Chimney Repair by a Renaissance Man

I took a risk on a young man with $350 of my savings a couple of weeks ago. Now, this was very much out of character for me, particularly knowing what I knew and some of what I didn't know about him. Permit me to explain.

My home of thirty one years has an exterior brick chimney that runs up the outside face of the garage where the garage doors are located. There are three flu's and so the chimney is wide and prominently in view for anyone driving up the curved gravel driveway. I guess it could be said that the chimney is the "signature" that sets our colonial apart from others like it in the neighborhood.  

Well, as happens with anything that ages, the bricks surrounding the chimney top above the lip had started to crumble as the surrounding cement had done and the crown was visibly irregular in shape. this was the beginning of a process of disintegration that needed attention.

I've had repair people in before who begged off because, in addition to being wide the chimney is tall extending some five feet above the roof line. They envisioned that this otherwise simple and inexpensive repair job would necessitate extensive scaffolding in order to make the work area accessible. There wasn't enough in the job to make it worth their while. So no one wanted to take it on.

Then, by chance, I received a call from a chimney cleaning outfit trying to sell me on their service. I explained that I didn't need a cleaning but I did need a repair job, and asked if that was up their alley. Much to my surprise she answered in the affirmative and scheduled an appointment.

The day before the scheduled appointment I catch sight of a large white unmarked van pulling onto my driveway. In the time it took me to get downstairs, don a jacket and exit to greet the driver he had gotten out of his vehicle, hauled out one of his ladders, positioned it against the low side of the garage roof, mounted it and scampered up the steep incline to the chimney and was peering into and around the flu holes and the surrounding structure.   

He scampered back down traveling awfully close to the edge of the front face of the garage. He was sure footed and seemingly unconcerned  (unlike me) about the possibility of falling. Back on earth he introduced himself. Tony was about my height 5'10", perhaps a fraction taller. His loose fitting sweatshirt could not disguise his broad shoulders or his athletic build. He had a large head with sharp features. His straight black hair was combed forward towards his forehead making his appearance not unlike that of a Roman gladiator.

Tony smiled easily and had an earnest, friendly manner. He liked to talk and spoke with what I'm pretty sure was a mixed Sicilian New Yorkese dialect. But it was his directness and seeming honesty that stood out. Every question I posed he took with the utmost seriousness and sincerity. I liked him, but I've always have liked the radiant warmth and friendliness of many Italians.

He explained exactly what the situation was like up there and told me what he was recommending be done. He was going to repair the chimney and install a 41"cage over the entire opening. It would keep out animals and birds but would also prevent moisture from getting to the area immediately around the three flu's. It was more than what I wanted but I heard him out (meanwhile thinking that this might be the only way to get my job done, if he doesn't ask too much). He named his price saying, "this might sound expensive" and I knew immediately that I could negotiate. I offered him $150 less than what he asked and stipulated I would want it done to the same quality standards he had previously described.

He agreed and informed me that he would have to get a cage specially fabricated to the size of my oversized chimney. Further, he explained, he would need an advance of $350. Needless to say, this raised red flags for me. As much as I wanted to trust Tony this seemed like an unusual request. It made me refocus on our previous conversation. Tony, in addition to how well he comes across, is the kind of person who doesn't know when to stop elaborating on what he's saying. There were a few times when he revealed too much about himself, so much so, that it could be taken in a bad light.  He mentioned, for example, that he lived on Long Island. This being Connecticut I wondered why he found it necessary to make such a long trip to work.

So I proceeded to seek evidence of his identity and legitimacy. He had provided me with a written estimate on a billing form that gave the "formal" name of his business and the phone number in Stamford but said when he's not there I could only reach his answering machine. This and several other things he mentioned left me with the impression that his was a bare bones operation. That wasn't terribly reassuring. His drivers license gave his N.Y. address. When I took his vans plate number he informed me that it was rented from an outfit in Hartford ( why Hartford ?) but that they would vouch for him since he had been renting that van some nine months. He gave me the name of the rental company and I went inside and looked up the number. They were listed in the phone directory under that name so I called. They verified he was their customer and had been with them all that time.  He gave me his cell phone number and his certificate to do chimney repairs, together with the certificate number. I was still uneasy about giving an advance but decided to take the risk. What's the worst thing that could happen, I'd be out $350, but, I really wanted the job done?.

So I gave him a check and we set a date for his return.

Upon reflection, there were three lingering and troubling questions:

Why does he find it necessary to commute by ferry all the way from NY every day?

Why and how is he willing and able to take on jobs that others refuse?

Would I ever see him again?

(to be continued)  See next post "Renaissance Man thrives on Risk"