Before you hire your contractor, ask questions!

• Has the contractor provided you with references for work done by their company?
• Has the contractor provided you with trade and supplier references? It is important that the company be stable and financially secure, especially when warranties on work are so important.
• Have you checked several of the contractor's references with satisfactory results?
• Are you satisfied that the contractor is properly licensed and insured? Be aware that as a property owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that proper liability and WCB insurance coverage is in effect, otherwise "the property owner" could be held liable for injuries and damage. (Even the contractor's employees).
• Does the contractor have a safety policy in effect for all of its employees? Adherences to Occupational Health and Safety guidelines do have an effect on the property owner should there be a problem.
• Is the company you are considering hiring a "Home Based Company" or possibly a "part-time affair" for the owner?
• Does the company have solid business ties in the community with an investment in its future and a solid business plan? Remember, you are spending good money to ensure that the problem is solved properly, but should further problems arise, you want to be sure that the company will be around in the future to honor any warranty.
• Does the contractor provide you with choices and adequate information for you to make intelligent decisions?
• Is the contractor concerned with your requirements, both financial and otherwise?
• Has the contractor explained and described the products and methods intended for use in your project?
• Is the contractor following the requirements of the Alberta Building Code as well as local municipal requirements?
• How long has the company been in business and what experience do its employees have?
• How does the company price its projects? Do not be afraid to ask how the end price is derived at.
• How flexible is the contractor with regards to payment? Be wary of contractors requiring large deposits.
• Is the contractor a member of the Better Business Bureau, and in good standing?

Hiring a Contractor - FAQ's

01. Are repair methods different from company to company? 02. Why do prices vary so much between companies? 03. What is the difference in warranty periods?

04. Difference between interior and exterior repairs? 05. Summary

Hiring a contractor can be a confusing and frustrating process, especially when the project at hand is a specialty industry such as foundation repair. From company to company, opinions vary and prices fluctuate. Sometimes, the differences can be so dramatic that you start to doubt everyone. At Abarent Construction Ltd., we like to take the logical approach. What we recommend that you do to your house has to make sense to you. We enjoy being given the opportunity to explain differences between our quotation and others. There are sometimes reasons for differences and it is part of my job to help you understand exactly what you are getting for your money. Let me help you understand answers to some of the common questions and concerns that I've noticed people facing over the years.


1. ARE REPAIR METHODS DIFFERENT FROM COMPANY TO COMPANY?
This has to be one of the biggest items of contention when you have more than one quote on the table. There are methods for many situations. I know that our company has over a dozen generic methods that are adapted specifically for any given situation. It is important that you feel totally comfortable with the method being proposed for your house. You shouldn't need to rely on a warranty if the job is done properly and with the proper materials the first time. Our methods come from countless hours and many years of research and testing. We didn't just copy a competitor's repair schedule with a few minor changes. (I've seen this done countless times by new companies).

You should be aware of product limitations. Are they biodegradable? Do they allow for expansion and contraction? What are the manufacturer's application recommendations, and how does the product function with your specific application? With structural work, you have to be sure that proper Engineering has gone into the design of any proposed work. We'll briefly go over some of the methods encountered in our industry for foundation waterproofing and repair. The following are brief summaries, bearing in mind typical application procedures of the companies that have a known history of using them. All are for exterior "water-proofing" methods.

METHODS	PROS	CONS	RECOMMENDED
1. Tar / Poly and/or Styrofoam	Quick	- Poly sags during backfill - Not waterproofing - Tar's not flexible - Typically backfilled before tar is dry	No
2. Tar / Mesh / Tar	Inexpensive	- Only damp-proofing - Biodegradable - Tar's not flexible	No
3. Plastic Cement / Tar	- Cheap - Quick	- Biodegradable - Tar's not flexible - Only damp-proofing - Typically backfilled before tar is dry	No
4. GMX / 1" Styrofoam	Flexible	Very thin application. Crack bridging characteristics do not allow for much movement.	No
5. Tar-Mesh-Tar-Mesh-Tar	- Meets building code - 15-25 yr. life span - Considered water-proofing	- Biodegradable - Not flexible	Sometimes
6. Baker 770-06 / Poly	Somewhat flexible	Poly constricts flexibility	No
7. Baker 770-06 / 1" Styrofoam applied after initial set of coating	- Flexible. Is ideal for foundations with moving cracks - Not biodegradable - Styrofoam provides R5 value - Styrofoam is an approved protective board - 25 - year plus life span - Considered water-proofing	- More expensive than tar - Takes more time than most methods	Yes

It is a common mistake for the average homeowner to hire a company based solely on price, without considering the method used and what is involved. This leads us to the next most common dilemma:


2. WHY DO PRICES VARY SO MUCH BETWEEN COMPANIES?
Price has a multitude of contributing factors. One of the many important factors would be the method used. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, one of the waterproofing methods that we use utilizes a product that costs over $115 per pail. The cheaper products on the market can cost as low as $15 per pail. There is, however, a huge difference between what each is capable of and when each should be used. Another example of how methods can affect prices would be the following scenario: Company "ABC" uses high quality products that suit the job and follow the ideal specifications for applications and use. The engineering that went into the design of the structural portion of their project allows for no possible failure. Company "XYZ" uses the cheap products and rushes the job to save time. The structural portion of their project has limitations and should be improved. Company "XYZ's" project is done with less labor and materials cost. Abarent Construction Ltd. prefers to be like company "ABC" and provide you with a proven, long-term solution.

Prices can vary between companies due to their Business Plan or possible lack of one. I see companies yearly that come and go. Most often, the company that operates out of their garage or back yard and has no investment in the community is more likely the company that you'll have a problem with.

Abarent Construction Ltd. has a business location where we maintain an office and support staff to serve your concerns quickly. Our warehouse allows us to buy quantities of materials at a more economical rate. We have a solid Business Plan to help stay on track and have built a valued reputation that serves hundreds of clients each year. We plan on being around for many years to serve our clients and community. We are a company that is building to be passed on through the generations, as its own entity. We do have overhead, which is incorporated into the cost of our work. This is part of doing business with a company that's building for the future.


3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN WARRANTY PERIODS?
Too often, the consumer fails to understand what their warranty covers. People tend to glance at the number and think that all of their problems are covered for "X" amount of years. I have to chuckle when I reflect on a memory of a few years ago when I had to change the fine print of a competitor's warranty "blurb". Effectively, this company was going to warranty the products that they used would still exist in 25 years. There was no mention of what was to be done in the event of defective workmanship or if the materials failed in the specified time frame.

At Abarent Construction Ltd. our warranty covers any defects in either workmanship and / or materials for the time frame indicated. Warranty periods vary according to the method used. I do not hesitate to tell you that we have instances where we need to return to a house. When this happens, we give it our immediate attention and spare no expense to make things right. Profit on the job becomes secondary. We have had to return to less than 1% of our jobs and ultimately even these are 100% successful. The moral of the story is, be aware of what exactly the warranty is and what kind of company is backing it up.


4. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REPAIRS?
A common decision that a home owner has to make when faced with a "leaky basement" is whether they should facilitate repairs from the interior or exterior. Interior repairs have their place. Their place, however, does not have anything to do with foundation crack repair or waterproofing. Interior methods are of a temporary nature and carry very limited warranties. Any interior remedy has limitations which should be explained to you, if they have been quoted on for your purpose.


5. SUMMARY
In conclusion, the best piece of advice that I can offer is to always ask questions and make yourself aware of all the details pertaining to your project. I will always strive to make myself available to answer any questions you may have. At Abarent Construction Ltd., we do not hesitate to provide references, WCB clearances, and proof of Liability Insurance or license numbers. Feel free to drop by our office location or talk to any of our product suppliers. We truly look forward to being of service to you and hope that this letter has helped you.

Sincerely,
Kevin Braddell
President