An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Guilderland, NY – Every year I get several dozen calls about a  sagging floor in a bathroom, paint that is bubbling or chipping, or signs of pests.  The customer usually does a great job explaining the problem and wants us to come and take a look.  My first thought is: where is the water coming from?  Whether it’s from Mother Nature or the home’s water supply we always have to look for the source.  Once I meet with the customer to look over the problem, I then start to look for the source.  If there is a leak I like to look in the attic and in the basement.  If the drywall in a living area is stained or discolored I like to look above and below the leak area and on any outside walls.  In most cases, the source is pretty easy to find.  And once the source has been located then we need to fix that problem first before we move to the cosmetic or structural work the water damaged caused.

If or when this type of situation happens to you as a homeowner, I always recommend calling us at the first sign of water or change in the appearance of wall, ceiling or floor surface.  Letting leaks and water damage continue over time is just asking for problems.  Not only do we continue to see the observable damage, but prolonged neglect or lack of attention to water damage will eventually damage the very bones of your home (structural framing and foundation).  I have seen small leaks around toilets that have been neglected for years end up being a complete floor and wall redo.   What you see on the surface of a water leak, whether it’s ceiling drywall or floor tile may look innocent, but underneath all the necessary components of the floor or ceiling are being damaged.

One of the hardest parts of my job is showing a customer the amount and scope of damage that a small toilet leak or leaky shower faucet has caused.  We will do what we have to in order to fix the leak and all the damaged items, but a lot of the time early maintenance would have prevented the situation in the first place—including the additional cost.  All homes, new and old require maintenance.  I have read numerous articles over the years about what a homeowner can expect in terms of yearly maintenance on a home.  Some of the articles talk about the need to spend 1% to 2% of the homes value on routine maintenance.  This number maybe true, but I know for my home some years I only spend $500.00 and others I spend $5000.00.  For me, the key is not how much you may or may not have to spend, but to just pay attention to your house.  In my mind, maintenance is all about prevention.  Walk around your house several times during each season (inside and out) and look for changes in paint color/staining, areas where water could enter the home, squeaky floors, loose floor or wall tile, wet areas in cabinets or in the basement, pests, etc.  If something doesn’t look right, have it checked out.  Prevention now will save you time and money in the long run.

Guilderland, NY- A quick thanks to all of you who called us after reading last months article about preventing damage to your home due to water, insects, etc.  After meeting with several customers, I started thinking about the next step in terms of prevention when it comes to materials to use when building or repairing on the outside of your house.  Whether you’re building a new deck, having new siding installed, putting in a new exterior door or window or a perimeter fence I almost always recommend a building product that requires little or no maintenance and is resistant to water and insects.

Twenty years ago when man-made (composite) building products started entering the market to build decks, fences, etc. I was a true skeptic.  Up to then all we built were cedar, redwood or exotic tropical wood decks.  These wood species will last a long time, but require ongoing maintenance.  After we started installing composite and then PVC material for decks I was hooked.  We like the ease of install and custom look, and customers like the durability and maintenance free use.  Yes, these materials are more expensive, but I remind customers that they can pay a little more now or a lot more later in terms of the up keep.

Installing vinyl or concrete siding, PVC fencing, vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass doors and windows and PVC trim and molding are other ways to bullet proof your home.  A good rule of thumb for exterior building materials is this: if its wood or it touches the ground your house may not be safe and sound.   All wood products, even cedar, redwood or exotic hardwoods require maintenance even though insects may not touch them.  They will discolor or fade, shows signs of wear and crack or check.  What this means to the homeowner is annual or bi-annual staining, painting or general maintenance.  PVC, vinyl, fiberglass and composite materials usually only require a wash off to stay maintenance free and looking great.  They can touch the ground and be installed just about anywhere and insects will not touch the stuff.

With any project, selecting the right materials is just as if not more important than any other aspect of a remodel or repair.  I recommend taking the time researching, looking around the internet, visiting showrooms and talking with building professionals about your project and the potential materials that can be used.  Today’s market is saturated with numerous choices, colors, technology and gadgets.  Any project on your house is an investment.  Taking the time to ensure and install the best material options will make your decision that much easier and save you time and money in the long run.

Guilderland, NY – This past October I attended a national building trade conference in Baltimore, Maryland.  It was nice to have a change of scenery, enjoy some local cuisine and most of all get completely inundated with all the new and upcoming ideas, materials and practices in the residential construction industry.  After three days of classroom lectures and live demonstrations I was ready to come home.  I picked up a few goodies at the airport for the wife and kids and boarded my plane.  I met a nice couple from Washington D.C. who were going to visit their son in college in Saratoga.  As we exchanged conversation about our families and other topics, careers came up.  I mentioned that I was a building contractor in the Albany area and had just attended a trade conference.  The woman described a remodel they had done recently and then asked if I could make a living with my profession.  I said yes and described how busy our company was with several new jobs and a number of upcoming jobs.  The conversation tapered off as the drink service began and I took a quick nap.

As I was driving home from the airport, I thought back to my conversation with the couple.  I don’t think the woman was trying to insult me with her comment I think she was just trying to determine if my job allowed me to support not only our company and employees, but also a growing family.  Over the next few weeks I thought about her comment and the conference a lot.  The main theme I took away from the conference was the importance of working with and paying attention to my existing and potential customers.  I also thought more about the woman’s comment and put myself in her shoes as she was talking to me and thought to myself that the whole process of remodeling and construction can be exciting and result in a new kitchen or bathroom, but that the whole process can also be overwhelming and difficult when deciding who to trust with a project.  All of which brings me to the focus of this article.

Five or six times a month we are trusted by new and past customers to remodel a kitchen or bathroom, install new doors and windows, build a porch, remodel a basement and numerous other jobs.  It can be easy at times to overlook the intricacies of a job when we as a company are focused on the job as a whole.  From the first meeting to the last clean-up of the job, we take the time to build that relationship and trust with our customers that is crucial to making the project go well.  Being on time for appointments, taking time to answer questions, explaining our company background and history, providing phone call and in-person references, weekly or bi-weekly schedule and job meetings and ongoing communication in person or via text or email with our customers is how we work.  All of our customers are also provided with all of our legal information, insurance, workers’ compensation policy, a working contract for the project and all the permits and inspections as required for the local municipality.

Now, months later when I think back to my conversation with the woman on the plane and her question I answer with a definite yes, my job does allow me to support our company, our employees myself and my family.  We have built our company on a policy of customer service and high quality remodeling and construction and have a lot of happy customers as a result.  I don’t see my work as a job.  It’s a profession, a career where we get to meet all kinds of people looking to complete a project on their home.  We help customers turn their vision into a reality and provide the best experience they can possibly have with a building contractor.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2015 from all of us at RTS Construction.