At Xtreme Exteriors, we like to share what we know.

When it comes to finding a professional contractor to work on your home, you hope to find one who is reputable, dependable, experienced: one you can trust.

As an experienced professional home exteriors contractor, Xtreme Exteriors would like to help in your search for a professional contractor and identify the red-flags that may signal trouble.

Facts and Misconceptions About Ice Dams

A handy informational sheet

During the cold winter months, heat from inside your home warms wood framing which in turn warms the roof and rafters from contact heat. Heat rises and transference warms walls, ceilings and insulation. Positioning to the sun, elements, venting, insulation and large amounts of accumulating snow are all factors in creating ice dams. Every household has its own unique design issues to consider. Addressing each one individually can dramatically reduce ice buildup.

Here are 11 “need-to-know” facts and common misconceptions to help you make informed decisions when dealing with ice dams and snow. Learn more

Warning Signs of a Bad Roofer

This article was originally posted on Angie’s List

After a hailstorm in 2006, a salesperson knocked on my door and offered to fix our damaged roof. I told him I was fine and didn't need his help. Instantly, his tone changed and he became more aggressive, so much in fact, it awoke my husband from a nap.

He thrust his business card inside my screen door and left. Lo and behold, he was from out of state. On a job that big, it's always best to wait on a local company — one you can locate later should something go wrong. Read more

Know the History of Your Contractor

This article focuses on what you should know before hiring a Roofing Contractor, but many of the statements apply to General Contractors
and professionals specializing in home exteriors.

Your roofing contractor should have a permanent and identifiable place of business complete with phone number, physical address, and the appropriate business licenses. Ask for this information if it is not provided with your written proposal.

Your roofing contractor should keep abreast of the latest developments in the industry. A professional contractor belongs to local, regional, or national associations and attends seminars on the problems and developments of the industry. Ask about this if the information is not provided in your written proposal.

A qualified contractor should have insurance. Ask for insurance certificates showing both workers compensation and general liability insurance. Many homes and building owners have suffered needless expense because contractors working on their homes did not have these coverages. Read more

How to Avoid Getting Nailed by a Home Remodeler

The following article is a bit tongue and check, but contains valuable information on how to avoid home remodelers or Exterior Contractors
who are out to scam homeowners.

Every year, in the first part of December, the majority of failing home remodelers go out of business, capping off their 24-month stint as an independent contractor. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone; the business “enjoys” a 96% failure rate in the first four years! It was not a surprise for the contractor – he knew the end was in sight – but it sure makes for a bad holiday present for his clients, people whose homes may be in shreds but who were told “it’ll all be ready for the holidays.”

In December 1995, a Minneapolis-St. Paul TV station did an investigation of some remodeling companies. They discovered homeowners with torn-apart houses who were getting nailed for extra costs after having advanced cash to the contractor for those same bills. After the report, the TV station was inundated with calls from homeowners who were having similar problems with bad contractors.

The homeowners who got “nailed” really got hit hard. The highest amount was over $100,000 in just “extras” and the project was never finished! The other homeowners all got nailed for lower amounts, but even if it was ‘only’ $10,000 that amounts to an extra $110 every month for the next fifteen years on that second mortgage payment. Read more

Look to our 20+ years of experience working with builders, remodelers, homeowners and property managers for trusted answers to all your home exteriors’ questions and issues.