Did you know vinyl siding is hazardous!

Did you know vinyl siding is hazardous!

The National Fire Prevention Association has stated that, vinyl and aluminum siding create a fire hazard by keeping fire inside your house, intensifying the heat and literally turning your house into a furnace! It also creates serious problems for firefighters because it makes it difficult to locate the source of a wall fire.

When vinyl siding burns, it releases toxic gasses and creates acidic smoke. The acidic smoke is so strong, it can kill a person inside the house before the flames or carbon monoxide.

The following links contain more detailed information about the hazards of vinyl siding.

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Choose the ideal siding for our climate.

Choose the ideal siding for our climate.

No matter which area of the state you call home, the weather can take its toll on your siding. This rings no truer than in the great state of Ohio. With high-highs and low-lows, and wind plus hail all in a week Ohioans see it all. So when you decide to choose a siding manufacturer to protect your home, you want to know that their product will hold up to the Summer heat & Winter chill.

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That’s why James Hardie® siding is created with all climates in mind. They have come up with a way to help customers in Dayton area buy Hardie Board® siding based on specific performance attributes that relate to the “HardieZone” where they live.

While competing companies only offer a one-size-fits-all approach to your home’s exterior, James Hardie® sells their fiber cement siding products based on eight different climatic variables.

Using the HardieZone™ System, it is easy for Dayton homeowners to choose the right type of Hardie Board® siding for them. There are actually ten different climatic zones available, but your siding contractor will identify the right type of siding and install it to the homeowner’s specifications.

James Hardie® fiber cement siding is known for its durability and long lasting beauty. Unlike other siding materials, Hardie Board® is designed to last for up to fifty years without rotting, cracking, or other weather related problems. It is also considered one of the few “green and sustainable” building products available in the siding industry. To learn more about Hardie Board products and how they can pay you back when you sell your home, contact Dependable Construction 937.318.9572.

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Biggest complaints made against contractors is “I didn’t understand”

Biggest complaints made against contractors is “I didn’t understand”

When your about to hire a contractor like Dependable Construction It’s important ask questions and get every detail about the project written in the contract. This includes the deposit and any scheduled payments. If the contractor has been paid more money than the completed work on your project, he has the leverage. But if the homeowner has not paid for work provided, they have some leverage in a dispute.

Now everyone runs their business different but reality is this. To start an average project there are costs. Administration costs, salesmen/estimator, permits and purchasing materials and delivering these to the jobsite. If your contractor asks for a deposit, make sure you don’t get too far ahead of the work being done. Remember any contractor that is solvent in the business has a line of credit with his suppliers and should have operating capital to work with. If he doesn’t have good credit and is using your funds to pay last months bills, is he the contractor you really want to hire? All contractors may not be out as much money as you think in the beginning.

It is also important to know the suppliers along with sub-contractors, used on your job, may have lien rights for the unpaid materials delivered and labor done on your home. Every state has their own laws and it is up to you to know those laws. It is wise, when you are paying for materials or sub-contractors to keep records and to get unconditional lien releases from those parties. It is normal to receive a preliminary notice of these lien rights in the mail, so don’t be surprised, it is the law to notify you of their rights and action they can take if the contractor does not pay them. I know it is a pain for the contractors to provide lien releases and I won’t be on their friends list for these suggestions but these are ways to protect your deposits and payments paid to the contractor.

So how much is the deposit for your project? That is up to you, your professional, the bank and the state you live in. Do your research to make a wise but fair decision. Don’t be one of the people that gets burned and paid for that dream project or large deposit only never to see the company again.

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For more help call Dependable Construction today at (937) 318.9572. We can help you turn any house into your dream home while only using the highest-quality materials and best workmanship in the area.

 

Questions to ask a replacement window contractor.

Questions to ask a replacement window contractor.

When it comes time to get replacement windows, if you’re not an expert it can be a tricky and confusing process. If it is well past time for you to get replacement windows, here are some things to ask your contractor about to avoid miscommunications.

Where does one even begin looking for window contractors and how do you know which ones are good, which ones are bad and who to use for your home? Being thorough in what you ask can help you to understand what you’re getting from the company, create clear expectations and overall save any money or trouble from any miscommunications.

Questions to ask about the company

Once you’ve found a few contractors in the Dayton area like Dependable Construction who install replacement windows, it’s time to narrow down who you’re going to use. If you’re not familiar with window contractors or similar companies, it’s important to find out exactly what the business does and if the company will be a good fit for you and your home.

First and foremost, find out the full name and address of the company. One of the scariest things that can happen is to get scammed by a company that doesn’t actually do what they say or even exist. By getting the name and street address of the company you can find out if the company is real, look up reviews on the services they provide and make sure everything seems real. It’s also a good idea to get the name of the manager or talk to that person if at all possible. Find out how long the company has been in business so that you know the company is able to keep clients and has already gone over the learning curve. The longer a company has been in business, the more likely the company has succeeded in previous jobs and will work well for you.

When a company is able to provide references from previous jobs, including before and after photos, it’s easy to know that a company did a good job. If a contractor doesn’t have photos and testimonials, ask him or her for a list of recent customers and their phone numbers to check how their experience with the company was. If there were problems, how did the window replacement company handle it? Were they helpful in getting things fixed or did they challenge the customer? Making sure others have had a good experience means you are much more likely to have a good experience as well. If the contractor isn’t willing to provide references, it’s likely this isn’t someone you want to work with.

Questions to ask about the actual job

Once you’ve picked your Dayton area window replacement company to use, you’ll need to find out some information about the actual job. Having any type of work done on your home can disrupt your everyday life, so it’s important that you’re clear on what it is you need done and your expectations of the job.

If you’ve already determined the job and price of the job, the next important thing to do is find out how long the project will take to get done. Will it take one day to get the windows replaced or will it take multiple days? Will it happen on a weekday or a weekend when you won’t have to take off work for multiple days? These are all things that will directly affect how you live, whether it’s for a few hours or a few days. Knowing the length of the job and including it in your contract is extremely important.

Find out what warranties you’ll receive from the job. Find out the length of the warranty from the manufacturer and consider the fact that your warranty will be better if it is a factory-authorized installation. Don’t be afraid to ask the window replacement contractor to tell you exactly what the warranty covers.

The most important question to ask your Dayton area window replacement contractor is the level of service they’ll provide you with. You should make sure they’ll remove the old windows and won’t mess up your house or the landscaping surrounding it. If they do, they should cover those costs and if something goes wrong, you should feel confident that the company will fix the problems for you without hassle. It’s always important to feel confident in the company you hire, because they’re who you’ll deal with if the service is bad.

The best way to choose a Dayton area replacement window company is to be thorough in your questions and research. Don’t just use price to determine what company you choose. Experience is a business, Dependable Construction understands this.

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How to spot a bad roofer

How to spot a bad roofer

Dependable Construction understands that like any trade there are few bad roofer’s out there that give the rest of us roofing contractor a bad name. Some companies aren’t built on ethics. Wondering how you can identify them? You don’t really need to use a Blood Hound to sniff out the bad guys. Below is a short list some negative things homeowners should look-out for, and these should give you some red flags.

  1. Recording on the first contact.
    There are good contractors that use voicemail, answering machines and not a secretary or office staff. There is nothing wrong with this, but the amount of time for a call back does say something. Should they take days to call back how long it will take do your roof. If you have a leak or a problem will your call again go to voicemail?
  2. Late for first meeting.
    If the estimator is late for the first meeting to earn your business, and does not give you a call. What’s the rest of the schedule will be like if you award him the contract. Like they say you only get one chance to make a first impression.
  3. He’s unprepared.
    Do you really want to hire a roofing company that is disorganized? We have heard of the wrong shingles being installed because of poor paperwork. Or worst the wrong house being done.
  4. Correct documentation.
    A solid company will have their insurance certifications, customer’s list and material samples in hand for you to look at before it’s time to sign a contract.
  5. No professional contract or proposal.
    A professional contract or proposal is standard for any construction company. A price written on the back of a business card or construction invoices found at Staples is probably not the best contractor to hire.

Asking for deposit that is more than 10 % of contract price.
Be cautious of anyone that asks for large sums of money up front. 10% is the base, depending on the size of the job.

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Don’t risk your roof using contractors that may give you red flags like these. Do it right the first time, dependability matters! Call Dependable Construction today at (937) 318.9572 to learn more about their roofing services & more. You can also visit us on Facebook to keep up with the latest jobs we are working on, be sure to like the page.

The importance of properly installed flashing

The importance of properly installed flashing

Dependable Construction knows that your roof is one of the first barriers of defense against the harsh Ohio elements when it comes to your home or business. Flashing is an essential part of every roofing system. When flashing is installed correctly, it is essential preventing water intrusion at those various locations on the roof. As a homeowner you may be asking yourself “What is flashing”. Let’s take a minute to learn and understand.

What is flashing?

The protective seal that prevents water intrusion at areas such as skylights, chimneys, dormers, roof to wall areas and vents is called flashing. Flashing is a critical preventive measure for moisture damage where water is most prone to penetrate a roof’s surface.

Where is flashing important?

Flashing is important at all roof penetrations, including edges, valleys, joints and any grooves, gaps, intersections and projections on the roof of any structure.

How can improper flashing damage my roof?

Dependable Construction has seen this all to often. Poor or improper flashing can lead to premature deterioration at roof joints, so it is imperative to have flashing installed correctly when a new roof is installed.  Having it done right the first time is one of the best things you can do to preserve your investment.

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If you would like to have you property inspected to ensure that all the flashing is installed correct and isn’t damaged in any way call Dependable Construction today at (937) 318.9572. You can also visit us on Facebook to keep up with the latest jobs we are working on.