Making renovations to your home is deeply personal when you are spending thousands of dollars to perfect a place. A contractor that doesn’t show up on time, does faulty work and leaves a mess isn’t worth the hassle. Alair Homes West Vancouver insists you do your homework on a contractor before they begin construction. Ask them to show you a project they have completed. They can show you pictures all day, but seeing renovations with the naked eye is the best way to ensure the work was done properly.

Tile

Tile installation should be straight and level. You don’t want to see any exposed wall behind the work. The grout work along the edges should be level and almost invisible.

Paint

A paint job is best judged with your hands. The texture of the paint tells a story. Make sure there are no rough patches, drip marks or places you can see wall behind the paint. Where the ceiling meets the wall should be clean without dabs of paint and the finish should be the same along the entire wall.

Trim

The trim should be straight and smooth. The crown molding should come together effortlessly. The casing around the windows and doors should be level. Nail holes and seams should be invisible.

Doors and Cabinets

Doors and cabinets may look great, but have problems closing. You can easily check this by opening and closing them to see if they move without sticking. There are areas where the foundation moves making sticking more likely so it’s not always the contractor’s fault.

Lighting

Lighting should work throughout the project site and be evenly spaced. Lights should not flicker due to faulty writing. Make sure dimmers function correctly as well.

Ask Questions

Most research can be done with vision and touch, but you can also ask the contractor questions about their projects. Ask them about any challenges they faced and how they resolved them. Ask how long remodels usually take and if they have had many issues with warranty. The answers to these questions are important to know the level of the person’s craftsmanship.

You don’t have to do a full background check on your contractor as long as you have great references for them. The future of your home sits in their hands. Those hands have great responsibility. Alair Homes West Vancouver takes pride in this responsibility to build your dreams the right way.