North Twin Builders Tells It Like It Is

Choosing the Best Contractor - Part Two

Find out about their education.

How many hours of continuing education do contractors take each year? What about their employees? Ask for proof of this education. A common reply from a contractor you should avoid would be, “We have been building homes this way for years.” Thankfully, not all contractors believe that this approach is the best policy. The truth is that building science is constantly changing, and contractors need continuing education if the goal is to build their clients the safest, most energy-efficient homes possible.

Look for quality building standards.

Clients have told us, “My contractor told me that my home would be built to state codes.” This statement may seem appropriate, but did you know that state building codes are basically the lowest standard by which a home can legally be built? Why would you want your home to be built at the lowest legal standards? In addition, some areas of the state may require enhanced building procedures to assure comfort, reliability, or reduced maintenance. Do your potential contractors know what those enhancements are? You need to find contractors who have a commitment to quality and high standards

Who determines the definition of a “quality” home?

This is the basic question, isn’t it? Is it the homeowner, contractor, state code inspector, independent consultants, suppliers, or the subcontractors who determine what makes a quality home? In reality, all of these professionals working together with you will produce a high-quality home. Failures in any one of these areas start to reduce the probability of a quality home. So, you need to find a team of qualified professionals to create the home of your dreams. Choosing a contractor with an established network of professionals with a commitment to quality is the key to your success.

Ask about testing, tools, and quality control before you begin.

Do your contractors test the houses they build for performance when they are finished? Do they have any documentation on how past homes that they have built performed when tested? What tools do they have to perform these tests on your home? Can they show you the benefits? Can they determine where potential heat losses may be? What measures do they take to assure quality control? Are they willing to hire outside professionals to come in and evaluate the home to prove it is worthy of their claims?