There are a few clues when meeting with your prospective tradesman that may help in seeing if he is really worth the price. Does he take pride in his work? Does he wear his logo on clothing or his vehicle? Did he arrive on time for your initial appointment? If he cannot turn up on time, it doesn't bode well that he will start or finish the job on time either. Did he ask for an unusually large deposit? (There are many scams of "skip and go" characters that do this). When receiving his written estimate, ask for completion early bonuses to be written in as well as finishing late penalties. If he is happy to do so, this is a huge point in his favor. Request 3 names and numbers of who he has worked for recently as references, and contact information of the current client he is working on as well. Keep in mind that only a fool will give names of references that will not be glowing, so they obviously will be biased, but it will show you he is capable of doing a proper job. If you are able, ask to drop in at the current client and see how he works. Is he clean? Uses drop cloths? I once checked out a painter at his current job and when I arrived all his staff was sitting around smoking in the living room, and not working. If the man you hired is not watching over his staff, they will probably not be working as you would want them to in your home.
The best advertising is not who spends the most money on TV, Radio, newspapers, and flyers. The best advertising is from satisfied clients. A contractor that keeps his clients happy each and every time only minimally advertise as he doesn't need to solicit more business. Ask your friends and neighbors for referrals. This word of mouth is not only the best advertising from the contractor's standpoint but the very best for you too. These are obviously people that are happy with his work. And a good contractor will always try to not only keep his clients happy but to constantly improve.
The last clue is how long has this craftsman been in his field? This does not mean that someone recently laid off and retrained cannot do a proper job, but experience does count for quite a bit. Not only his own experience but where did he learn this trade? Many are from the "Old School" of Apprenticeship for many years and only after applying for the government accreditation. I personally know of some contractors that learned their trade from their fathers and grandfathers. Of course, it has changed quite a bit over the years, but continuing in a family tradition usually says quite a bit about quality.
Jennifer asks the following, "The siding, vinyl window frames, and painted floor of the outside of my house need cleaning. Some neighbors said to use TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) as it is the strongest and best cleaner and others said not to. What is the best all-purpose cleaner for outside of my home?" I personally prefer to wet down the area needing cleaning with water, then spray (in a spray bottle) full-strength vinegar on the area. It's a great cleaner, environmentally friendly, and quite inexpensive. Just spray it on and scrub away all the grime. Just be sure to wear gloves and goggles when using this and any other cleaner. TSP is very strong but very harsh. It is also not the greatest thing for the environment, so I try to stay clear of it.
"There is a small area of my home which requires "Tuck Pointing". It is easy to get to and only a very small area. How can I do this myself?" First, the area needing filling between your bricks, alternatively called "Tuck Pointing" should be cleaned of all dust and debris. Then using a spray bottle filled with water, wet the area lightly that you will fill. There are many premixed concrete mixtures that are great for Pointing, I prefer the King brand Fast Concrete Repair from Home Depot or Lowes. It is important to wear waterproof gloves before working with concrete as the acid in it is not good for your hands. Mix it to a thick mud-like consistency then pour it into a large Ziploc bag. You must work fast as it sets in minutes. Seal the bag and snip a 1 – 2 centimeter corner off of it. You will then use this bag to press the concrete thru to the corner and into the area you need to be repaired. For larger areas, a slower drying Concrete should be used as well as a Pointing Bag for the application. Scrap away any excess on your bricks and rinse clean with a synthetic sponge and water.
Yosef Krinsky has been working in the Home Repair / Improvement Industry since 1966. He requests readers to email questions and comments on any home repair or improvement project to wallsrus@gmail.com.
