Ten Commandments of Hiring a Contractor | 5. Check Out the Products Being Used

When fixing a problem in your home, you should expect the solution to be permanent – or at least as long lasting as possible – so that you will not have to worry about it a few years down the road. You’ll most likely never want to worry about it again; that is why it is very important to take a look at the products being installed and the materials being used in the project.

Some contractors will try to increase their profit margin by buying inexpensive generic materials that are either inadequate for the project or will not last as long as you’d want them to. For example, fiberglass insulation is the worst possible choice for crawl spaces and basements because it is known to absorb moisture; losing all potential R-value and favoring mold growth. Yet, many contractors still use it in basement finishing projects or to insulate the floor above the crawl space and for one single reason – it’s cheaper than other, more appropriate and moisture resistant materials.

Another example? Sump pumps. Many general contractors will install a cheap, plastic cased model that can’t disperse heat and tends to burn out very rapidly, as opposed to a good quality and reliable cast-iron pump. So get a good idea of what exactly is being installed in every project before you agree to sign off on any job.