| Choosing a contractor to do work on your home is a | | | | the project? If your project is small and you live close |
| difficult and oftentimes daunting process. It usually | | | | by, then the contractor may have an easier time |
| starts with a search on the internet for local | | | | scheduling your project than a project that's larger and |
| contractors who do the type of work you're looking to | | | | farther away. Some types of insulation are affected |
| have done, or paging through the yellow pages. Then, | | | | by certain environmental conditions - such as extreme |
| once you've compiled a list of contractors, it's time to | | | | heat and cold and wind -- so weather is a factor as |
| pick up the phone (or start typing emails). Unfortunately, | | | | well. If a contractor has a lot of work lined up, or it's the |
| there's no way around this part of the process. Simply | | | | busy season, it may take several weeks to complete |
| put, if you're serious about having work done to your | | | | your project. A contractor should tell you what their |
| home, then you have to take the time to reach out to | | | | lead time is, but if they don't, ask. This will help avoid |
| contractors and let them know you're interested. | | | | potential conflicts. The bottom line is, the more flexible |
| This is where things get tricky. Because let's face it, | | | | you can be, the better. And speaking of busy season, |
| every contractor is different-they have different ways | | | | every contractor is different. Landscapers are |
| of doing business, different operating hours, different | | | | obviously busiest in the summer. HVAC contractors |
| payment terms, different products with different | | | | are typically busiest in the spring and fall. Depending on |
| features and benefits...it can make comparing apples to | | | | the type of insulation they install and the market they |
| apples very confusing. Keeping it all straight can be | | | | cater to (residential or commercial), insulators can be |
| time-consuming at best and at worst cause you to | | | | busy all year long. The residential insulation market |
| throw up your hands in defeat. | | | | usually starts in early fall and continues through the |
| But once initial contact is made, there are things you | | | | holidays, as homeowners prepare their homes for the |
| can do to make the process of choosing a contractor | | | | long cold winter ahead. However, any time of year is a |
| easier and less of a headache. | | | | good time to insulate. After all, insulation will help you |
| Trusting your instincts is key. Most contractors are | | | | save money cooling your home too. Want the best |
| honest, hardworking individuals dedicated to making | | | | service without having to compete with a lot of other |
| your home more beautiful, user-friendly, and energy | | | | homeowners? Insulate your home during off-peak |
| efficient. But there are some contractors out there | | | | seasons, such as spring and summer. |
| who are in business to rip consumers off and rob | | | | 6. Do you have technical information / safety data / |
| them of their hard-earned money. Some red flags: | | | | MSDS information for the products you install? Every |
| proposals/contracts that lack detail or leave you with | | | | insulation contractor should have all the technical data |
| more questions than answers; representatives who | | | | for each and every product it installs - in their office, in |
| are late or don't show up at all; sloppy, unprofessional | | | | their vehicles or both. You may not need to see all the |
| workers; websites/literature with overinflated claims | | | | data on the product that the contractor proposes to |
| that seem too good to be true; shady salesmen | | | | install in your home, but you may - and should - ask |
| pushing products you don't need. A lot of consumers | | | | about any issues that might pertain to the health and |
| have encountered one or more of these things, and | | | | safety of you and your family. |
| have had encounters with a less-than-reputable | | | | 7. Do you offer a warranty? Any reputable contractor |
| contractor. | | | | should offer some sort of warranty or guarantee. |
| If this has happened to you, don't let it happen again, | | | | That's just good business practice. The company I |
| and don't let it stop you from renovating your home. | | | | work for, for example, warrants that all insulation |
| Here are 11 questions you absolutely must ask every | | | | products it installs to be free from defects of |
| contractor you meet with. There are other questions, | | | | workmanship and material for a period of one (1) year. |
| of course, but these ten can make or break the | | | | 8. How detailed are your contracts? This is more |
| contractor/homeowner relationship. | | | | important than you might think. Questions left unasked |
| 1. Is your company registered with the Pennsylvania | | | | and little details left un-written can lead to conflicts later. |
| Attorney General's office? In 2008, the Pennsylvania | | | | If in doubt, ask. Be wary of any contract that is very |
| Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer | | | | general, lacking details, or open to interpretation. *Note: |
| Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors | | | | The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, |
| who perform at least $5,000 worth of home | | | | effective as of July 1, 2009, established required |
| improvements per year must register with the | | | | contract terms such as: a description of the work; an |
| Attorney General's Office. This includes insulators. | | | | approximate start date and completion date; the total |
| Registration with the PA Attorney General doesn't | | | | price of the contract; and notice of the consumer's |
| absolutely guarantee that a contractor is legit, but it | | | | right to cancel the contract. |
| does prove that the company carries insurance and | | | | 9. Who's responsible for prep work and clean up? |
| provides for certain consumer protection initiatives: The | | | | Some homeowners are real particular and prefer to |
| law creates a criminal penalty for home improvement | | | | prep an area themselves and/or clean up using their |
| fraud; requires all contracts for home improvements of | | | | own materials/equipment. Others prefer to let the |
| more than $500 to be in writing and be signed by the | | | | experts do the prep work and clean up. Either is fine, |
| consumer and the contractor; and limits down | | | | of course, just make sure you ask what the |
| payments or deposits for any home improvement | | | | contractor is responsible for and what is expected of |
| project for which the total price is more than $1,000. | | | | you, the homeowner. And let them know your |
| Offering or performing home improvements without | | | | preferences. This will help avoid conflicts later, and |
| being registered is a violation of the act and may | | | | should be spelled out in any contract you sign. |
| subject the contractor to an enforcement action and | | | | 10. Do you have references? If a contractor has |
| possible civil penalties. Consumers can call | | | | references, it shows that they care enough about their |
| 1-888-520-6680 to check whether a contractor is | | | | business to ask past clients to grade them on their |
| registered. | | | | performance. And if a contractor is reputable, they |
| 2. Does your company carry insurance? Some | | | | should have lots of positive feedback archived and be |
| contractors don't carry insurance for the simple fact | | | | willing to share it with you. Be sure to ask for a list of |
| that it can be expensive. But any reputable contractor | | | | client references. Most homeowners don't, and then |
| - insulators included - should have both General Liability | | | | they wonder why they had a bad experience. Keep in |
| insurance and a Workers Compensation policy. It | | | | mind that even reputable contractors sometimes have |
| shows that the contractor cares about his business, his | | | | projects that go less than perfect, and a contractor's |
| clients, and his employees. Imagine the consequences | | | | reference list should include those projects as well, if |
| if an un-insured contractor has to deal with a | | | | only to show how the contractor stepped up to the |
| less-than-perfect project or, heaven forbid, one of their | | | | plate to resolve the issues. |
| employees is injured on the job or damages customer | | | | 11. Do I need a Thermographic Inspection of my |
| property. What a nightmare! | | | | house? A popular - and effective - way to detect |
| 3. What are your payment terms? Some contractors | | | | thermal defects and air leakage in your home is with |
| require a deposit before work begins, some bill upon | | | | thermography, or infrared scanning. Thermography |
| completion. Some accept credit cards and some don't. | | | | measures surface temperatures and heat variations |
| Every contractor is different. Best to ask up front | | | | by using infrared video and/or still cameras. With the |
| what you can expect BEFORE signing that contract. | | | | device an energy auditor or inspector will be able to tell |
| 4. Have your installers undergone training or received | | | | where air leakage is occurring, and where insulation is |
| manufacturer certification to install your products? Any | | | | missing or inadequate. Some services go one step |
| reputable contractor should have a training program | | | | further and include a blower door test-a powerful fan |
| for all their field personnel. Additionally, some insulation | | | | that mounts to the frame of an exterior door and pulls |
| manufacturers require on-site training and certification | | | | air out of the home in order to determine a home's |
| of any company that wants to become a contractor | | | | airtightness -- and thermograms of electrical and |
| to install its products. Don't be afraid to ask about a | | | | mechanical systems. You should consider, at the very |
| contractor's experience level. An experienced and | | | | least, a thermographic inspection of your house to see |
| professional insulator should always be more than | | | | whether your current insulation is sufficient. It's |
| willing to tell you about it. But be forewarned: There are | | | | especially important if you own an older home, where |
| some insulators out there that are poorly trained, if at | | | | the existence and condition of wall insulation is |
| all. Gasp! Can you imagine hiring an accountant to install | | | | unknown. You can't always tell what's hiding behind the |
| new plumbing? Or a plumber to do your taxes? | | | | walls of an older building. Now thermal imaging can |
| Absurd! But it's true that some insulation contractors, in | | | | take the guess work out of installing insulation in |
| hurry to get a job done, hire people off the street and | | | | existing walls. |
| ill-prepare them for something as technical as installing | | | | Asking these questions will enable you to filter out the |
| insulation. | | | | reputable contractors from the less-than-reputable |
| 5. Is the completion date definite or flexible? This is a | | | | ones. And hopefully, the answers you receive will allow |
| tough question. It depends on many factors: What time | | | | you to make a confident, stress-free decision about |
| of year is it? How busy is the contractor? What type | | | | which contractor is best for your project. |
| of insulation is being installed? How easy or complex is | | | | |