. Guy's proposal was right in the middle of other contractors bids. Based on pricing and the high reviews on yelp, I decided to sign a contract with Mottern Masonry and provided a 50% deposit. Fast forward to scheduled install, Jeff (owner) at Mottern Masonry decided not to move forward with the project even though we had a signed contract and they accepted and deposited my down payment. Initially they blamed sight conditions (no water) as the issue but after offering to source water containers for their use and work through other issues, Jeff explained that his estimator underbid the project and sent me a revised bid that added 20% to the project and would not move forward unless I accepted the new terms. Needless to say, I was shocked since Mottern has stellar reviews on Yelp. Ultimately I decided not to sign the new proposal. Jeff did refund my deposit but it took over two months of emails and calls before I received a check. Overall, a bad experience that caused delays on other projects with dependencies on completion of the porch. Ultimately it delay the final completion of the house and issuance of residency permit by the county as I needed railing installed before county would issue the permit. read more

Project: Add a Stone Patio as an extension to an existing Trex Deck I highly recommend this company. Jeff Mottern and his team did a fantastic job on my project. I live in Eastern Loudoun/Broadlands and did my research to find a contractor with solid masonry experience. Angie's List was one of the resources I used for my research. Jeff's company gets very good reviews on Angie's List...but the key for me was picking a company that made me feel confident about my choice. The estimate process was straight forward...Jeff walked the site with me, I shared my vision...Jeff made recommendations, and provided a detailed overview of the work to be completed. The quote for the job was completed at the same time and was reviewed with me before leaving. I was confident that Jeff's team would be able to complete my project. After hiring Mottern Masonry and scheduling the project, a dedicated team was assigned to support my project with a Foreman. The same team supported my project from start to finish. Working with stone is an artisan trade and it shows in the work they do and the product they use. Each stone was hand placed and cut to fit at our job site. The job included pouring a concrete slab and installation of retaining walls as well as extending a downspout drain. The overall project size is close to 500 Sq Ft. I really wanted the materials to complement the existing deck...and I am very happy with the recommended choices that Jeff made. Even though I was not under a deadline for the project...Jeff's team estimated 2 weeks and stuck by that schedule. Very competent and very professional. Overall....the end to end process with Jeff's company was straightforward. The payments made for the project matched the quotes and there were no surprises. Once again, I highly recommend Mottern Masonry and would hire Jeff's company again. read more

Jeff Mottern and his team are consummate professionals. Last summer, he and his crew transformed the aging concrete front steps and walkway of our house with bricks that held up beautifully over the winter, despite being covered with thick ice several times. Last week, they extended our existing backyard brick patio and also replaced crumbling steps leading to the back gate with brick. In addition, they replaced worn and broken railroad ties with stone. My wife and I decided that we wanted to have a raised stone wall around the area where we plant our garden to add visual interest and function - the wall could serve as a place to sit and to easily reach garden tools and grilling utensils. The wall is stunning. We assumed that it would be built from pre-cut, uniform pieces of stone. Instead, Jeff's craftsmen cut and shaped the stone pieces that make up the wall from large slabs of stone! This was true masonry. It was fascinating watching them work with hammer and chisel, create the wall from unique pieces of stone, and artfully apply mortar. Jeff and/or his team always showed up on time, worked long hours and were invariably courteous and professional. I had a few issues during the installation of the brick that replaced the steps. Jeff had these problems addressed and corrected very quickly and the result is a gorgeous backyard that my wife and I plan to show to friends and relatives with great pride. We can't wait to start planting to really show off Jeff's work. I have my own business and deal with vendors all the time. I have also hired my share of contractors for home improvement and maintenance. Jeff and his team stand above just about all of them in terms of professionalism, skills, meeting deadlines, and honesty and integrity.. read more

We contacted Jeff of Mottern Masonry in early January to begin the discussion of building a 550 sq ft. stone patio off the back of our home with steps coming out from the house and one step down in to the yard. We wanted 4 wall sections and 2 pillars. We were looking to have chocolate grey stone walls and Pennsylvania irregular shaped flagstone for the floor. Of the 3 places we contacted, Mottern was the fastest to reply (within an hour via email). Jeff and Guy came out to our house within the same week that we initially emailed and discussed in detail the patio we wanted. Before they left, they provided us with a quote. Jeff's quote was the most reasonable of the 3 places we contacted and we felt confident in Mottern based on the other reviews that we read on Angie's list and other places. Jeff gave us an estimated start date of the 2nd week of Februrary and the crew, led by George, started that Tuesday. At the end of the first day, the thick slab of concrete had been poured. The crew showed up on time each day and worked diligently. I was always in contact with Jeff if I had questions or needed updates. Jeff was always extremely responsive. The crew kept the area clean and were very professional. We had some delays due to weather which was out of everyones control, but all was finished at the end of the March. We are very please with our new patio and we can't wait to enjoy a full spring, summer and fall on the patio. I would highly recommend Mottern Masonry for a patio or any stone work. They deserve their high reputation. read more

My husband and I hired Mottern Masonary to install a patio behind our townhouse.  After submitting my inquiry, Jeff was quick to return with a note to schedule the estimate. He also called to let me know he was on his way to our scheduled appointment time, which is always nice.  I truly appreciated his knowledge! I let him know that I was leaning towards stamped concrete, but had also considered pavers. He was able to show me a ton of examples on his phone and let me know what patterns/colors go better with our brick house. He also provided suggestions to our tiered background. He took some measurements and was able to provide me with a quote within 5 minutes! Previously, I had two other companies come out and provide me with a quote. One company added on fees for the excavation, demo, bringing in trash bins, special drills to remove the contract, etc. The other representative was super sales-y and couldn't focus on my original request - a patio. Jeff was neither of these! He even offered to replant several of the bushes that were being removed. We moved forward with stamped concrete. The process went smoothly. We had a perforated drain pipe that Jose was quick to point out and reroute. They were also very diligent about cleaning up some concrete that had splattered in the driveway. My husband and I are very happy with how things turned out and have been enjoying our backyard patio! We would totally recommend Mottern Masonary and will look to utilize their services moving forward. read more

Mottern Masonry installed two steps (concrete faced with broken stone) and a walkway (concrete base faced with stone) leading from the steps to the driveway. They also covered the exposed previously brick-faced foundation under the porch slab with the same broken stone. It looks fantastic. They did a tremendous job of blending their stonework into the preexisting stone porch pillars. And this was no simple task, because their stonework looks fantastic (much more attractive than the pillars). They did some artful mortar touchup where the new stonework joins the pillars for a gradual transition. They also did an awesome job of cleaning up a very messy, exposed, preexisting overpour at the base of the preexisting pillars. We were very pleased with the way Jeff Mottern treated us. After we contacted them for an estimate, he came out promptly to our home to discuss the project and give us some options, along with dollar figures to help us make some decisions. No run-around like we have experienced with some contractors. And he gave us an estimate that day before he left. After we accepted their proposal, Jeff got to our job within the timeframe we had discussed with him. He called the day before to let me know they would be out the next day and about what time they would arrive. The guys on his crew were very polite, finished the job up in two days, and left our yard very clean. read more

We first discovered Mottern Masonry as a result of the earthquake of 2011, which damaged the brick walls of the garage that is attached to our house. The outer wall suffered the worst damage. The inside wall, though not so badly damaged, also needed repair. We have since had Mottern Masonry back to work on our cement back stairs, which are very tall. We have currently contracted with them to dig down and seal the water pipe that is allowing rain water to enter our basement, and to regrade that entire side of the house to promote proper rain water run-off. Mottern Masonry does excellent work. They know what they are doing. After going around with them to inspect our brick home and garage after the earthquake, we felt totally confident in their assessment of the damage. Our confidence in them increased when we saw the work that they did to repair that damage. We have continued to depend on Mottern Masonry for any masonry work we need. Mottern Masonry is very practical; they state exactly what is necessary to accomplish the work. There is no over-selling. If a particular thing is not necessary, they say so. We depend upon Mottern Masonry for their excellent work. They arrived on time and finish within the time that they project the task will take. They work diligently and well, and clean up after themselves when they are finished. Their prices are entirely reasonable. read more

Jeff did an incredible job giving us thoughts, price points, and recommendations for solving our water problems around our house. We ended up pouring a stamped concrete area, graded the landed accordingly, put a catch basin w/ pop up drain (had to dig into asphalt too!), then planted grass seed and put a few gutters into the ground with popups. The quoting process and the actual job when executed was incredible. Their lead project guy was really well spoken, very understanding of things we wanted, and even threw in a few things for a little tip that were extra and very much appreciated by my wife and I. If you're 50/50 on deciding, don't be. Jeff does a great job scoping with you and being a great design partner, and the crew he had doing our job were top notch with execution. Our stamped concrete looks absolutely incredible and we're very happy with the service, the time allocated, the professionalism across the board. We'll be calling them again when we want to do our front walk way. The back office is a bit old school, but my wife and I really appreciated the small things like courtesy calls letting us know "hey the crew is going to show up tomorrow early!" and "just calling to see how everything went today with the concrete pour.", etc. Overall, superb job and execution at a very fair price (we got many quotes, and Jeff was realistic with us from the jump). read more

Mottern Masonry Design, Inc. recently replaced my driver way and steps. I lived on a steep hill, and both the steps and driveway badly needed to be replaced. I solicited multiple estimates, and Mottern Masonry was in the ballpark but not the cheapest. After meeting with Jeff, I found him to be very professional and knowledgeable and he pointed out his estimate includes replacing a short brick retaining wall. After I checked, it was not included in one of the estimate. Based on meeting with Jeff, he indicated he has a dedicated team which has been with him for many years. After speaking with Jeff, I felt comfortable to trust, that once work started, they would not be any additional charges. The estimate was a week worth of effort, and his team was punctual every day and the work was completed on schedule. He received a compliment from my neighbor; she stated his team was very cordial and extremely hard workers. I was very satisfied with the finish work, including the extra details. They patched my cinder block retainer wall. The patching was not included in the original contract. I was amazed how well they cleaned accumulated construction debris to turn my yard back into pristine condition. I am very delighted with my new driveway and steps and would highly recommend Mottern Masonry Design, Inc. to my friends and neighbors. Sincerely, Michael McNair read more

The builder of my home left exposed foundation in the back of my house that was not covered with stone veneer like the front and side. I contacted Mottern Masonry based on the reviews they got on Yelp and the beautiful examples of their work on their website. I sent an email on Saturday morning and received a reply first thing Monday. After another email and two telephone conversations we came to the conclusion that it might be best not to cover the foundation with stone veneer because of the existing arrangement of some utility conduits. Mottern Masonry said that the gaps they would have to leave "...just wouldn't look right." After some thought and discussion with my wife I agreed. However, Mottern said they would do the job if I really wanted it done! The price quoted was a lot of money but it was not an unreasonable price considering the cramped quarters and obstacles they would have to work around. Even though Mottern didn't actually do any work for me I'm giving them 5 stars for their prompt, professional customer service AND their HONESTY. They could have taken my money but I would have had a job that "didn't look right." If I ever need stone work in the future I'll consult with Mottern. BTW - I sent an email to another stone mason on the same day I emailed Mottern. That company hasn't contacted me and we are four days into the work week. read more

Mottern Masonry completed a wall, patio and walkway project for us in early August, 2018. We are very pleased with their work and highly recommend the firm. The project involved demolition and removal of material as well as construction of two walls, a small patio and a four foot wide walk. Although the walls were relatively short (less than 33 inches high by 22 feet and 35 feet), the total project required a crew of four/five men for 12 days. They dug out the foundations, placed the concrete foundations, built the block wall and then finished the wall, patio and sidewalk with stone. We saw how much hard work and time was involved in the project because we were home during the day. The Mottern manager was excellent at communications. He kept us informed about their schedule for starting, stopped by in the evening to check project status and told us when to expect completion. The final cost was as we agreed. The Mottern Masonry team of workers was professional and very skilled. They were flexible when I realized the wall I had ordered needed to be stepped up and down to allow for the line of the hill. In hindsight, I should have asked for more guidance on placement and asked more questions when the crew spray painted the locations early in the project. Overall, the wall, patio and walkway are lovely and work as beautiful additions to our home. read more

Mottern Masonry did an amazing job building a new brick patio for us. We wanted real brick, not concrete pavers, set in sand, not mortared. And we wanted something that felt old and timeless and that would also blend well with the brick around our house. We had three companies provide quotes, but Jeff Mottern had the best sense of what we were looking for--and he had a very reasonable price. Not only that, but he was the only one of the three to provide a quote on the same day he came out (one company took two weeks to send me a quote!). He recommended we use Calvert 237, a hand-made brick that fits exactly what we had in mind. This was a full week's work to rip out the old patio, build a new concrete pad reinforced with rebar, mortar a border, and then sand-set the brick for the patio in a herringbone pattern (lots of brick cutting involved). The guys that came every day were careful of our house and property, they answered all my questions, and they did a thorough clean up when they were finished. We are exceptionally pleased with the results. Just sitting out on our patio now is a real pleasure--just looking at the bricks, the pattern in them, and feeling happy about everything. Mottern Masonry was very professional and pleasant to work with and I highly recommend them. read more

We love our new stoop and walkway. The entire experience of working with Mottern Masonry was easy, and that is saying something when trying to find a contractor in Northern Virginia. I called multiple big name companies in our area and Jeff was by far the most customer focused. He spent an hour with us during the estimate to help us figure out what we wanted. He has a keen eye for the space and really came through on design as I had no idea what would look nice. Through his advice, I settled on a brick/flagstone combination. For price, we went with a stamped concrete pathway with a flagstone pattern. Jeff recommended the rounded design, which helps add much needed curb appeal. Jeff's crew, run by Carlos, was professional and expert in their craft. They did a phenomenal job and even took care to transplant a big hosta that was displaced so I could eventually move it. They were responsive to questions and solutions oriented and we did not have a single hiccup. We still have work to do, like add the column and rail for the steps and a landscaping facelift, but the change is stark already. We will definitely recommend Jeff, Guy, Carlos, and all the Mottern Masonry crew and use them again for any hardscape or drainage projects we have in the future. read more

We couldn't have asked for a better experience during our recent patio install. Jeff (owner) and his crew at Modern Masonry ("MM") worked with us and our budget to install a backyard patio that hit everything on our wish list. During the estimate process, we provided MM with various design and material options and they took the time to write up multiple estimates to help with our decision. The project commenced almost immediately as the materials we selected (stamped concrete) allowed for scheduling flexibility. MM estimated the job would take ~2 weeks from start to finish. Thankfully, the weather cooperated and they wrapped up in just under two weeks. MM's crew assigned to our project was extremely clean and courteous. They ensured that tools were packed up at night and trash was disposed of timely. You could tell from the pride they put into their work that everyone on the crew had extensive experience installing patios. Jeff (owner) mentioned that his crews have worked directly for him for many years which is an added benefit of using MM. The end result is a product that will get a lifetime of use from our family. We will certainly recommend Mottern Masonry to all of our friends and neighbors. read more

Our front porch had settled down and away from our 1972 home and was becoming dangerous to visitors and to the home itself. We were having our roof repaired due to a leak and the roofers could not do necessary chimney masonry repairs. Mottern Masonry was recommended to us by good friends. We called, a representative came out, went over various options and provided very detailed recommendations, pictures and general pricing options. The quote was then given - very reasonable -and we hired them that day to start the following Monday. The workers took 2 days : prep for and pour the concrete base, cut & set the stone & flagstone walkway and ended up not just repairing the brick chimney, but replacing all the bricks and rebuilding due to years of damage. 2 days was very quick for the amount of work done and the attention to detail. The workmen took care of all my surrounding plants/bushes, absolutely none of them had any damage, which I fully expected some. They moved my old flagstone to the back yard so I could save for another project. The pictures say it all! (landscaping not complete :) We highly recommend Mottern Masonry and will use them again when we decide to flagstone our concrete patio in the future. read more