Dry rot is one of the very most common causes of “change orders” (when your contractor discovers an unexpected problem, which most often results in an unexpected cost). In fact, reports of dry rot are so frequent that many homeowners believe contractors just use it as an excuse to make money. That belief is mistaken. Dry rot is a very serious problem that, left untreated, can cause serious problems both for your project and your pocketbook. What kind of problems? Dry rot is decay that is caused by fungi that digest the parts of wood that lend it its strength and stiffness. Without that strength and stiffness, wood isn’t a good material for construction. Dry rot looks dark and crumbly at first, but eventually becomes brittle, cracks, and crushes the wood into a powder. In the long run, dry rot can weaken your building (or a portion of your building) and cause it to collapse. That’s why contractors like to fix it. They can do this in several ways: epoxy treatments that kill the rot and restore the structural integrity of the wood; commercial anti-freeze (yes, the kind you use in your car), which both kills and then prevents dry rot; and copper compounds that can be brushed on. In many cases, dry rot has to be removed and replaced with new wood. In some cases, the area around the dry rot also has to be removed, to prevent it from spreading. Of course, good contractors design and build to prevent dry rot in the first place – mostly by sealing off areas vulnerable to moisture intrusion, like the roof and walls, doors and windows, decks and trim. Even if built well, however, those areas need to be properly maintained to keep the water out in the long term – something your contractor can advise you on. By the way, most contractors don’t make up change orders. They hate them! There’s nothing worse than having to tell a homeowner a job will cost more than they thought. Except, of course, leaving dry rot and watching it cause major, major...
Learn MoreHiring a contractor can be one of the most anxiety-producing tasks of any house project. First, you’re likely looking at spending a lot of money on your project, so of course you want someone “good.” And second, horror stories about contractors abound among home owners — tales of contractors who take the deposit and run, for instance. Or who start the work but sometimes, inexplicably, don’t show up for days on end. There are several steps you can take to find good (meaning reliable and affordable) contractors – including getting several bids, meeting in person to see how well you get along, dropping in on a current work site, and carefully checking references. But once you have narrowed the field, don’t go with the very cheapest bid you get. Consider paying a little extra to get a contractor with architectural experience. Here are the top three reasons why: 1. He’ll better understand your vision. Contractors with background in architecture speak the same language as the designers. That means he’ll have a better overall sense of what you and your client are really shooting for and be able to communicate more effectively with the designers, the client, and the sub-contractors. End result: a more unified team working on your client’s dream. 2. He’ll be better able to deal with unexpected problems. The fact that that your contractor understands both the aesthetic and functional goals of the project means that if a problem arises, he can help find solutions that support those goals. 3. He’ll pay better attention to detail. Schooled in design, contractors with architectural background tend to insist that every element of the remodel or new building match the blueprint’s specifications and the highest standards of craftsmanship. Ultimately that means you’ll end up with a more beautiful, finished product. How to find a contractor with architectural background? The same way you’d find a general contractor. Ask friends, family, and business contacts for recommendations. Or call your local chapter of the AIA. You’ll be glad you took the time to find someone with a just a little more...
Learn MoreYou have two options when it comes to creating a remodel contract. With a “time and materials” (T&M) agreement, your contractor will keep track of the hours worked and money spent on your project (including for materials and sub-contractors) and then bill you at the end. You won’t know beforehand how much your project will cost, but you’ll get a very accurate description of just what you paid for during the project. A “fixed price” contract on the other hand, sets one price that will cover the entire project, including the hours worked and the materials purchased. In general, this fixed price doesn’t change throughout the course of the project. Given that so many projects run into unexpected complications, however, some contractors build in some “fat,” or “margin of error” to cover extra costs. Under this type of agreement, your contractor will probably ask to be paid in several installments: including a down payment at the start of the project and a final payment when the project is completed. We generally recommend going with a T&M contract, because it gives clients more control over their project (as they can decide midway through if they want the contractor to do additional work). A T&M contract also reduces potential conflict if a job takes longer than either the client or contractor expected. One third option: develop a fixed price for the bulk of the project. But include a T&M provision for any unexpected problems that need to be resolved. Also called a “cost plus” agreement (or “cost +”), under this agreement, if either the client or contractor decides more work needs to be done, they can agree together on how best to proceed. Whichever option you choose, you need to be working with a contractor you trust, as well as one with whom you can communicate clearly. Without that trust and communication, conflicts can erupt over even the slightest glitches in the...
Learn MoreWhether it’s a small remodel or complete, start-to-finish structure, there are several components that go into making a job successful. But, in our experience, nothing is more important than good communication with the client. When design, build and construction professionals focus solely on the job and forget to include their clients, disasters can happen. From a client being “blind-sided” by the unexpected to giving them something they didn’t really want. Here are four key elements that make for good communication with your clients. Know Your Audience It’s the first question asked by public speakers, politicians, and writers, and it needs to be the first question we ask ourselves at the onset of work: Who is my audience? We’re industry professionals. We know the ins and outs of design and build. We talk about bearing walls, flashing, rough plumbing, running a new feed from the panel box. These may be common terms we use every day, but if you’re not in construction, they may not make sense. Be aware of your client. Make sure you are talking about the work on their terms. Make Time Make it a habit to speak with your clients on a regular basis, whether you’ve encountered an unexpected dry-rot glitch or everything’s running on-schedule. Depending on the stage of work, that may mean setting aside time every day, every other day, or every week. Reaching out to your client regularly gives them a chance to ask questions, whether they be about clarifying architectural specifics or understanding the work schedule. This makes a client feel like their job is as important to you as it is to them. Keep Your Ears Open Good communication, however, isn’t just about conveying information to your client. A good communicator is a great listener. Be easily reachable by phone and email. Encourage questions. It’s the client’s money; it’s the client’s time; it’s the client’s home. It’s important to really focus on what they are saying to you. Utilize Your Tools There are many tools available on the market to help you and your client stay in touch with the project. They come with a wide range of features, from full sharing and editing of scope-of-work and scheduling to more limited report generators. You can...
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