Greetings!
The large multi-room addition we are working on in Wellington's Binks Estates neighborhood is proceeding towards completion. On the exterior the roof tile is complete, the "accordion" hurricane shutters are up, and the gutters have been installed. On the interior the drywall in hung, the doors and moldings are in, and the walls and ceilings are fully painted.
Next the brick pavers will be installed for the pool deck extension outside and tile/marble followed by cabinets will be installed inside.
It won't be long before the air conditioning system will be installed and that day can't come soon enough. I don't have to tell you how hot it has been lately and it's worse inside an unfinished addition.
Our website is undergoing "remodeling" as I write this. The new website should be up and running before the next newsletter. It contains a ton of new information about room additions and home remodeling and I look forward to getting your feedback. The site address is: www.leadingedgehomes.com
Till next month...
Sincerely, Todd Perry
Leading Edge Homes, Inc.
|
|
|
Key Questions to Ask a Contractor BEFORE Hiring Him.
Any good contractor should be able to honestly answer the following questions and be willing to put his answers in writing so you can compare the various answers.
- Provide a copy of your up-to-date Florida contracting license applicable to the work I want to have performed.
- Provide a list of all the home improvement businesses in which you have been an owner, shareholder, or partner within the last 10 years.
- Have you or any of the owners ever filed for bankruptcy for this or any other company that you or they owned or were a shareholder or partner in?
- Provide a certificate of insurance for your company.
- What is your subcontractor/supplier payment policy and what type of proof will I be provided that they have been paid?
- What is your company's rating with the Better Business Bureau and are there any unresolved complaints?
- What is your warranty and what does it cover?
- Have you ever repaired a problem on a project after the warranty expired without charging for it?
- Who will be supervising the project on a day-to-day basis?
- How many projects similar to mine have you completed?
- What do you provide to help me understand what to expect during the project process?
- How and how often will construction debris be removed?
- What is your policy regarding tobacco, drugs, and alcohol use by your employees and subcontractors?
Now verify the answers with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Better Business Bureau, the issuing insurance agency, etc. The quality contractor will stand out. |
|
|
|
|
Caulk is Caulk, right?
Like so many things in life, you get what you pay for. Inexpensive caulk tends to shrink when it drys, which makes it crack. It's no fun having to redo work, especially if it's already been painted over.
Cheap caulk is also more watery than high quality caulk. That means you may not be able to fill in wider gaps without having to let it dry and do it in layers - a true time waster.
Some more expensive caulk is an adhesive caulk. That means you can use it to glue certain things with it. A perfect application is the installation of crown molding. An adhesive caulk used on the upper and lower edges fills in the gaps and helps to securely fasten the molding to the wall and ceiling. Latex caulk used on the exterior of a home tends to
dry out quickly, crack, and not make a good seal. I recommend using a good quality one part polyurethane sealant around doors and windows because it stays flexible for up to 50 years. Once again, there are good sealants and poor quality ones. If you would like to know which products I use and recommend for various applications, or if you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I'll be happy to share my knowledge with you. |
|
On a Personal Note...
I survived the three birthdays in July we celebrated in our house without getting into trouble for the cards or gifts I bought. Whoo-hoo!
Now that my son has graduated law school, he started working full time on Monday in the law firm of Murray and Guari (a personal injury practice in West Palm Beach). This is a proud and happy milestone for our entire family. Todd Perry Leading Edge Homes, Inc.
729 Cindy Drive
Wellington, Florida 33414
|
|
|
|
Featured Article
Want to tell if your remodeling project is going to go smoothly before signing on the dotted line? Then click on "Key Questions to Ask a Contractor BEFORE Hiring Him?" above.
|
|
