Finding the right plumber can be a difficult and timely process, but finding a slow leak from a pipe fitting that costs around a dollar; if not properly taken care of in a timely fashion may cost you thousands of dollars in damage, not to mention disrupting your family household or delaying the remodeling process for weeks. So hiring a licensed, insured plumber is always a must. You may also want to consider hiring a well-trained apprentice that works under your plumber’s license.

There are two different categories of plumbers: those who handle basic repairs and are often called upon in an emergency type situation and plumbers who specialize in home remodeling.

Family Plumber

There are several situations that you can save on the cost of a plumber, such as daily drips or clogs, but beyond these minor repairs you will be forced to call upon a professional. Waiting or trying to fix it yourself can run into bigger problems or end up costing you more money than you planned in your budget.

Plumbing isn’t all that difficult, but it does require knowledge of code requirements, parts and experience with the tools and materials. For instance, knowing how much pressure you can apply or how hard you can crank PVC before it breaks or cracks takes a certain amount of knowledge, as well as time to master the procedure. Without proper knowledge, you can turn a relatively cheap repair into a nightmare.

Always establish a relationship with a plumber before you actually need his services. It is a good idea for your plumber to know you and your home’s needs before walking into the situation with blinders on. If you can, hire him to complete a few non-emergency repairs, it’s much easier for a regular customer to call on their plumber than it is a panicked stranger calling in the middle of the night asking a plumber to come to your home and fix a broken, gushing pipe flooding your basement.

When choosing a plumber always be selective and ask to see their license; a good respectable plumber will always be eager to share their background or history with you. Most states require plumbers to carry a valid license and usually provide a phone number you can call to verify if their license is in order and the plumber has no active complaints against them.

Another good idea when hiring a plumber is to always take into consideration if they carry a current workers’ compensation policy with a minimum of $500,000 liability insurance. This is very important just in case your plumber is hurt on the job.

The best and easiest way to find a good plumber is to ask family, friends, neighbors or local contractors in your community, as well as real estate agents. There is nothing that will delay the sale of a home faster than plumbing issues; so most realtors usually carry a reliable list of licensed plumbers.

Once you find a decent and reliable plumber keep their phone number close by, just in case of an emergency.

Costs of Plumbing

Once you find a reliable plumber and you receive the bill for the costs of emergency plumbing services, you will probably be shocked. Your first thought; is my plumber taking advantage of me? But the answer is quite simple: NO!

Although the plumber may have only spent a few hours at your home, you must consider his costs of driving to and from your home, picking up the parts and his knowledge and basic skills used to fix your plumbing dilemma. Once you consider his costs, you will better understand his high rates.  Most problems can be fixed in just a few hours, but always take into consideration if it is a weekend or night call, as this will add to the hourly rate.

Most of us need help with basic plumbing services; repairing leaks or installing new traps. Always be prepared to pay extra for additional parts, which in turn your plumber may mark up the costs from his wholesale price.

At the cost of weekend or night calls, you don’t want to spend too much time standing around or chit-chatting with your plumber, but don’t be afraid to ask or question your plumber about his repair procedures or his choice of part options. Always seek advice for the best possible way to prevent the problem from happening again, as well.

Remodeling Plumber

For non-emergency projects or remodeling your home you will want a good plumber who understands the residential-system design and is properly educated on, understands and is up-to-date on all the code requirements in your area. It is also a good idea to be sure your plumber understands your needs and can work in an unfinished environment.

A general contractor is the best source to find a reliable and licensed remodeling plumber. This allows the contractor to see the plumber’s work before it is covered, so it can be properly inspected.

The contractor will inspect and be looking for clean solder joints, sharp, crisp 90-degree angles and properly sized holes in joists, studs, and floors. These are all important details to ensure you as a homeowner are getting quality work.

A good contractor will not allow or risk working with a dishonest or reprehensible plumber. The smallest, slightest error can be devastating and very costly. A leaky PVC line can be extremely devastating to a homeowner and can cause thousands of dollars in damage to walls and hardwood floors, complicating the process with lost time, insurance claims and lawsuits, not to mention damaging the reputation of both the plumber and the contractor. In most cases, contractors usually tend to work with the best plumbers they can find.

As important as it is for your plumber to be licensed and carry active workers’ compensation and insurance, it is just as important that your contractor carry a license and license number. It is also a good idea to verify that your contractor’s workers’ compensation and liability insurance policies are up-to-date and active.

The wrong contractor, a bad weather spell, an unclear contract clause or last minute changes can all can contribute to turn a dream project into a  homeowner’s worst nightmare.

As more homeowners prepare to tackle home improvement projects this year, Consumer Reports, which recently conducted a poll on Home Remodeling, points to the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when dealing with contractors and conducting the project:

1. Don’t rush in. Make sure you carefully plan the whole project, and are 100% sure that you will be satisfied with the final result. Making changes to the project “on-the-fly” is the costliest mistake homeowners make. It can add in average of $1,500 to kitchen projects and $650 to bath remodels.
2. Prepare for the unexpected. As the work begins some new problems might be uncovered. When walls are stripped, things like water damage, mold or pest infestation may surface.  Good contractors are able to anticipate some of the problems and allow the homeowner to adjust the budget. Consumer Reports reveals that water damage was an issue with 17 percent of bathroom remodels, and structural problems delayed 10 percent of kitchen projects.
3. Don’t chase the lowballs. What seems to be cheap initially may end up costing more. To compete in a tight market contractors lower their profit margin, but will make up their costs in labor or other areas. According to the Consumer Report poll, readers who went for the lowball spent in average $1,500 extra on their kitchens and $1,000 extra on their bathrooms. Make sure the contract specifies amounts for products and materials before you sign. Avoid signing contracts with too many  “allowances”.
4. Get the paperwork in order. Have the contractor attach copies of his up-to-date license, insurance and workers’ compensation policies to the written contract. He also should get permits and provide a lien waiver when the job is done; this will keep suppliers from contacting the homeowner for unpaid bills.
5. Focus on the boring bits. The tedious details no one wants to think about are the ones that will usually make a difference between a successful remodeling experience and a tragic one. Things like the proper placement of outlets for appliances and electronics,  task lighting, the proper fan for a bathroom, or even determining a place for the garbage can are usually overlooked in projects but will prove to be fundamental later on. Changes made after the remodeling job is concluded are usually a costly hassle.

Sources:

• Shop Smart: Top five remodeling headaches.
• http://www.consumerreports.org/

Basement Waterproofing

Basement Troubleshooting Guide.

Have a wet basement or a crawl space?

This  interactive guide is the ultimate basement and crawl space troubleshooting tool.

It will help you understand the vast majority of basement and crawl space problems, and show you ways to solve it.

A must for any homeowner facing a basement or crawlspace problems it allows them to make informed decisions considering their waterproofing needs.

Kitchen Cabinets

There are many different types of kitchen cabinets available to homeowners in Connecticut. Depending on the kitchen, some cabinets may work better than others. HGTV writes that custom cabinets are an expensive option, but they are built to the exact specifications of a kitchen, and have a wider range of options for materials, designs, finishes and accessories.

There are also semi-custom cabinets that are made to a homeowner’s size requirements but are produced in predetermined steps. Stock cabinets are the cheapest option as they are already made and only come in standard sizes. There are also framed cabinets and frameless cabinets available.

Hardware adds a finishing touch of glamour and elegance to any kitchen. Pick out your favorite style of knobs and handles to match the current theme or to add some diversity to the kitchen. There are many relatively inexpensive handles available that can still look good.

If you think your cabinets are in good shape right now, HGTV recommends that you freshen them up a bit to make your kitchen look newer. You can re-stain or paint your cabinets, or even re-face them. Re-facing cabinets is an inexpensive alternative to getting new cabinets altogether.

Kitchen Countertops

Your kitchen countertops can add color and flair to your Connecticut kitchen. A local kitchen countertop contractor can help ensure this job gets done correctly. The options for kitchen countertops range from glamorous and expensive to fairly basic and moderately priced.

A high-end option for your kitchen would be granite countertops. Granite is available in polished and matte finishes, and come in a variety of colors including whites, greens, corals and beiges. HGTV writes that the cost of granite depends on color, finish and where the stone came from. Engineered stone countertops come in a wider variety of colors, but are usually the same price as granite.

Marble, limestone and soapstone countertops are softer than granite so homeowners need to be more delicate with these surfaces. There are also solid surface countertops that come in many colors and resist stains, but hot pots or pans can damage them. Concrete countertops are seen more often nowadays and can come in different pigments and finishes. However, changes in temperature can cause concrete to warp and maintenance can be daunting. To keep concrete looking great, homeowners would need to seal it four times a year and wax it every two to three months.

Wood countertops can create a warm look in a kitchen and are relatively easy to clean and sand to get rid of scratches, but water damages them so they need to be oiled. Laminate is the least expensive option and comes in many colors and designs, but laminate is easily damaged by hot pans and scratched.

Article originally posted here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/article_view.php?articleid=13

There are a few good indicators that you can use to help gauge a contractor before hiring.

Reliability & Communication

Was the contractor on time for your appointment? Did they call when they said they would? You’d think that someone running a business would treat it like one — so if they don’t, they might not treat you like a valuable customer. Of course there are reasons for being late, but not calling back (or not showing up at all) is a very bad sign of things to come. If they can’t be bothered to reschedule or call you back, take your business elsewhere.

You Get What You Pay For (Most of the Time)

Unfortunately for our wallets, many times the more we spend the higher quality we get. The same holds true with your home. A contractor who charges reasonable fees is likely a better choice than one who bids low. The materials cost a certain amount, and if the contractor bids very low and does the job they say they will, their profit will be very low as well. How does that work? It doesn’t — somewhere they are cutting on quality to charge you less, whether it be workmanship or materials, you will be cheated out of something.

Of course, the opposite can be true: if an exorbitant price is quoted, the contractor either has a very good reason or they are trying to make a fast buck off an unsuspecting homeowner. If there’s a good reason, they will be quite able to explain it to you — so ask! If you’re not satisfied with what they tell you, keep shopping.

Get it in Writing

Ask for a written proposal. This should have both the work you’ve asked for (to make sure you and the contractor are on the same page) and a price. The price may change depending on the work, since the unforeseen is always lurking, but if it makes sense the contractor should have a price list for their services and stick to it.

References & Testimonials

Ask your friends who has done good work for them and start there.

Ask the contractor for references and any testimonials they may have. If they are invested in the quality of their work and their relationship with past customers, they should be able to provide at least some evidence of past customers happy enough to provide a recommendation. Some contractors are serious enough about this kind of thing to actually have a page (or more) of past customers in your area with phone numbers so you can call them and ask about the work that was done. This is an extremely good sign that the contractor is serious about doing the right thing for their customers.

If you’re looking for someone to add a sun room, remodel your kitchen, finish or waterproof your basement, check out contractors with national affiliation. Many times these companies have nationally backed warranties (so if the contractor goes out of business, you’re still covered), superior building materials and receive special training on how to do the work better than a general contractor.

Trust Your Gut

This is the hard one, but if you’re uneasy about the contractor in the slightest, you only have two options: take the chance or keep shopping. In the long run, if you keep looking you can always change your mind and go back — but if you take the chance on someone you’re uncomfortable with, you might end up regretting it. It’s worth shopping around until you know which contractor is the right fit for you and your home improvement project.

Some are not comfortable with the idea of bothering a complete stranger, or calling someone on the phone to ask about the work performance of another. Others just don’t know how to do it, or what to ask. In our experience, when our customers are really happy with the service, not only will they not feel bothered for having their contact information used as reference but they will be delighted to provide the information requested.

This is why our policy is to offer references right away before you ask for them, and even before your ever get to meet our representative in person. As for exactly what to ask a contractor’s reference, the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) website has excellent tips:

Ask the homeowners:

• Would you hire this company again?
• Did the remodeler maintain a neat jobsite, provide regular broom clean-up, and haul away debris including personal trash?
• Did the remodeler keep labor and materials delays to a minimum so that your job could be started and completed on time and within budget?
• Did you find the remodeler easy to work with? Did the remodeler keep you informed as the job progressed?
• Did the remodeler supply you with paperwork in a timely fashion?
• How well did the remodeler deal with the problems that arose?

Although those questions were directed to remodeling contractors, we believe they apply to every contractor in the home improvement industry and we strongly encourage you to use them every time you plan on hiring a contractor.

Article originally posted here: http://www.totalbasementfinishing.com/articles/remodeling-contractors:-check-those-references