Excerpts from the article as well as a link to the full feature are below. The article also showcases some photos of Old Pueblo Masonry's work.
The time has come for that old wooden fence. You’ve coddled it for years. You’ve patched it, painted it, replaced sections of it, even prayed for it, hoping it still would be standing after another howling monsoon storm scattered the lawn chairs in your backyard.
Now it’s time to build that wall.
Now it’s time to build that wall.
Steve Carlson started his business, Old Pueblo Masonry, in 1992, and has seen an evolution in the business as customers have more access to information and take the time to become more knowledgeable about their projects before they call a contractor.
“When we first started in this business, it was basically go out and build your basic block wall and everyone seemed pretty satisfied with it,” Carlson said. “There’s definitely been a change as far as the customer’s expectations. There have been quite a few times that I’ve showed up and they already had a set of plans drawn up with what they’d like to have and how they want it to look.”
But that can be a starting point, Carlson said, pointing out that most contractors have the expertise to offer suggestions even when customers think they know exactly what they want. Those suggestions are sometimes related to price. A contractor also might have ideas regarding colors and the expanding range of available textures and materials that can make a plain wall unique.
“When (customers) are thinking about walls, they’re driving around town and seeing walls everywhere. They’re paying more attention,” Carlson said. “They’ll come up with an idea, but then I might find a more affordable material. We can play around with the design of the job with different textures and materials.”
Read the entire Arizona Daily Star article featuring Old Pueblo Masonry as one of the contractors interviewed here.