by spencerturnkey | Mar 27, 2019 | Siding, Storm Damage
You are thinking of a siding replacement, but you don’t know where to start. If you are in this situation, you only have two options. Your choices are a do-it-yourself project OR you can hire a professional contractor.
Let’s talk about the first option. If you want to do the replacement on your own, your initial reflex is to rush to the nearest roof and siding specialty shop, investigate if what’s trendy and high quality then proceed with the purchase. This happens in most cases. This is a great decision if you want to save time speaking to siding professionals and save money paying a contractor. However, this may incur several undesirable outcomes you don’t want to happen.
Below are the most common cons for a DIY siding replacement project. The pros should be money saving reasons, that’s obvious, so we don’t have to mention it anymore. If you think you can handle the cons, then you can confidently proceed with doing the replacement yourself.
- You are dedicated to do it on your own, but you don’t have enough experience, knowledge and skills required.
- If this is something that you are going to do for the first time, you need to buy all cutting, fitting and installing tools.
- Personally buy all the needed materials. You can always ask for help at the store premise.
- While you are on the process of replacing the siding, you may discover unexpected further siding damage. This is the major pitfall for replacement sessions without thorough inspection done beforehand.
- Mistakes can happen anytime. These mistakes are easy to make but hard to fix often.
Now your second option is hiring a contractor. Once again, the cons for this are clear. Contractor fee and schedule convenience are the most common cons. Given below are the pros you need to know when hiring a professional to work on your siding replacement.
- You have a legal protection for the quality of job because of the signed contract.
- Expert insight of the possibilities of money saving plans, pros and cons for each material and you can ask all the questions you want to clear all your doubts.
- Free inspection service.
- Contractor will manage the full project, from planning, preparation up to the cleanup.
- You can set a specific siding cost for your contractor to follow and still expect a quality output.
- Guarantee and warranty conditions are given.
- The siding replacement of your house will abide building codes, so safety is insured.
Weigh up the information above and rethink if you can handle the possible faults of a do-it-yourself siding replacement project or not. In addition, you have to decide very well if you want to invest in acquiring all the needed tools and start practicing doing the siding replacement always on your own. On the other hand, let the contractor do their job while you pay for their professional fee.
At Turnkey Restoration, we offer a complimentary, no obligation inspection.
by spencerturnkey | Mar 27, 2019 | Roofing, Storm Damage
You now have a list of possible roofing contractors in Minneapolis from the internet. Now you have to evaluate if who will do the work for you. In this process, you can’t afford to settle for the least competent roofing contractor. Of course, you want the best contractor to handle your roofing needs.
Don’t listen to these contractors’ self-proclaimed achievements as they compete their way to winning you. Remember, not all businesses live-up to their marketing promises, especially big companies where you can’t talk with the owner. You need to filter them like a pro. Ask basic questions that are often taken for granted. Set your standards that they should meet. Prepare a checklist and start asking.
Contractor Insurance: This isn’t the insurance for the roofing job. It’s the employee insurance. If any accident happened while the roofing job is in progress, you have to shoulder the accident cost. Make sure that you are working with an insured contractor, or else you must consider casting a wider net. Accidents happen when we least expect it.
Contractor Certification: When I told you not to listen to these contractors’ self-proclaimed achievements, that’s serious. You must ask for certifications. Don’t settle for self-proclaimed certifications as well look for the proof of certification. This is your only way to make sure that your roofing contractor is knowledgeable about the latest installation techniques for stable roofing. If no proof of certification is presented, don’t use their services.
References: Asking for reference takes time, but this is vital. This pre-evaluation technique is tricky and works two ways around. First, you ask your possible Minneapolis roofing contractor to provide you with their list of reference from their past jobs. Normally they will only provide you with the best jobs they did. Second, is you conduct a quick research online and read both positive and negative reviews. Be careful, because online review system is often abused by business competition; therefore be wary of identifying the authenticity of bad reviews.
Expertise and Skills: More than references for past jobs, you need their portfolio. A portfolio can give you enough idea about the capacity, skills and level of expertise of the contractor presenting it. This is one way of making sure that their skill set meets your requirement for the specific job you want to be done.
Materials: You need to be inquisitive enough about the quality of materials they will use. Don’t compromise the quality of your roof with cheap offers. Your roof should be robust enough to withstand harsh weather conditions at a reasonable cost.
Turn-around Time: Roofing repair, full installation, or full renovation is a major change that everyone in the household can feel. You must consider a free roof inspection to get an idea of how long the work should take. Choose the most reasonable turn-around time and not the quickest, thus sacrificing quality.
These six evaluation points will help you ensure that you get the best roofing contractor in Minneapolis, MN. It takes time doing these steps, but the quality of your roof depends on how long it can safeguard you and your family. Be wise.
by spencerturnkey | Mar 27, 2019 | Gutters, Ice Dam, Roofing, Storm Damage
In the spring time, Minneapolis home owners are often hit by storms and have to file storm damage claims with their insurance company.
As homeowners in the Minneapolis area, we are vulnerable to mother nature every day. When misfortune lands at our doorstep or, in this case, our rooftop, we can be thankful for insurance coverage and the availability of roofing insurance claims for storm damage. When purchasing insurance, it is always advisable to check with your insurance agent about your policy’s coverage as it relates to roofing insurance claims storm damage.
If you live in an area where storms, especially those known to create a lot of damage, occur frequently, ask your agent to explain exactly what is covered in the event of a loss. For instance, in Minnesota we are known for tornadoes, hail and flooding. These are all factors that could cause major damage and the policy regarding roofing insurance claims for storm damage needs to be clearly defined. At times, there are reports of individuals who suffer extensive storm damage to their home only to learn that their policy did not cover roofing insurance claims for storm damage. There is no doubt that storm damage can cause a lot of problems with your roof in particular, so it’s extremely important to make sure your insurance policy covers any problems that may arise in the event that the unexpected should occur.
When you think about it, our roof is the only thing that protects us from rain, snow, sleet or, in the worst case, a natural disaster. It is expected that, at some point, our roof will be in need of repair. Our roof is essential to a home because, without it, we would be left out in the rain – literally.
If your roof is damaged during a storm, the first thing to do is contact your insurance agent. You will need to ask about their policy regarding the filing of roofing insurance claims for storm damage. Your agent will then advise you in proper procedures and deadlines. Explain to your agent, in detail, exactly what damage was caused and the date of the occurrence. If your roof is leaking, it will need to be repaired or replaced immediately to avoid further damage to the interior of your home. It’s important to inform your agent of any repairs that need to be made without delay. This information is crucial in the processing of roofing insurance claims for storm damage.
After the initial contact with your insurance agent, you should receive a letter or telephone call from their department, which handles roofing insurance claims for storm damage. Following that, an adjuster will likely contact you. In most instances, the adjuster will want to see the damage, take photographs of the loss and will provide the insurance company with an estimate on the cost of repair or replacement. It is not advisable to sign a contract or make any agreements until your hear from your insurance agent. The adjuster may, however, provide you with an estimate on the cost to repair any damage that your roof has sustained during a storm.
Once you receive an estimate from your insurance company, you may begin the process of contracting the work out to a professional. If you choose to hire a professional, ask them to provide you with a projected cost once they have reviewed the damage. During your initial conversation, explain that the funds will come from your insurance company’s claims department, which handles the payment of roofing insurance claims for storm damage. Provide the projected cost information to your insurance company for processing. Depending on the company’s policy, the funds may be paid upfront or after the job is complete. If the money is held until completion, have an invoice sent to the insurance agent for final payment.
At Turnkey Restoration, we understand that going though this process can feel a bit overwhelming – we specialize in helping individuals through the insurance process – and we can help you to.
by spencerturnkey | Mar 27, 2019 | Gutters, Roofing, Siding, Storm Damage, Windows
When Hail Damage hits in Maple Grove and surrounding areas, you will come across many “canvassers” helping you in assessing the damage. Although these people are helpful, it is a bit overwhelming to identify who will be the best company for the job. Below is a list of questions you can use to assess whether or not the company is a good fit for you.
Experience – it is important to know how long the commercial remodeling professionals have been in the industry to know if they are the right one for the job. You can also ask for samples of work they have done before to know the kind of job that they do.
Expertise – it is important to know the areas of expertise that the commercial remodeling contractors work on. This way you will be able to know if you need to bring in other professionals for the job or whether they can handle the task at hand without any problem.
Licensing – when you have just been hit with hail damage, be sure to ask the contractors for their license. Ask them to bring along a copy of their license so as to be sure that they are legit. This is one step that will ensure that the project will go smoothly.
Insurance – working with commercial remodeling contractors that don’t have insurance is taking a huge risk that could land you into a lot of trouble. Ask them about the kind of coverage they have and also ask to see the relevant documents so that you can be on the safe side if anything was to happen on the site.
Equipment – is there any special equipment needed to address hail damage – this is a good thing to ask your contractor and ensure that they are well equipped to handle the job without any complications. This is important and it can also help to reduce costs as the company might include that would increase the budget.
Contracts – always as the commercial remodeling whether they provide contract before work begins. This gives you an assurance of high quality services because you will have a written document that you can refer to in case there are any problems in the future.
Costs – remember to inquire about how much the entire project will cost you. Also – inquire about payment plans to find out if they work for your budget.
Time frame – the commercial remodeling contractors need to let you know the time frame when they will be done with the job. This is extremely important especially if you need to move out of the building for the job to be done so that you can make the necessary arrangements.
Professional agencies – it is also important to ask whether or not the contractors belong to any professional agencies. One of the most important is the BBB (Better Business Bureau) which will help you learn a lot of information about the company.
Personnel – when interviewing commercial remodeling contractors, you need to ask the number of people who will be working on your site to be in the loop of what is going on.
We hope you found this helpful. If you are in the Minneapolis, MN or Maple Grove, MN area and have gotten hit with hail damage – be sure to contact us for a free inspection.
by spencerturnkey | Mar 27, 2019 | Roofing, Storm Damage
If you have a roofing project that seems like more than you can handle, one option for you is to call in a professional residential roofing contractor. Finding ideal roofing contractors in Minneapolis, MN can be difficult as there are very many professionals to choose from. Below are some tips that you can follow to help you in your search to find your next roofing contractor in Minneapolis, MN.
Online
As the world rapidly moves into the digital age, most professional contractors are designing and uploading websites as a means of becoming more visible and attracting more customers. Using popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo will give you a long list of roofing Minneapolis contractors that you can work with. Take time to go through a number of them to see what they have to offer. Note down some of the companies that appear to offer high quality services and contact them to see if they are really what they claim to be. You can even conduct interviews with some of them to have a one on one interaction to narrow down on the one that will work for you.
Remodelers Showcase
These are usually a gathering of professional contractors who work on remodeling houses. This is a great place to find roofing Minneapolis professionals as they normally showcase the work they have done before so that you can see what they are capable of. Here you can also get recommendations from other professional who have worked with the roofer before and have been impressed with their services. It is important to have an open mind and just don’t jump on the first roofer you connect with.
Family and Friends
Since looking for might be difficult, help from family, friends and even neighbors can help make it a little easier. It works better if they have worked with the roofing contractor before as you can study the work they did as well as get a first hand experience of how working with them was. This will help you make a wise decision on the best professional to work with. It is also important to have different options as what might have worked for someone might not really work for you.
Advertisements
Walking around the streets and going through various media like newspapers and magazines can also help you find the best roofer to work with. Look for well written ads from professional roofers and you might just land on the ideal roofing Minneapolis contractor. In most cases, style and wordings used in the ads normally portrays how a company carries itself. This is however not to say that they should not be interviewed to find out if they have all the features that make great roofing professionals. You should also remember to ask for quotes and contracts if you want to have a great working relationship with the professionals.
