The Best Kind of Contractor

There are a lot of things you should expect from your contractor; honesty, ability, good communication--and these are aside from the obvious, such as up-to-date licensing and insurance.

But another trait to hope for in your contractor is integrity. This can take many forms at a job site. A great contractor takes a step back from the work, and is rarely (if ever!) prepared to say simply, "It's okay". When they are great is when they have the eye to recognize that in fact something may not be good enough, and there is a better solution out there...and then, of course, be willing to implement that solution!

At this job site that we've been following recently, the new pergola entrance was in effect completed.

But, when scrutinized, the weight of the second tier of lumber as it related to the rest of the house seemed wrong to the contractor. He called in the design team and client, and the consensus was to replace it with heavier beams. It does make a difference!

This could seem like a minor detail in the scheme of this renovation, but one minor detail here and there soon turns into a sloppy job, and ultimately a costly, and not-so-great finished project.

Be sure to look at past jobs your contractor has completed, talk to the homeowners when possible, and listen carefully when interviewing contractors. You should be able to get a good sense of the degree of care they take with their work, which should ensure your happiness on your own project!