Don't Get Blindsided on Insurance Coverage!

Insurance confusion is another area where homeowners become blindsided. Most homeowners assume that a contractor has all of the proper insurances needed to cover any  type of incident that may happen while they are on the job, but that’s not always the case!  Here are the two types of insurance you should be sure that your contractor has before setting foot on your property:

Liability insurance: This is how you will be reimbursed if there is damage that occurs on your property during the course of construction. Any contractor who is registered in the state of Pennsylvania is required to carry at least $50,000 in liability insurance, although the Pennsylvania State Attorney General recommends hiring a contractor with at least $750,000. That’s quite a big discrepancy, so it is important to air on the side of caution and choose a contractor with more coverage, rather than less. We actually recommend choosing a contractor with $1,000,000 in coverage, since in the event of a total loss of property, you want your contractor to have enough insurance to cover all of the damages that have occurred. 

Save yourself headaches by verifying adequate insurance coverage.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance: This type of insurance is required by law, and its purpose is to protect both the homeowner and the employee by covering the expenses of the injured worker in the event of an accident .  Although it is required, it is expensive, and many contractors skirt around the issue by hiring workers and paying them under the table. This can be extremely risky for you as a homeowner, because in the event that an uninsured worker is injured on your property, they can sue you for medical bills, lost wages, and even death! Yes, the probability is low, but the risk is high! Don’t expect your homeowners insurance to cover this type of injury either; in general most policies will not cover this because they have no way to verify whether you have hired a competent contractor to work on your home. To avoid a catastrophe like this, make sure that each person who steps onto your property is covered by Worker’s Comp. Ask the company that you are dealing with to put it in writing that everyone working on your property is covered by Worker’s Comp Insurance. Don’t just ask if employees are covered, ask about everyone that will be on the property, because some contractors will show homeowners paperwork stating that employees are covered, when in reality the people doing the actual work on your home are subcontractors, not employees.   If the contractor is not willing to sign off on this important issue, more than likely you will have uninsured workers on your property.

Avoid Getting Ripped Off on Replacement Windows, Entry Doors and Roofing.

Right up there with visiting the dentist and tax preparation, shopping for home improvement services is one of the most dreaded tasks a homeowner takes on. The Better Business Bureau of Western PA receives approximately 9,000 complaints each year on over 151 different industries.  The shocking part? 25% of those complaints are about the home improvement industry! In addition to that, nationwide, over 52% of homeowners say that they were dissatisfied with the worked done by their contractors. How can you avoid being dissatisfied? Don’t get blindsided! The next few posts will point out areas where homeowners are blindsided and what to avoid.

Being Blindsided #1 Homeowners Don’t Know What They Don’t Know

Most homeowners focus on the product being sold rather than the company that is doing the work. While it is important to have a quality product, even the best product on the market will fail if it is not installed properly. Not only that, but in almost every case, improper installation will actually void your warranty. That is one reason that it is so important to choose a company with trained and qualified employee installers. Many companies have their products installed with sub-contractors who are paid for each piece they install. This can cause a problem when the subcontractors are rushing through your job to get to the next one to maximize their profit potential in a day. Employee installers are typically knowledgeable on the product and since they get paid by the hour, not by the piece, they are more likely to put the time and care needed into your project, particularly because they usually have the company’s reputation to protect.

Another factor that you might not consider when searching for a contractor is continuing education. Homes today are not built they same way they were 20 and 30 years ago. Advancements in building materials and techniques have made homes more air-tight and susceptible to mold and moisture build up then they used to be. This is especially important when investing in a new roof, as attic ventilation has become a critical component of any new roofing job. If the roofing contractor you are thinking of hiring is not discussing roofing ventilation, start looking for someone else.  Choosing a contractor who is using out-dated methods and does not make the effort to continue to educate themselves on industry innovations can lead to major problems down the road.

Finally, with so many home improvement companies utilizing subcontractors for their installation, do you really have a knowledgeable crew working on your house? These workers are often paid under the table and work on a temporary basis, meaning that when the work is gone, they are too. Again this is the type of situation that leads to shoddy work and installation defects. Don’t let this happen to you. Ask your sales consultant about the experience and work history of the people installing your products. If they can’t tell you anything about the workers, that could be a sign that they are using sub-contractors.

Are You Losing Energy Because of Old Siding?

Many changes have been made in the siding industry in the last 20 years.  Vinyl siding was first introduced in the 1960’s and has continued to grow in popularity ever since.  Homeowners love vinyl siding because it is weather resistant, durable and easy to maintain. It also comes in a variety of colors, allowing you to outfit your home in anything from classic conservative colors to whimsical hues to show your personality.   

Insulated siding was introduced in the late 90’s as concerns over energy efficiency and conservation became more prevalent. Insulated siding has foam insulation permanently attached to the cladding, which serves to reduce the loss of energy due to air leakage and thermal bridging, which is the transfer of energy through the framing and studs in a home.  Although most homes are insulated, without insulated siding, up to 25% of the air conditioning or heating in your home is still escaping from your home’s framework and studs. That’s the equivalent of leaving one entire wall of your home un-insulated! Homeowners who invest in insulated siding can expect the air tightness of their home to increase an average of 12%, with an average savings of 8% on their energy bill.

While energy efficiency is certainly an attractive aspect of insulated siding, there are other benefits as well. Vinyl siding is resistant to heat and cold, so it won’t crack or wrap and is also moisture resistant to help your home stay dry during periods of high humidity. It is easy to maintain, and won’t fade, so the cost of upkeep is minimal.

Custom Made Vs. Stock Windows

       So now that you’ve decided you are moving forward with your window replacement, it’s time to decide what type of replacement window you will choose; custom-made or stock. Custom windows are designed and made to fit the openings in your home, while stock windows are made in one size. Stock windows are typically readily available at big box home improvement stores and are also what many replacement window companies offer to the public. While many homeowners are attracted to stock windows because of their initial low price, there can be considerable cost involved to make the window fit within the space in your home.

       If your stock window is smaller than the opening in your home then generally filler is needed to make stock windows fit in your home properly. This can include using shims, but can also be as extensive as requiring additional brick or siding on the outside of your home as well as drywall on the inside to make it fit. Keep in mind, putting a smaller window in a larger hole also reduces your view of outside.

        If you choose the make install a window that is larger than your current opening, there is a good chance that you will need to make significant changes to the load-bearing parts of the wall. This is something that is not recommended without the help of a reputable contractor.  So, while initially cheaper, homeowners often ultimately find that stock windows can become considerably more expensive than first expected.

       While they might initially take longer to receive, a true replacement window is one that is built to fit an existing opening in your home. They are designed to create an exact fit and can be installed without major disruption to the inside and outside of your home.

       Custom-made windows are the preferred windows in almost every situation, because they fit properly  into your existing space, maximizing energy efficiency and reducing disruptions to your home.

Weathering the Search For A Storm Door

There are several reasons why homeowners in Pittsburgh and other towns in Western Pennsylvania add storm doors to their homes. Some people add storm doors to their home for added ventilation, some are looking to increase energy efficiency, and others choose to add storm doors for security purposes.

Storm doors originated from the widespread popularity of wooden screen doors from many years ago. The wooden screen doors were used to cool and ventilate a home during the hot summer months, while keeping insects out,  and animals and small children in! As manufacturing materials progressed many Pittsburghers began to gravitate towards storm doors made of aluminum frames that did not require as much maintenance. Another upside to the new aluminum doors was the ability to remove the screens and replace them with glass in the winter to better protect homes against the punishing winter conditions often prevalent in Western PA. 

As mentioned above, some people consider adding a storm door in an effort to increase their home’s energy efficiency. Unless you have an older entry door with poor weather stripping, this step is unnecessary. Today’s newer entry doors, with foam filled steel or fiberglass and effective weather stripping provide all the energy efficiency possible, and adding a storm door will not amount to significant savings.

If you are looking for ventilation, a storm door with a screen insert can certainly help the flow of air unto the house when the entry door is open. If you have air conditioning or central air in your home, chances are you will not open the main entry door that often, making a screen door unnecessary. However home owners without air conditioning will certainly welcome the sweet summer breeze a storm door can provide! 

Storm doors come in a variety of designs and sizes. This door features decorative grids to enhance the ornate design of the entry door.

While most screen doors are not true security doors, you can lock them and they do provide an additional barrier between you and the person at your door. If the screen is in place, you can even talk to someone without opening the door. If security truly is what you are looking for, we recommend a storm door with decorative grid work constructed of heavy steel in front of the glass and heavy duty hardware and locking systems. This type of door will prevent access even if the glass is broken.

Ultimately, the need for a storm door is one that is based upon your lifestyle. If are looking for energy savings and already have a well-sealed entry door, a storm door is largely unnecessary. However, if added ventilation and some level of added security is what you had in mind, a storm door just might be the right choice for you!

Which Window Material Is the Right One For You?

There are so many options out there when choosing windows that the decision making process can be quite overwhelming! From glass, frame material, to what type of sill you prefer, choosing the right windows for your home should not be a task that is taken lightly. This post will focus on the types of frames choices you have for your new replacement windows.

Windows frames come in a plethora of different materials. They are typically composed of one material, but are also available in a combination of materials, like wood windows clad with vinyl or aluminum, or aluminum frames with vinyl reinforcement. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of a few popular types of window frame materials available today:

Aluminum Frames: These frames conduct heat, and therefore lose it faster. Because of this, they can be prone to condensation. Be sure to choose aluminum that has been anodized or coated, because without it, you could find your metal deteriorating and critical joints in your structure can fail as a result of two different metals interacting. Choose windows that feature insulation with plastic strips between the interior and exterior of the frames, as this will greatly improve the thermal resistance of your aluminum frames.

Wood Frames: Wood is a good insulator, which reduces the flow of energy from your home. It is critical that the wood frames on the outside of your home are protected to prevent them from swelling, which can lead to rotting, warping and sticking. This can be accomplished by painting or staining, although both will wear away, so plan on doing this every few years. Alternately, some contractors will wrap the outside of your window with a decorative metal in a color of your choice. This is the easiest way to ensure your wood windows are protected.

Vinyl Frames: Vinyl is a good insulator, will not absorb moisture and can withstand a variety of weather conditions. Easily customizable, you can find vinyl window frames in a variety of styles and shapes.  Although vinyl frames don’t have the strength of metal or wood, many high quality vinyl windows that have been strengthened with aluminum, steel, or fiberglass reinforcing bars are available.

Fiberglass Frames: Fiberglass windows are a relatively new. Some fiberglass frames are hollow, while others are insulated.  They have good insulating capabilities and will not warp, shrink, rot or corrode. The catch is that unprotected fiberglass does not fare well in the weather and therefore must be painted to maintain their strength. Because of this, it is extremely important to verify the warranty and maintenance requirements before you invest.