Finding a High-Quality Home Remodeling Contractor

For many homeowners, hiring a quality remodeling contractor is a task that is only undertaken a few times in their lifetime. As a result, when vetting potential candidates, they'll go through an elementary, surface-level background check.

Typically, they'll meet the candidate in person, look through their online portfolio and testimonials, and then speak with friends and neighbors to see if anyone knows or has worked with them before.

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For many homeowners, this vetting process works fine. However, when you're talking about a significant project costing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, it's probably worth the extra effort to find the right remodeling partner.

Let's look at some critical information to ask when interviewing potential contractors. These questions will help you find a high-quality remodeling contractor before signing a contract.

Go Beyond The Portfolio - The Details Matter

An excellent way to get a real feel for the quality of any remodeler's work is to ask them to see a recently completed project. A picture can only show so much. Visiting a past remodeling project to examine the details up close, can help ensure that the quality of their work is the level you're looking for. When you get into the kitchen, bathroom, here are some things to look for in terms of quality installation and finish work.

• Paint

Walk up to the wall, close your eyes, and run your hand over the wall. Do you feel any anomalies like drip marks, rough patches, or other inconsistencies? If you do, it's not a quality job. Look for clean cut-ins at the ceiling, and an even finish – if the walls are eggshell, they should look eggshell, evenly, everywhere!

• Trim

Much like quality tile installation, a quality trim installation is about precision. It should be very geometrical and straight. Check the crown molding. Are the corners seamless and tightly mitered? Check the door and window casings. Are they level? Do they have clean straight lines and neat edges? There should also be no visible nail holes or apparent seams visible.

• Tile

A sound installation is one where all of the tiles are square (they butt up to one another at 90-degree angles), level, and installed "flat" (no tiles are jutting out or indented). The finished grout lines should be thin, even, and neat. Basically, look for tiles that look smooth, are evenly placed, with thin, clean grout lines.

• Countertops

Look closely at the countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. If they exhibit poorly placed seams or significant gaps that have been filled with caulk, it's a sign that they were probably not templated correctly.

• Doors and Cabinets

This one might seem a little forward; after all, you don't typically open cabinets and drawers when you visit someone's home. However, a good test of quality installation is to open and close a few cabinet doors and drawers. They should move smoothly without sticking.

• Lighting

Good lighting design will incorporate ambient, task, and decorative lighting elements. Look at the lighting design in general, is it natural, or does it focus or concentrate on a single source? Are the can lights evenly spaced and straight? Make sure there are no flickering lights, this can be a sign of faulty wiring or a bad fixture. Make sure dimmers and switches are logically laid out, accessible, and functioning correctly.

Getting a first-hand look at a recently completed project can help you to get a much better idea of the quality remodeling work a prospective contractor performs. After you've seen a current project, make sure to gather some additional information to guide your decision better.

Ask about the scope of work and the customer's expectations. If possible, try to get several references in addition to the home you visited, and speak with the homeowners. Ask if there were any challenges and if so, how were they resolved? Have there been any warranty issues? The answers to these questions are often just as important as the level of quality craftsmanship.

Define Your Project

As you enter the vetting process, it's important to have your project clearly defined and outlined. Doing this will enable you to provide your potential contractors with a comprehensive outline of your job. Ideally, you should try to get four or five bids for your project. Be wary of any bid that is too cheap or too expensive.

If you have defined the scope of work, finishes, materials, and other details, have contractors provide line-item bids so you can carefully compare items. If a particular item varies widely across proposals, you may need to define that item better.

PRO TIP: Make sure that your remodeler has a defined process. Ask them: What steps will you be taking in design? What will happen during construction? Is it in writing? A company may have habits, and a great company will have a written process that you understand.

All this being said, sometimes you may decide that a contractor that comes highly recommended by someone you trust, might be enough of an endorsement. Ultimately, who you choose to work with comes down to several factors, including price, workmanship, and chemistry. You may find a contractor who understands your vision, has the experience that you're looking for and comes highly recommended. The better you can define your project, the easier it will be to vet potential contractors.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 5/6/2021.

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a remodeling project, give the experts at Degnan Design Build Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Their award-winning design team is ready to help you realize your creative vision. Call today and arrange a free consultation to discuss your upcoming project.