Halifax Gutters Installation, Repairs and Gutter Cleaning Authority Sound Warning to Homeowners

Nov. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Gutter installers range from a couple of guys working out of a  pickup truck or trailer doing cash jobs to fully licensed and insured companies that are incorporated and pay taxes and for Worker's Compensation coverage. Each type of gutter installer usually provide free quotes and surprisingly the rates don't vary by much money. When considering what company to hire there are a number of questions that can assist with evaluating the benefits of each potential candidate, which will help protect homeowners from fly-by-night companies.

Questions that you can ask the gutter installer:

1. Are you fully insured and how much coverage do you have? It is also a good idea to tell the installer that you want to see a copy of it when they arrive at your home. You will be surprised at how many won't show up after this question is asked.
2. Are you in compliance with the Worker's Compensation Board? Companies in compliance receive a “Clearance Letter” that states the company is in good standing and pays for coverage for its workers. Confirm that the letter's expiration date is not in the past.
3. What is the warranty? This can range from 1 year to 40 years and more.
4. Is the company incorporated? Most companies that are incorporated are serious companies that plan to be in business for a long period of time (read: not a fly by night company).
5. Are written quotes and site visits free? Most installers provide free guesstimates, but some offer a free site visit to confirm that their price will stay the same as there are often a few litter surprises of which the homeowner is unaware. This usually puts the price up after a quote has been provided.
6. Are credit cards accepted? This may be important to some homeowners when cash is tight. Many companies will bump the price up to cover the cost of processing the credit card payment.
7. Are checks accepted? Most companies have been burned by bad checks and no longer accept them.
8. Are the corners installed with miter boxes or strip miters? Strip miters are considered better and longer lasting. Box miters are the weak point in gutter systems and many fail within five years. Strip miters are more difficult to install, but last longer and are are much less prone to failure. Many gutter installers use box miters so this is an important question to ask.
9. Is there an option to install fascia? Many companies offer aluminum cladding services to cover existing fascia. This provides a maintenance free surface (no painting!), which is important since the gutters will cover much of the fascia and make repairs and painting difficult. There is not much point to focus only on maintenance free gutters if the fascia will fall apart in a few years.
10. Is there an option to install vinyl soffit? Some homeowners prefer to change the soffit for new vinyl soffit to update and improve the appearance of the house, which increases the value of the home.

Gutters are a low cost form of insurance to protect homes against flooding, however, careful consideration sure be used when selecting your contractor to ensure the integrity of you home is maintained for future decades while maintaining it's, or increasing, the home's value.

Visit http://www.halifaxgutters.ca and http://www.rondon.ca for more information.

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Ron and Don started Rondon in 1973 in developing residential real estate and residential construction services including new homes. A recent division, Halifax Gutters, was created to specialize in gutter installations, cleaning, and repairs..