1. Are you FULLY insured?

This is perhaps the most important question you can ask a potential remodeling contractor. You must be aware that liability insurance only covers your property if there is damage of some kind on the job site. Be sure that your contractor carries Workman’s Compensation Insurance for anyone he is sending to your home to work. Accidents happen in the blink of an eye and afterwards is not the time to find out that your contractor was not properly insured. If he has neglected to carry Workman’s Compensation, you will have a hurt person, on your property, with no insurance coverage. Not a good place to be! Ask to talk to his insurance agent directly and get a certificate of insurance so you will be sure that all the proper insurance is in place.

2. Do you have staffed office hours?

A cell phone can be turned off. An answering machine can go unnoticed. When you want to contact your remodeler, will you be able to? A staffed office with posted office hours shows the remodelers commitment to customer satisfaction.

3. Are you properly licensed for this job?

Even smaller projects can grow to a point where permits are required. The contractor needs to be properly licensed to ensure proper completion of the project. A project that requires a permit and did not have one issued can leave the homeowner with a large liability with the city or the financing company. If in doubt, call your local building department to check the status of your contractor’s licensing.

4. Are you financially able to get through a project of this size?

This question often goes unasked but is important none the less. The remodeler should have the financial where-with-all to get through any problems that may arise over the course of the project. Many projects are vacated because the contractor did not have the financial means to cover un-planned events that arose before the completion of the project. Be sure your contractor has the ability to overcome any obstacle along the way.

5. Will you be sub-contracting the project or handling it in-house?

Certain portions of the project will need to be subcontracted such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC to certain specialty license holders. However, it is important to note what makes an employee – If the company provides a schedule of work times, or tools, or by the nature of its business is the only “customer” of the sub-contractor, that sub-contractor is in fact an employee. Some companies try to get around Workman’s Compensation and tax laws by labeling their employees as sub-contractors. This is illegal and leaves the homeowner with unnecessary liability exposure. Insist on a list of sub-contractors that will be used on the project and ensure that all of the sub-contractors are properly insured with Workman’s Compensation Insurance.

6. Will you supply lien releases for all sub-contractors and material suppliers?

Ensure that all bills to sub contractors and vendors have been paid when issuing the final payment for the project. Require a lien release for all subs and material suppliers when making your final payment.

7. Do you have any current references from customers with similar projects?

See if you can visit a work site that is in progress to see what type of care will be taken with your property.

8. Do you belong to any associations such as the Quad City Home Builders Association and the Remodelers Council or the BBB?

Active participation shows the contractors commitment to their clients and the remodeling industry.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A complete remodel that is bidding out at $30,000 will likely not be completed for $10,000. Just because it is the lowest bid, does not mean it is the best bid.

Bettendorf Home Repair and Remodeling proudly serves over 700 clients every year with a wide array of home repair and remodeling projects just like yours! We would be honored to give you a free estimate for your remodeling project. Call 563-355-8449 today!!

Thank you for your e-mail dated 17 April 2011. You asked a few very good questions. I will answer those questions for you to the best of my ability.

Question #1: How good is an interim control over the long run?
Answer: The interim control is only as good as the maintenance that is performed on it. I.E. – if you paint the steps and clean really well there is no immediate hazard from lead based paint. As long as the paint is kept in good condition it will not present a hazard other than as a “chewable surface”. A “chewable surface” is any surface that a child can gets their mouth on and chew. The problem you will have is that you are planning to go to California. As a landlord, you will need to think about the condition the house may fall into with a tenant. In that situation, it may be best to remove the hazard completely. The rule of thumb however is if it is covered, the paint is in good condition, and it is clean, there is very little to worry about. (Another idea might be to cover the steps with sheet vinyl.)

Question #2: Can lead paint seep through other paint?
Answer: This is VERY unlikely to happen. Lead is a very heavy and very dense material. It does not “seep” through the top coat of paint. More likely what has happened is that the person who did the original painting was not following lead safe renovation procedures and re-contaminated the area after it was painted. Always start your work high and at the farthest point from the exit. Work from high to low and back your way out of the space. This goes for the work and the post renovation cleaning procedures as well.
Question #3: With paint stripper, are all the precautions necessary?
Answer: The particular level of PPE (personal protective equipment) and containment used will vary from job to job. It is important to remember that what you are trying to avoid is cross contamination. With chemical strippers, you will need to make sure you have proper ventilation. The strippers are very toxic and can be very hazardous to your health if proper safety precautions are not followed. All lead safe renovations require that you work with the medium being wet some how. When sanding or scraping, you would mist the area with water to wet the area before sanding or scraping starts. Dry sanding or scraping is considered a prohibited practice. Ensure that all the material you remove is cleaned up completely and disposed of properly and it will not matter which method you choose to use. Again remember – make sure you have proper ventilation before using any type of chemical paint remover.
Question #4: (paraphrased). What level of containment is required?
Answer: Again the level of containment will change from project to project but the minimum required is plastic on the floor a minimum of 6 feet in all directions of the work site. The goal of containment is that dust from your work area does not migrate past the containment area you have established. That is the rule. So if you are using a chemical stripper, it may be more important to have proper ventilation than to have vertical containment. You are only required to ensure that the dust created from your renovation is not migrating past the area of containment.
As a landlord, it may be beneficial for you to take the 8 hour Lead Safe Renovator Course. It is a one day course and it is required by the IDPH (Iowa Department of Public Health) to become certified in lead safe renovations. In Iowa, anyone who does any type of renovations for compensation is required to be certified in lead safe renovations. This law is fairly new and has not been defined by the courts just yet, but a lot of landlords who do their own renovations have taken the class just to be on the safe side. The course covers all aspects of lead safe renovations- Identifying hazards, containment, proper PPE, clean up procedures and cleaning verification procedures. It also discusses the law and your specific responsibilities under the law. It may be a very good class for you. I offer the course about once a month here in my office. Right now the next class is May 7Th. The cost is $249 with lunch provided for all students. I provide all the handouts, your text book, and all supplies needed for the hands on training portion of the program. I need to know by the 25Th if you would like to attend so I can make my reports to the IDPH.
Thank you for your very good questions.

Answer: A remodeler who cares about professionalism and has proven the commitment to his or her clients by adhering to a prescribed set of business standards and engaging in continuing education to keep informed of all the new advancements in home remodeling trends.

According to the NAHB website:

” The National Association of Home Builders and Remodelers along with the Home Builders Institute have developed a designation program for remodelers called the Certified Graduate Remodeler Program. To earn a CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) designation, a remodeler must meet nationally defined criteria for previous experience, adhere to prescribed business standards, and engage in continuing education. If your remodeler has earned the CGR designation, you can be confident that he or she will provide professional caliber work. To maintain the designation, all remodelers must compete a continuing education requirement every three years. When remodelers demonstrate this commitment to the industry, they also prove their concern for their clients.

NAHB Remodelers is America’s home for professional remodelers, representing 14,000 remodeling industry members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Founded in 1982 it provides information, education, and designation programs to enhance the professional image of the industry. Its membership incorporates nearly 140 local councils in 45 states.” (Source: www.nahb.org/designations)

A CGR is simply a remodeler who has gone the extra distance and graduated from a program that reviews his or her work ethics, business profile, and remodeling expertise. The program requires the remodeler to engage in continuing education in order to maintain the designation and adhere to a set business principle of fairness and professionalism when dealing with his or her clients.

When considering a remodeling contractor, ask to see their NAHB designation as a Certified Graduate Remodeler.

Bettendorf Home Repair and Remodeling Inc. is proud of its Certified Graduate Remodeler designation from the National Association of Home Builders and Remodelers. Call 563-355-8449 for a free estimate with your CGR today!

Bettendorf Home Repair has helped hundreds of your neighbors with their ice dam problems and we can help you too. Call us at 563-355-8449 to schedule a free estimate!

1. Decide if the remodel is something that you can do, have time to do, and really want to do on your own. Just because you can do a job on your own, does not necessarily mean that you should do the job on your own. Make sure that your family is on board with the remodel plans as family support through this endeavor will be crucial.

2. If you do decide to hire a contractor to do the remodel, make sure you have done your homework. See my blog on Things to look for when hiring a contractor.

3. You will need to set a realistic budget – AND stick to it! A remodel is a very easy place to blow your budget right out of the water. A realistic budget will take into account some cost over runs. Even the most well thought out plan can run into snags along the way, you should be prepared with a contingency plan before you start the remodel so you will have a better chance of staying on budget.

4. Make a notebook of all the details of the project. We make a step by step notebook that outlines every step of every project we take on. This notebook becomes our guide as we get into the thick of the project. A well thought out plan will be set up is sequential order as to how the project will proceed. It is a good idea to read the notebook on the actual jobsite to ensure there are no missing areas of concern prior to starting.

5. Gather all the materials you will need for each phase of your project and inspect them to ensure that there are no damaged items and that you have enough on site to start the job. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a replacement part because the part that was originally sent is broken – especially when you are in the middle of the project.

6. Be sure to check with your local building inspector to see if the work you are planning requires any type of license or permit. Always pull a permit prior to beginning any demolition. You building inspector can be a great asset for you during the remodel and he will ensure that your remodel meets all code requirements.

7. Finally, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to complete the remodel. When working on your own you have to remember that you may only be able to work on the project during the weekends and that there will be birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other family events that may take away from the work time. A project that my crew can finish in a week took me almost 9 months at home on my own because of this very reason!

Bettendorf Home Repair and Remodeling are your local remodeling experts. We are here to do as much or as little of the remodel as you would like help with. We are also here to provide guidance and assistance with any remodel project you may desire to take on your own. We are fully licensed, insured, and certified in lead safe renovations for your protection. Call 563-355-8449 today for a free estimate on any of your home remodeling needs!