Taking the time to make proper decisions is the first thing any homeowner should do before contracting any job. If you do your homework up front you will be one of the satisfied owners and not one of the victims. Generally, most dissatisfied construction project victims limit their focus to, “How much will the project cost,” and “When can the work get started.” There are many other questions you should ask before awarding your project to anyone.
Learning about the procedures and products before you contract out a project will save a lot of unknowns and guesswork later on. Certified Contractors Network (CCN) came up with the four P’s of protection. The four P’s are a process that you can refer to when making the decision of who you want to do your work for you.
PROBLEMS: What are the problems that are causing the need for construction?
PRODUCTS: What products and procedures solves those problems?
PEOPLE:Who is the contractor to install the products and how do you qualify him/her?
PRICE: How do you determine if the price quoted is fair and competitive?
We recommend that you carefully evaluate your contractor and make sure they can perform the work to your expectations and satisfaction. A professional contractor will have no problem working through any concerns or questions you may have before the project begins so that you can proceed with trust and confidence. After all studies clearly show that most dissatisfaction involves the low-bid contractor.
When selecting a contractor make sure you take the time to clearly understand their proposal. This is the time to ask questions! Here is a list of questions to ask every contractor you deal with.
“What is the full name and address of the company?”
Be confident that the business is permanently established and can complete the work. This will help ensure the project doesn’t fail and leave you financially harmed.
“Does the company carry insurance and is the coverage adequate?”
A contractor should provide you with a certificate of insurance for Comprehensive Liability, Worker’s Compensation, and Completed Operations Insurance. This protects you in the event of an accident or failed project.
“Is the company a licensed contractor? Is the contractor a member of a trade association and in good standing?”
While being licensed is important a better test is to question the contractor’s commitment to his trade by asking about their involvement in a trade association.
“How long has the contractor been in business?”
The more experience a business has, the better. Under five years is often a sign of an unstable business. 90% of contracting businesses fail within the first five years. At Rosewood we have been a licensed and fully operating business for over 30 years now.
“What is the contractor’s track record for handling complaints?”
Ask the contractor for examples of issues they were able to resolve with past customers. The question is not whether the contractor has had any disputes but rather how those disputes were handled.
“What is the company’s workmanship warranty?”
Typically, contractor warranties are for one year or more. The length of the warranty is not as important as the intent and ability of the contractor being able to stand behind his warranty. Make sure the warranty is believable and fair. Unbelievable warranties should be questioned along with contractors not having a warranty at all.
Some projects require specific questions. When contemplating a specific project refer to these areas to help you brainstorm questions you should be asking your contractor.
Compliance with local ordinances
Product Selection
Manufacturer Warranty Specifications
Clean-Up (Daily!)
Payment Terms
Preliminary Inspection
Following these steps and asking questions up front will save you a lot of headache and time in the long run. Your project is important and your business is important to reputable companies. At Rosewood Painting we encourage questions and communication. We want all of our customers to know that there is a difference when it comes to the quality of our service.
If you’re considering painting over brick or stone we recommend you use a high quality product. We come across failing paint on masonry finishes all of the time because the paint used was a low quality product. Make sure to ask your painters about the product they are using so you don’t end up turning a low maintenance item into a constant headache. On this particular house we shipped Romabio paint in from Italy. Romabio is masonry specific paint with a 20 year warranty as long as it is applied correctly. Romabio Masonry offers a permanent flat finish with aggregate that creates a light texture on smooth brick and a smoother finish on rough brick. Romabio paint is a breathable coating that calcifies to the masonry surface allowing moisture to release. 
Using the correct paint is only the first step. We believe in giving our customers the highest quality experience by doing the job right the first time. Paint will always fail to the weakest point which is why it is very important to make sure a low quality product is not used on your project.
