Posts made in October 2013

How Reliable Is Your Remodeling Contractor?

A remodeling project may not be as expensive as a construction project, but it still requires huge sums of money. You surely don’t want to settle for anything less for such a big investment. That’s why you have to look for a reliable remodeling contractor who can realize your remodeling plan efficiently. Here are some of the qualities that indicate the reliability of a home remodeling contractor.

License and Insurance

Before letting anyone work on your property, make sure that he or she is insured. Liability insurance will save you the obligation of covering any expenses related to accidents that the workers might meet during the project. On the other hand, the contractor should have a license to run the business to prove his or her credibility as a reliable service provider.

Leads

The easiest way to find a reliable contractor is to seek recommendations from friends or relatives. Find someone in the family who had his or her house remodeled before and ask how the project went. If you find the answer satisfying, consider hiring the same person for your own remodeling project. This will save you the difficult task of probing through the contractor’s record.

Affiliations

A lot of remodeling contractors are affiliated with construction material manufacturers. This is crucial since manufacturers do not entrust their materials to shady contractors whose shabby workmanship can damage the reputation of their products. Similarly, national remodeling contractors associations do not accept members who hold a bad good reputation in the industry.

Remodeling Contractors: Be Careful of Who You Hire

You just can’t read a newspaper or watch a news story these days without coming across a scam involving construction contractors (and remodeling contractors, for that matter). People are constantly advised to be on their guard and be picky. It’s not that the entire industry is filled with many unscrupulous contractors, it’s just that a home improvement or construction scam is likely to be costly and unforgiving to the victim.

The best way to discern the most dependable from the ones that aren’t is for people to do thorough research on each prospective construction company. Most cities and states have business offices who are in charge with keeping tabs on all contractors that operate locally. These offices are usually the best source of information to determine the bad apples, although online referrals and reviews are also useful, provided that they can be verified.

Another important tip is to meet up with the contractors in person before allowing them to enter the property in the first place. Not only will this give homeowners an idea of the contractors’ personalities and work ethics, it is also an opportunity to ask hard questions. For example, talking face-to-face is a chance to talk about any discrepancies or blemishes in the contractors’ service record, as gathered from the initial research.

On the Importance of Having Porch Repair Conducted

As an exterior feature of your home, it is only natural for your wood porch flooring to succumb to wear and tear due to exposure to the elements. If you had it built several years ago, it is likely that it has now started to sag or show obvious signs of rot and decay. A worn-out porch floor is not only unsightly, but it can prove to be a safety hazard as well.

Imagine coming home after a long day at work, wanting nothing more than to relax on your rocking chair while sipping delicious hot tea. Before you can get to your front door, however, you unknowingly step on a rotten wood board and wound your foot. Another scenario is that step on a loose and corroded nail on a board, thus running the risk of a tetanus infection.

Now, imagine this happening to your kids or your house guests whom you invited for a simple get-together dinner— you’d be putting them in danger and causing them pain. Thus, before your porch flooring gives way completely and causes serious injuries, have it repaired by porch repair experts in Chicago. These professionals will replace your decayed wood planks with new ones and make sure they are firmly secured using durable nails and fasteners.