1. Find Personal Recommendations.

The best place to start is by asking trusted someone you trust for personal recommendations. Find someone who has had first hand experience with the remodeling contractor. Furthermore, you can find personal recommendations by calling up friends, family or even neighbors around you who have recently had a renovation done in their home.

Another way to find personal recommendations would be to find Facebook or Next door groups in your neighborhood to find people who can share positive or negative experiences with contractors they’ve hired. Lastly, you can always ask your local hardware stores for any contractors they frequently come into contact with. The reason is that more than likely a busy remodeling contractor needs materials often and they may have lots of business due to their quality of work.A bonus tip is contact contractor directly and ask for references that you can talk to. This is a great opportunity to see first had the kind of work the contractor is able to do.

2. Search Online.

Can’t find any referrals or already have some recommendations? Don’t stop there! Your going to want to do some research of your own online. To start, you can simply search online for “kitchen remodeling contractor” or “roofing contractor” to find someone specific to the type of renovation you need.

Look up each contractor online whether it be their website or social media profile. Other great websites include Yelp, Google Maps and the BBB for ratings and reviews.

Look carefully; What do the pictures tell you of their quality of work? What do customers have to say? How professional does the remodeling contractor present themself?

Overall, compare the most critical and high ratings to get a good idea of who the contractor is. You want to know without a doubt that the contractor is the right person for the job.

3. Interview the Prospective Contractor by Asking the Right Questions.

If you have a contractor you think you’d like to work with, find a phone number email and get in contact with them directly.

Doing this will give you a good “inner-view” of the contractor you want to work with. Note how fast they call you back or respond to your concerns.

Do they listen to the details you have expressed that are important to you?

Is the contractor punctual or do they often give excuses for not following through with commitments? All these things matter because it’s a reflection of contractors work ethic.

These are indicators for you as a home owner as to how the contractor will treat the renovation project. In addition, questions you should ask during this process are:

“How will the contractor address unplanned fixes or obstacles during the remodel?”

“What will happen if something breaks after normal use?”

“How does the contractor handle mistakes or poor quality jobs?”

“Do you have a contract and provide a bill of materials for the remodel?”

You as the home owner want to outline clear expectations between you and the contractor before beginning the project. That means making sure your contractor has everything in writing via a contract that details everything you have agreed to.

4. Does the Contractor Charge a Fair Price?

At this point, you should have a good idea of the contractors quality of work and way they will manage the remodeling project. When it comes to what the contractor charges, always consider the long term cost.

Ask yourself, “Will this cost me more in the future to redo?” Keep in mind that lowest bid is not always the best. Go over the bill of the materials necessary for the job. If the bid is low, this may be due to poor quality of materials the contractor has decided to use.

The more accurate bid is likely somewhere in the mid range of prices.

5. What Kind of Relationship Does the Contractor Have with Their Subcontractors?

Even though the remodeling contractor is the person you’d be in contact with the most, it’s the subcontractors who will actually be doing most of the work. That means the electricians, wood workers, painters, glass installers and plumbers who will come together to make your remodeling plans happen.

As you may realize, the relationship between the remodeling contractor and subcontractor is very important to consider.

For that reason, it’s good to find out how long the contractor has worked with the subcontractors he hires for the job. Sometimes, you can find this on their websites “About” page.

Otherwise, you can simply ask the contractor directly:

• What kind subcontractors does the general contractor work with? Plumbers, electricians, cabinet workers, tilers, etc.

• How many years of experience do their subcontractors have?

• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

Conclusion.

Following these steps can make finding a reliable and honest contractor for home renovation less daunting. By using these methods, you will have enough confidence to make an informed decision on choosing the right contractor for your remodeling project.

Overview of Quartz Countertops

Beautiful, durable, easy to care for and clean, are just a few of the benefits of a quartz countertop.

No wonder quartz is among the most popular countertop materials available as a vast majority of our clients prefer quartz versus Granite. When comparing quartz and granite, the biggest difference between the two is that Granite is a 100% rock used for counters while Quarts is not 100%. Rather, it is a mixture of Quartz with man-made resin.

So What Makes a Quartz Countertop to Good?

Since it’s introduction to the home, quartz has come a long way! First appeared in Italy in the 1960s, these countertops were developed—by combining ground quartz particles with resins into a slab. It was an alternative to stone that wouldn’t easily crack or break.

Despite the resins adding just enough flexibility to do the trick, early quartz countertops were a dull-looking cream and tan.

Over the years, cutting-edge improvements in solid-surface technology has elevated quartz from functional to fabulous. Furthermore, with an abundance of finish choices and endless combinations of color, you’ll likely find something stunning that suits your home.

In addition, not only will you appreciate the look of quartz, you’ll find it remarkably easy to maintain! Unlike granite and natural stones, which requires a special sealant and can be finicky to care for.Whats the science behind it all?

To explain, quartz contains 90 to 94 percent ground quartz and 6 to 10 percent polymer resins and pigments. Then, they are combined to produce a granite-hard slab. As a result, you can duplicate the look of mesmerizing marble swirls or earthy natural stone, without all the maintenance.

Further more, quartz also resists scratching and cracking to a greater degree than many natural countertops. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Quartz?

Thanks to its non-porous nature, quartz is stain and mildew-resistant, making it a breeze to keep not merely clean but also germ- and bacteria-free. Another advantage is that Quartz also resists heat damage—up to a point. Manufacturers market quartz as able to withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (one reason it works well as fireplace surrounds).

Of course, one thing to you should know about quartz is to watch out for “thermal shock”.

This can result from placing a hot pan straight from the oven or stove top onto a cold quartz countertop, which can lead to cracking or discoloring. While quartz does resist staining because liquids can’t penetrate its surface, it’s not 100 percent stain-proof. So its important that messes should be cleaned up quickly to best preserve quartz countertops’ original color.

Now, lets talk about price. Probably the biggest hurdle when considering quartz is how much more it costs compared to alternatives. Although, a preformed or laminate countertop will set you back a few hundred dollars, quartz countertops cost between $70 to $100 per sq. ft., installed, comparable to the price of natural stone countertops. Which means for a mid-size kitchen you can easily spend a few thousand dollars for quartz.

Equally important, is if you’re planning a backyard kitchen, steer clear of quartz altogether! Quartz is not suitable for outdoor installation. To explain, what happens is the sun’s UV rays can break down the resin binders and degrade the countertop. Thus, it can lead to fading and eventual warping. 

Learn About the Quartz Installation Process.

Once you have chosen your style of quartz for your countertop, the installation process is fairly straight forward:

Firstly, your quartz fabricator will come to your home and measure your cabinets to create a template for the countertop. So, expect an average of two weeks for the countertop to be made.

Next, the new countertop installs directly on the base cabinets with adhesive—no underlayment is required. Installers will precisely fit any seams as necessary, filling them with epoxy resin that matches the countertop.

Usually, it takes from a few hours to a full day to install a typical quartz countertop.Finally, the plumber can now proceed with installing under-sink plumbing. However, your contractor may choose to install the back splash first; either way the quartz counter top installation is complete.

How Do I Keep Quartz Looking Great?

Besides the look and aesthetics, the beauty of quartz is how easy it is to care for your new countertop. Keep in mind there are a few crucial do’s and don’t’s you need to know about. 

Do’s:

• Wipe up spills promptly with paper towels or a damp cloth. Even though quartz is non-porous, liquids like wine and coffee can stain the surface if allowed to dry.

• During cleaning, use an all-purpose spray kitchen cleaner or mild commercial household cleaner for daily cleaning needs.

• Use a non-scratch nylon pad or sponge to safely scrub away sticky food residue.

• Its recommended to use spray glass cleaner. After wiping your countertop clean, and buff the surface dry with a clean towel for a streak-free shine.

Opt for a mild, oil-based cleaner (like Goo Gone) to remove tough ink or dye stains, and then rinse with plain water.

• Immediately tackle tough cleaning spots (such as splattered grease) by spraying your countertop with a kitchen degreasing cleaner and leaving it on for 5 to 10 minutes before wiping away with a clean damp cloth.

Don’ts:

• Don’t use, or spill, acidic or high-alkaline products on your countertop. When using house hold cleaners, quartz tolerates cleaners in the mid-pH range, but products that fall on either end of the pH scale can dull its luster.

• Avoid spills from drain cleaners, oven cleaners, acetone (fingernail polish remover), paint remover, solvents, bleach, dishwasher rinse agents, and any products that contain trichloroethane or methylene chloride. Take a better safe than sorry approach: If you don’t know for sure that a product is appropriate for quartz, don’t use it.

• Keep abrasive cleaners or scrubbers away from your quartz countertop. Scouring powders and steel-pads can scratch and dull the surface.

• Refrain from using a metal knife to remove hardened food items, such as stuck-on candy-making spills. Instead, use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape them away.

• Using your quartz countertop to chop and dice foods is discouraged. Instead, use a separate cutting board to prevent knife marks on the countertop.

• Last but not least, setting hot pans directly on the countertop will cause discoloration and cracking of your quartz countertop. Keep plenty of trivets handy and use them faithfully.

Conclusion.

Despite the large upfront cost quartz can cost, the long term benefits can offset those costs. After you consider the overall added value of your home and the reliability of using a high quality, beautiful countertop that will last you the life of your home can be a no brainer for many.

In closing, the main benefits of a quartz countertop to keep in mind are:

1. Due to its non-porous nature, quartz is stain and mildew-resistant, making it a breeze to keep not merely clean but also germ- and bacteria-free.

2. Harder and more durable surfaces than any other counter top materials.

3. You can have a wide variety looks and styles.

We Know How Important Your Home Is For You.

We protect each home with our unique protecting systems that leaves homeowners impressed.

We use Protective Plastic: To block off areas of your home to keep dust and debris from getting into unwanted areas.

We also use Masking Tape and Durable Industrial Paper: To cover the remodeling work area floor convened with Two Man Teams to Carry Large Equipment. To ensure the safety of walls and door frames of your beloved home.

Since we really value your day to day home, we Clean and Pristine Work Areas. So you can admire every detail of your new kitchen and bath remodel