I am a homeowner looking to reside with fiber cement. I would appreciate tips on finding and selecting a contractor to do this work. Fiber cement is not very prevalent yet in this area (SE PA), and I would like to find someone who has worked with it before. What do I need to ask of and find out about contractors? What should be in the contract or agreement to ensure quality work at a reasonable cost?
Thanks for your help.
Replies
Try the Better Business Bureau. They usually have a list of contractors. Good Luck
Start by finding out who the local suppliers are that carry fiber cement- they may be able to help you find a few prospective contractors.
As far as "ensuring quality at a reasonable cost", "reasonable" is relative to whoever is looking at the price. The contractor may think $10,000 is "reasonable", whicl you think $3,000 is "reasonable". That's one of the biggest problems in residential remodeling- there's no "typical" or "reasonable" cost for anything.
The best way to ensure you're getting a quality job is to look at past work, talk to past clients, and make it very clear (in writing) what you want done.
Bob
email Steve Merrette at ....
[email protected]
or look for him around here ... he's in and out every now and then.
He's in SE Pa.
Jeff ... across the state
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistery in Carpentry
Thanks for the recommendation--I have emailed Steve Merrette.
Steve Puckett
Fiber cement is not particularly difficult to work with, so if you can't find someone who's experienced with it in your area, or if you don't like his workmanship or references, then any good contractor can install it. It may go slower if you are his first job, but perhaps you can talk him into a discount rate for "allowing" him the experience to learn an up and coming premium product on your job.
If he's inexperienced with the material, insist he read the technical instructions from the James Hardie website.
It's more important to have someone with high standards of workmanship and trainability than someone with a little experience with the material.
Also, be aware that you must not use any oil based paint on the material, especially not primer. Only latex is recommended, with 100% acrylic being the best. If an oil based paint is applied to a cementitous material the paint will saponify and loose adhesion.