Top Questions to Ask Your Roofer

A new roof is a major improvement and investment. A poorly done job only means more costs, added stress and lost time. Thus, it pays to ask the right questions when you are hiring a roofing contractor. Ask your roofer the following to help you determine the experience, reliability and reputation of the contractor. 

Image:en.wikipedia.org

 ●     How long have you been in the business?

Preliminary to asking this question is asking for the full company name and address. A roofing company without a physical location is a cause of concern. Hire a contractor with a nearby office since the likelihood of quicker response and better service is greater if the roofer is located near you.

When you already know these details, follow up your question with the roofer’s years of experience in the business. Longevity is a good indicator of good service quality. On the other hand, just because a contractor is new does not mean that you are dealing with a substandard company. For new players, you may ask for references from the contractor.

●     Are you licensed?

Many states, though not all, require roofing contractors to be licensed. Also, the requirements for each state may be different. As a homeowner, you should first research the code requirements where you live. If roofers are required to be licensed in your state, hire only those who are licensed. Make sure also that the roofer’s license is up to date. In addition, take note that business license is different from the contractor’s license. The former is only a tax requirement and is not directly relevant to the competence of the contractor.

●     Does your company carry insurance?

It is required for the contractor to carry comprehensive liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. You can verify this from the contractor by asking for his current certificates of insurance. Insurance is important in case accidents happen while your roof is under construction. Contractors who carry insurance are expected to follow safety guidelines, thus they usually have higher overhead costs. On the other hand, those who do not carry insurance are most likely cheaper to hire, since they won’t have to pay for insurance premiums.

●     Do you provide referrals or references from previous jobs?

Most contractors offer a list of customers who were satisfied with their work. What you can do is to ask for local job sites where they had worked, probably the last three clients, so you can visit the site and check the previous roofing work. Talking to recent clients is important in order for you to know if they had good experience with the roofing contractor.

These are just a few questions to ask your roofer when you are in need of roofing services. Take note of these and be sure to ask the roofer before hiring. A professional and topnotch roofing contractor will be happy to answer these questions.

Written by True Son Exteriors, the best contractors for roofing in Columbia, MO.

The Golden Rules of Lawn Care

Everyone who has a lawn wants it to look good at all times. For these reason, people have gone to great lengths to ensure that their lawns are well taken care of. Some have hired professional companies to do the work for them, while others prefer to do it themselves. There are cases where people have put in a lot of effort to care for their lawns, but the results have not been satisfactory. This is usually because one may be missing a key aspect of caring for his or her lawn. The following are golden rules for lawn care.

Image:bouldercreeklandscape.com

Water regularly

It is common knowledge that plants need water to grow. However, most people do not know the exact amount of water that any given plant needs in order to survive. This is information that one needs to look for either through research or consultation. The amount of watering will play a pivotal role in the care of one’s lawn. Watering a lawn either too much or too little can be dangerous to the kinds of plants that one has in his or her lawn, which will in turn produce undesirable results. It is important to get the watering right.

Trimming and mowing

This is another key aspect of ensuring that one’s lawn is at its best at all times. All plants have different rates of growth. For a lawn that is good looking, one has to ensure that all the plants appear to be growing at the same rate. This creates symmetry, which is very appealing.  The inability of plants to grow at the same rate will force one to trim the hedges and mow the lawns to create the symmetry. One should make sure that they have the right equipment for the job because any mistakes will be very visible.

Use of organic material

This is a part where a lot of people often mess up. There are a number of different ways in which one can add nutrients to the soil in order to have a better looking lawn. However, one should always try to use organic materials for this sort of task. Chemicals are likely to alter the pH of the soil, which will have negative long-term effects on the lawn. They are also unsuitable for living organisms in the soil, which play a role in the growth of the lawn. It is important to ensure that organic inputs are used as much as possible to prevent any unexpected events.

Weeding

Weeds are probably some of the biggest threats to a perfect looking lawn. They come up unexpectedly, and they compete with the grass in one’s lawn for nutrients and water. For this reason, one should make a point of ensuring that his other lawn is weeded carefully by a professional. One might be doing the lawn care properly but without weeding it is close to useless. It is also advisable to find organic lawn inputs that are able to prevent growth of weeds after one has done the weeding.

In conclusion, there are many different things one can do and many different measures that one can take in order to ensure that his or her lawn is well taken care of. However, there are a few key steps that one should make sure not to miss. These steps are the things that will make the difference between a lawn that is well cared for and one that is neglected. A well-kept lawn goes a long way in ensuring that the external décor of a house or a commercial building is appealing to the eye.

Written by Boulder Creek Lawn & Landscape, the best service for lawn care Jefferson City, MO has to offer.

Hiring a Professional to Update Your Interior Appearance

You don’t have to spend loads of money to update your interior appearance for your home or your business. Some fresh paint and edging can make a huge difference in the way a room looks; add some accents and decorating, and you can transform it in no time at all. However, since many of us lack the time or the creativity to do this on our own, it’s best to hire a professional.

Image:chittendendecorators.co.uk

Selecting a Professional

There are many professional painters & decorators in Essex who can complete this type of work for you. They can get the job done in very little time and with amazing results. They can also help you to select the right colours and designs for your home or your business. Before you pick one, spend some time evaluating the qualifications and cost that various professionals offer.

Try to see some of the work they have already done for someone else. This can give you a visual sample of what they may be able to do for you. Being confident about the job and what they will provide is very important. Only work with a provider offering quality materials and a guarantee on the work. After all, it’s your money, and you’re the one who’ll be spending time at your home or business—so you need to be satisfied with the outcome.

Consultation for Pricing

Contact those professionals you feel can do a wonderful job for you. Schedule a time for them to come to your home or business. They will need to see the area that needs to be painted and decorated. The location, overall size and complexity of the job can all influence the price quote they provide for you. If you are happy with the price, schedule a time for them to do the work. If you aren’t happy with the price, don’t be shy about finding another provider who can do it within your set budget.