Everyone wants to hire a trustworthy contractor who does wonderful work. That’s why it’s so important to look at samples of a professional’s work before hiring him or her. This can help you to gauge the quality of the person’s remodeling work. A talented, reliable contractor will be more than happy to show you samples. Check out some things to look for when evaluating the quality of a contractor’s work.
Painting Work
Painting is one of the basic services of most contractors. If you look closely at a painted wall you shouldn’t see any bubbles, rough patches or places where the original color of the wall is bleeding through. A quality paint job has an even distribution of color and a straight edge near the ceiling as well as the baseboards.
Cabinets
Oftentimes, contractors are called upon to install cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room of a home. Test out the quality of a contractor’s cabinet installation by opening a few of the doors and closing them. Do they open and close easily or do they stick? Cabinets that are installed in the correct way have doors that open and shut very easily. Take a moment to stand back and look at the cabinets. Are they positioned evenly on the wall? If you like cabinets with glass doors check to see if the glass is in the cabinet securely. These may seem like small details, but they are telltale signs that indicate the quality of a contractor’s work.
The Tile
Is the tile laid evenly on the floor? It should be if it was installed by a capable contractor. When looking at a tile floor that features a pattern, you should see the various shapes match up in an organized way. Also, be sure to check out the area where the tile meets the wall. You shouldn’t be able to see the edge of any tiles. The tiles should disappear neatly beneath the baseboards.
Lighting
When looking at a contractor’s lighting work, check to see if the lights work the way they should. Do the dimmers gradually increase or decrease the amount of light in the room? This is a sign that the work was done right. Also, if you are looking at a line of pendant lights over a kitchen island or in a dining room, make sure the lights are organized in a perfect row. Are the lights secured properly to the ceiling or can you see some space near the base of the fixture? An experienced contractor knows how to install lights so they are flush with the ceiling.
Asking Questions
If you are lucky enough to have a neighbor who hired a particular contractor, ask some questions about the person’s work. What was your neighbor’s overall impression of the contractor? Was he or she on time each day? Did the contractor do the job to your neighbor’s satisfaction? Getting a personal recommendation from a neighbor is a great way to end up with the right professional.
It’s a good idea to research a few contractors before hiring one. Fortunately, there are many creative professionals such as those at Alair Homes Phoenix who are proud of the remodeling work they do.