BB'S TIPS AND INFO

CHECK IN HERE OCCASIONALLY TO FIND IDEAS, TIPS, AND ADVISE ON THE PROPER WAY TO GET AND HAVE THINGS DONE.

CHECK YOUR REFERNCES

IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY FIXING AND ESTIMATING HOUSES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING ALOT OF DAMAGE DUE TO INFERIOR WORK BY OTHER CONTRACTORS. TWO OF THESE JOBS ARE DEALING WITH OVER $5000.00 OF REPAIRS.

ONE PLACE IS WORK DONE BY A STORM CHASER, THE OTHER IS A SMALL TOWN CONTRACTOR, THAT WOULDN'T KNOW A BUILDING CODE IF IT FELL ON TOP OF HIM.

WE ALL HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SOME OF THE BUILDING CODES, AND PERMITS, BUT THEY ARE THERE TO BASICALLY PROTECT THE CONSUMER.

MAKE SURE YOUR BUILDER IS GETTING THE PROPER PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS. IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WITHOUT INSPECTION, THEN MAYBE YOU MIGHT CONSIDER HAVING AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION COMPANY FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR JOB (ESPECIALLY FOR A LARGE SCALE JOB). SPENDING A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IS BETTER THAN HAVING SOMEONE LIKE ME COME TO YOUR HOUSE 5 YEARS LATER, WITH A 5000 DOLLAR REPAIR.

I HAVE SEEN SOME JOBS, WHERE 20 YEAR COMPANIES CHARGED TO RUN NEW WIRE IN A HOUSE. WHEN I WENT INTO THE ATTIC THERE WAS NEW WIRE LAYED AROUND IN THE ATTIC, BUT IT WASN'T HOOKED UP TO ANYTHING. THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN COMPANY THAT HAD DONE ELECTRIC WORK ALL OVER THIS TOWN.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK, ASK FOR REFERENCES. TALK TO SOME OF THERE OLD CUSTOMERS. LOOK AT SOME OF THERE WORK. TAKE A LITTLE TIME, AND MAYBE SAVE ALOT OF MONEY.

INSURANCE COVERAGE AND CLAIMS
FIRST OF ALL YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT ADDING FLOOD COVERAGE. WITH THE INPENDING SPRING RAINS, AND THE UPCOMING SNOW MELT, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA. HOWEVER, USUALLY IT TAKES 30 DAYS FOR SUCH A POLICY TO GO INTO EFFECT. IT WOULD BE SMART TO TALK TO YOUR AGENT AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW YOUR COVERAGE WOULD WORK.
THEY ARE ALREADY STARTING WITH THE FLOOD WARNINGS, AND A NORMAL HOEMOWNERS POLICY WILL NOT COVER FLOODING.
MY SECOND POINT IS ABOUT MAKING CLAIMS. SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL TRY TO GET YOU TO USE THEIR PREFERRED PEOPLE. THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO RECOMMEND COMPANIES, AND THEY CANNOT TELL YOU WHO TO USE. IF YOU FEEL THEY ARE COERCING YOU INTO USING A CERTAIN COMPANY, THEN YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE STATE INSURANCE COMMISIONER. YOU CAN DO SO AT http://oci.wi.gov/oci_home.htm
THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU. THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE YOUR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.
GET THE ESTIMATES FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WANT. USE THE COMPANY YOU WANT. I HAD A FIRE JOB WHERE MYSELF AND ANOTHER COMPANY BID THE JOB AT OVER $100,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE HOMEOWNER LET THE INSURANCE COMPANY SEND IN A COMPANY THAT THEY RECOMMENDED. THIS COMPANY BID THE JOB AT UNDER $55,000.00. THEY WERE TRYING TO SAVE UNSAVEABLE ITEMS, AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO HALF OF THE WORK. IT COST THE HOMEOWNER ALOT OF MONEY. HE ENDED UP PAYING FOR ALOT OF THE REPAIRS OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.
KNOW YOUR POLICY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REPLACEMENT COVERAGE(ASK YOUR AGENT), AND NOT PRO-RATED COVERAGE. THE COST DIFFERENCE IS MINIMAL, AND THE CLAIM ALLOWANCE DIFFERENCE CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. IT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE OF YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAYING FOR HALF OF YOUR ROOF, OR ALL OF IT.
REMEMBER YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER, MAKE SURE YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT THEY WANT. MAKE SURE YOUR POLICY COVERS WHAT YOU WANT, BEFORE YOU NEED IT, NOT WHEN YOU NEED IT. THE DIFFERENCE OF PAYING LESS THAN $50.00 A YEAR COULD COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CLAIM.

THINK BEFORE YOU BUILD!
BEFORE YOU START THAT NEW HOUSE CHECK INTO YOUR OPTIONS, SOME CAN INCREASE YOUR COMFORT AS WELL AS INCREASE YOUR HOME MARKET VALUE.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS I SPEAK OF IS, CENTRAL VACUUM. I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY PEOPLE BUILD $300,000.00 HOUSES AND DON'T ADD CENTRAL VAC. FOR THE SMALL PRICE YOU PAY, YOU WOULD BE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS. NEVER HEAR THE VACUUM MOTOR NOISE IN YOUR HOUSE. NEVER DRAG AROUND THE WHOLE VACUUM, JUST THE HOSE. NEVER HAVE THE VACUUM BLOWING DUST AND ALLERGENS BLOWING INTO YOUR HOMES AIR. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT FEATURED IN ALL HOUSES.
THE SECOND OPTION I SPEAK OF, IS IN FLOOR HEAT. CERAMIC TILE THAT ISN'T COLD, NO DUST BLOWING AROUND YOUR HOUSE. WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE. THE BEST PART IS YOU ELIMINATE YOUR COLD AND WARM SPOTS, IN YOUR HOUSE.
WITH THE NEW BOILERS THEY NOW HAVE, THEY ARE AS EFFICIENT AS ANY HEAT. THE NEW BOILERS ARE ALSO SO SMALL THAT THEY HARDLY TAKE UP ANY ROOM, AND NOW THEY HAVE A/C THAT YOU CAN INSTALL WITH THEM, AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO RUN ALL THAT DUCT WORK.
TECHNOLOGY HAS COME ALONG WAY IN ALL FIELDS. IT'S GOOD TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK, BEFORE YOU SPEND YOUR CASH.

CHECKING YOUR ATTIC INSULATION

YOU HAVE A PRETTY NEW HOUSE, OR YOU HAD YOUR HOUSE INSULATED. AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS YOUR ATTIC INSULATION CAN SETTLE. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO PEAK UP INTO YOUR ATTIC AND CHECK YOUR INSULATION. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AT LEAST 12 INCHES OF INSULATION THROUGHOUT YOUR ATTIC. IF YOU DO YOUR DOING GOOD.

IN A LOT OF ATTICS WE SEE THE INSULATION HAS SETTLED AND THERE IS AREAS WHERE THE TRUSSES ARE BARELY COVERED.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE YOUR ATTIC REBLOWN. A LITTLE BIT OF INSULATION CAN SAVE YOU ALOT OF MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF!!!

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

STAYING IN THE ENERGY THEME. IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER HOUSE AND YOU'RE SICK OF THE EXPENSIVE HEATING BILLS. AONG WITH MAKING SURE YOU ARE PROPERLY INSULATED. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO LOOK AT YOUR WINDOWS, AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE UP TO PAR.

THE MOST ECONOMICAL WAY TO UPGRADE YOUR EXISTING WINDOWS, IS TO INSTALL REPLACEMENT WINDOWS. THEY ARE FAIRLY EASY AND QUICK TO INSTALL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE SIDING OR TEAR UP YOUR INTERIOR WALLS. USUALLY ONE CAN BE DONE WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS (BY A PROFESSIONAL). THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PART IS THAT THEY END UP COSTING FAR LESS THAN IT WOULD TO INSTALL A NEW CONSTRUCTION WINDOW.

YEARS AGO I TOOK AN OLDER HOUSE THAT COST ABOUT $200-$300 A MONTH TO HEAT. I INSTALLED REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AND INSULATED THE HOUSE PROPERLY, AND CUT THE HEAT BILLS DOWN TO $150-$200 A MONTH. THAT'S QUITE A SAVINGS.

NOW'S THE TIME TO PURCHASE THAT NEW HOUSE!!!

NOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LOCKING IN THE INTEREST RATES, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF HOUSES FOR SALE ON THE MARKET, IT IS DEFINITELY THE TIME TO BUY THAT HOUSE.

DUE TO A SATURATED MARKET, ALOT OF THE SELLERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DROPPING THEIR PRICE IN A STAGNANT MARKET, AND NOW THAT THEY ARE LOCKING IN THE INTEREST RATES, IT'S DEFINITELY A WIN, WIN SITUATION.

IT'S JUST THAT THE PEOPLE WITH THE MONEY HAVE TO LOOSEN UP AND SPEND A LITTLE, AND STOP SITTING BACK AND WAITING.

DEFECTIVE SHINGLES MADE IN THE 90'S

IF YOU HAVE 3-TAB SHINGLES ON YOUR HOUSE, AND THEY ARE SHOWING UNUSUAL AMOUNTS OF DAMAGE AND WEAR, CHANCES ARE THEY ARE MADE BY CERTAINTEED. THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF SHINGLES MADE BY THEM, AND INSTALLED IN THE EARLY 90'S, THAT ARE SHOWING ALOT OF PREMATURE WEAR.

WE REPLACED 4 OF THESE ROOFS LAST YEAR. THEY ARE 25 YEAR SHINGLES THAT ARE WEARING OUT IN A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS.

IF YOU HAVE OR SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE THESE SHINGLES, CONTACT US. THERE ARE SOME LAW SUITS DEVELOPING NOW. THE MORE THAT THEIR ARE THE BETTER THE OUTCOME WILL BE.

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN TURN IT IN AS A WARRANTY CLAIM, BUT YOU WILL BE PRO RATED ON THE MATERIALS, AND YOU WON'T GET SQUAT FOR LABOR.

IF YOU DESIRE MORE INFORMATION, GO TO OUR CONTACT PAGE AND E-MAIL US WITH YOUR INFORMATION. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THESE SHINGLES, THIS ROOF IS 11 YEARS OLD, LOOKS MORE LIKE 20.

MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTORS ARE BIDDING THE SAME!!

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I HAVE BID ON ADDITIONS OR OTHER JOBS, AND WHEN THE BIDS ARE ALL TURNED IN, MYSELF AND ANOTHER CONTRACTOR WILL BE AROUND THE SAME PRICE, AND ANOTHER CONTRACTOR WILL UNDER BID US BY ABOUT 1/4 OR 1/3 OF THE PROJECT PRICE. FIRST OF ALL THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH ROOM IN THE BID TO CUT OUT THAT MUCH MONEY. MATERIALS AND LABOR COST SO MUCH NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, AND THE ELECTRIC, HEAT, PLUMBING, AND EXCAVATION USUALLY ARE ABOUT IN THE SAME BALLPARK.

SO THIS USUALLY MEANS THAT ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS IS MISSING THINGS ON HIS BID.

THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO MAKE THE CONTRACTORS SPECIFY EXACTLY WHAT WORK THERE BID INCLUDES, ALSO THE BRANDS AND TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT THEY ARE USING. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET DOWN TO EVERY LAST DETAIL, BUT THEY CAN GET SOMEWHAT DETAILED, ENOUGH TO LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND STILL THEY WON'T HAVE TO HAND OVER A BOOK TO YOU.

ACCORDING TO STATE CODES A CONTRACTOR IS SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE BID, THE MATERIALS THEY ARE USING, AND GIVE YOU AN APPROXIMATE TIME LINE AS TO THE START AND FINISH OF THE WORK.

I HAVE SEEN SOME BIDS WHERE THEY'LL SAY, " WE'LL SHINGLE YOUR ROOF", AND HAVE A PRICE BELOW. IF YOU GET THIS HAVE THE CONTRACTOR REWRITE IT. THIS IS NOT PROPER.

IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE BIDS AND YOU GET A GREAT PRICE DIFFERENCE. READ THEM ALL OVER MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALL FOR EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

WHEN YOU BUY A CAR, YOU DON'T BUY THE CHEAPEST CAR YOU CAN FIND. YOU FIND WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE BEST PRICE, AND THEN MAKE YOUR DECISIONS FROM THERE.

THINK IT OVER, TAKE YOUR TIME AND USE YOUR BEST JUDGEMENT. ASK FOR REFERENCES, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. WE HAVE HEARD THEM ALL, AND WILL BE PATIENT WITH ANY TYPE QUESTIONS.

LIKE IN THE CASE OF AN ADDITION ESTIMATE, I MYSELF LIKE TO HAVE ALL NECESSARY SUBCONTRACTORS, COME RIGHT TO THE JOB SITE AND LOOK OVER THE HOUSE. THE ELECTRICIAN NEEDS TO SEE THE EXISTING WIRING AND BREAKER BOX, THE PLUMBER NEEDS TO SEE THE EXISITING PLUMBING AND SO ON. YOU CANNOT GET AN ACCURATE PRICE WITHOUT DOING THIS. I THEN HAVE EVERYONE FIGURE THEIR BID EXACTLY TO THIS HOUSE. THEN WHEN I PRESENT MY BID IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT IS INCLUDED WITH DOING THIS ADDITION, SO WHEN I GIVE THE HOMEOWNER MY PRICE, THERE WILL BE NO EXTRA CHARGES WHAT SO EVER. THE ONLY WAY I WILL CHANGE MY PRICE AFTER THAT IS IF THE HOMEOWNER DECIDES TO CHANGE SOMETHING. I WILL THEN ADVISE HIM THAT THE CHANGES MAY AFFECT THE PRICE. IF THERE ARE EXTRA CHARGES THERE SHOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL WORK ORDER PRESENTED AT THAT TIME, BEFORE THE WORK IS DONE.

IF YOU GET A BID AND ARE PRESENTED WITH EXTRA CHARGES, AND YOU HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING, YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THESE, UNLESS IT IS VERY UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES (EXAMPLE: WHILE EXCAVATING FOR AN ADDITION, IN AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO ROCK BEDS, AND THE EXCAVATOR RUNS INTO AN UNUSUALLY HUGE STONE, WHERE THEY HAVE TO TAKE UNORTHODOX METHODS TO REMOVE IT.). THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND YOU CANNOT EXPECT ANYONE TO BE PREPARD FOR IT.

IN ALOT OF CASES WE WILL GIVE ALLOWANCES. THIS WILL USUALLY BE DONE WITH THINGS THAT THE PRICES VARY SO MUCH, THAT WE CANNOT POSSIBLY GUESS WHAT PRICE RANGE YOU WILL GO WITH. EXAMPLES OF THIS COULD BE FLOORING, LIGHTING, AND FIXTURES. IN THIS CASE WE WILL GIVE YOU AN ALLOWANCE. IF YOUR CHOICES ARE UNDER THE SET ALLOWANCE YOU WOULD THEN BE CREDITED THE REMAINING AMOUNT. IF YOUR PRICES ARE OVER THE ALLOWANCE, YOU WOULD THEN HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE.

IN SUMMARY, GET MORE THAN ONE ESTIMATE. MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL EXPERIENCED REPUTABLE CONTRACTORS. IF THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN PRICES, FIND OUT WHY, THERE IS A REASON, AND SELDOM IS IT GREED. LET THE CONTRACTOR KNOW THAT( ESPECIALLY IF YOU TAKE THE CHEAPER CONTRACTOR) YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING EXTRA CHARGES, UNLESS YOU ARE CHANGING THINGS, SO HE BETTER HAVE HIS PRICE RIGHT!!!

GOOD LUCK, IT'S YOUR HOME AND YOUR MONEY, BE WISE AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, BY GETTING ENOUGH INFORMATION BEFORE YOU START HANDING YOUR MONEY OVER.

THE PROPER PROCEEDURES OF ROOFING

THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE DOING ROOFS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF THEM SHOULD NOT BE WORKING ON ANYONE'S HOUSE LET ALONE BEING LEFT ALONE WITH A HAMMER.
THESE TYPES OF ROOFERS ARE MOST EVIDENT WHENEVER THERE IS A HAIL STORM OR WIND STORM, THAT CAUSES ALOT OF DAMAGE. THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE US, AND FLOCK TO THE BIG STORMS. THEY ALL HAVE INTERNET PROGRAMS THAT SHOW THEM EXACTLY HOW MUCH DAMAGE IS DONE, AND WHERE. THEY THEN COME INTO THE AREA, ESTABLISH A SMALL OFFICE AND GET A LOCAL PHONE NUMBER.
MOSTLY THESE STORM CHASERS WILL GO DOOR TO DOOR AND TALK YOU INTO HIRING THEM, AND PRESENT IT LIKE THEY'RE DOING YOU A FAVOR, AND GIVING YOU A GOOD DEAL. THEY WILL THEN SIGN A BUNCH OF CONTRACTS, TURN THEM OVER TO CREWS THEY HARDLY KNOW, AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE DONE SIGNING THE CONTRACTS AND COLLECTING THE MONEY THEY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT HAIL STORM. THEN, WHEN YOUR ROOF LEAKS, GOOD LUCK FINDING THEM FOR THE REPAIRS.
AFTER THE LAST HAIL STORM IN OUR AREA, ALMOST EVERY ROOF WE DID, WE HAD A NEIGHBOR STOP BY AND TELL US THEY WISH THEY HAD US DO THEIR ROOF, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEIR ROOF NEVER LEAKED BEFORE, IT HAS LEAKED WITH EVERY RAIN SINCE THEY HAD IT DONE AFTER THE HAIL STORM.
ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS GET 2 ESTIMATES, FROM LOCAL CONTRACTORS THAT EITHER SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS RECOMMENDED, OR ASK FAMILY, OR ASK AT YOUR LOCAL MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. THEY DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND KNOW WHO IS REPUTABLE OR NOT. YOU SHOULD NEVER TRUST ANYONE THAT KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR. THEY ARE SOLICITORS AND NOTHING MORE. THEY WILL BE LONG GONE AFTER THE STORM. GOOD CONTRACTORS ARE USUALLY BUSY AND DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO DOOR TO DOOR, ALSO THEY KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT THE PROPER WAY TO DO BUSINESS.
ALOT OF METHODS WE SEE THE STORM CHASERS (AND ALOT OF LOCAL ROOFERS) USE ARE TO INSTALL NO FLASHING ON THE CHIMNEY, OR TO INSTALL IT AND NOT PROPERLY CUT THE FLASHING INTO THE CHIMNEY. USUALLY THEY WILL NOT INSTALL NEW FLASHING AGAINST THE WALLS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THEM USE ONLY WATER AND ICE SHIELD IN THE VALLEYS, AND NO METAL VALLEY TIN. NOT ONLY IS THIS NOT A GOOD IDEA, IT IS AGAINST CODE.
ANOTHER WAY I HAVE LOST JOBS TO THESE PEOPLE IS FOR THEM TO UNDER BID IT. ON MORE THAN ONE JOB I HAVE INFORMED THE HOME OWNER THAT UNDER THEIR SHINGLES THERE IS WOOD SHAKE SHINGLES. WHEN THESE ARE PRESENT YOU WILL FIND A GAP BETWEEN THE ROOF BOARDS ONCE YOU REMOVE THE ROOFING. YOU THEN HAVE TO INSTALL OSB SHEATHING OVER THE ROOF DECK BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE NEW ROOFING. DUE TO THE LABOR AND MATERIALS INVOLVED IN THIS IT CAN AS MUCH AS DOUBLE THE COST OF THE ROOF.
AFTER I TOLD THE CUSTOMER THAT THERE WAS WOOD SHAKE UNDER THEIR SHINGLES, AND IT WOULD ALMOST DOUBLE THE COST OF THEIR ROOF, THE STORM CHASER WOULD THEN COME IN AND GIVE THEM A NORMAL ROOFING PRICE. THEN AFTER THEY ARE THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND TELL THEM THAT THEY FOUND WOOD SHAKE AND THEY WOULD CHARGE THE CUSTOMER MORE THAN ME TO DO THEIR ROOF. BY NOW THEY HAVE A GOOD SECTION OF THE ROOF TORE OFF SO THE PEOPLE FEEL STUCK, AND ALLOW THEM TO DO THE ROOF FOR THE CONTRACTOR'S NAMED PRICE.
KNOW WHO YOU'RE DEALING WITH!!!!!!!!
90% OF THE ROOFS WE HAVE TORN OFF HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WRONG IN AT LEAST ONE AREA. MAKE SURE THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THE AREA AND HAVE PRIDE AND DISCIPLINE TO MAINTAIN QUALITY IN THEIR WORK.

BRIAN BELFEUIL
BB CONSTRUCTION

BB Construction

Professional Knowledge And Craftsmanship