Morton Construction
Remodeling Indiana ::
FAQ
Below you will find many common questions and answers to common home remodeling questions.
Q: Do I need to be home to obtain an estimate?
A: No. Most companies will obtain the necessary measurements and inspections from outside the home. However, meeting with the owner allows an opportunity to discuss your specific goals in obtaining a work. This is also an opportunity to get a feel for our company's performance in the scheduling and keeping of appointments.
Q: What are some general tips I can do so my roofing job goes smoothly?
A: There is an old Roofing Adage: "The neater the yard going in . . . the neater the yard going out." Valueable Tips Make sure lawns are mowed prior to the start of the roofing project. Keep landscaping areas neatly trimmed or otherwise made accessible for the crews. Remove vehicles from the driveway to allow for necessary loading of equipment. In the Fall, removing fallen leaves from around the perimeter of the home will improve the finding of nails. Allow access to a water hose to "cool" the shingles so they lay better. Alert neighbors of your roofing job.
Q: How much will my project cost?
A: This depends on the size and scope of your project. For instance, most bathroom make-overs (where everything is replaced) run $5,000-$7,000. Adding a bath in the in another part of your home will run $9,000-$12,000. Partial remodel projects are typically $5,000-$8,000 and some have been less than $5,000.
Q: When can you get started?
A: After you have given your verbal go-ahead, most projects start within 4-6 weeks.
Q: How long will my project take?
Can I have it done by: ________holiday, family visit?
A: Depending on the project anywhere between 1 day and anywhere from 1-2 weeks.
Q: How do I select the best materials and fixtures for my bathroom?
A: We will help you with this process by going even showroom or catalog shopping with you. Your responses to our questions, will help narrow the choices. Our years of experience with products will help make the optimum selections in price and quality.
Q: Will there be a big mess?
A: We take-to-heart this invasion of your home and privacy. We respect your property by: laying down clean tarps as needed, taking down pictures, etc. that could fall off the wall, installing a ventilation fan when there is a window, clean the work space and traffic areas daily, dust and vacuum nearby spaces, and clean the bathroom thoroughly on the final day of construction.
Q: My Roof Has Only One Layer At This Time. Can I "layover" the existing shingles or is it better to have them removed?
A: A number of factors come into play in making this decision. Older shingles tend
to cup as they dry out and age. The new layer will follow the contour of the existing
shingles which may cause your new roof to look bumpy or uneven. Also, the existing
rows of shingles must have been run straight when installed. Again, the new layer will
follow the old pattern and may lead to a visually unacceptable appearance.
Of greater concern is the inability to inspect the roof deck for heat damage, rot or
loose decking. While the wood can be inspected from inside the attic space for broken
boards or water damage, loose decking can not be determined without removing the
shingles and existing felt paper.
As wood becomes moist from humid air and condensation that collects in the attic space,
it may swell slightly. As it dries out, the wood returns to its natural position. Over the
course of 20 years or so, this swelling and relaxing of the wood can lift the decking nails
slightly which may prevent the wood from laying flat. This will be the only opportunity for
the life of your new roof to address this condition.
Q: What weight felt paper should be used?
A: Roofing felt paper, sometimes known as "tar" paper, is an underlayment that is installed
between the roof decking and roof shingle. Commonly used weights for residential housing
are the 15# and 30# underlayments.
In the past, 30# felt was often used in conjunction with the organic asphalt shingles then
on the market. Today's fiberglass composite shingles offer greater durability and a longer
life expectancy in a thinner and lighter format. Many manufacturers today recommend
using 15# felt with their 20 year and 25 year fiberglass composite shingles available in our region.
While many consumer publications continue to recommend 30# felt for reroofing projects,
we suggest the manufacturer's rocommendations are followed to ensure full warranty protection.
Q: When are the roofing materials delivered and will they block access to my driveway or garage?
A: Generally, we schedule the materials to be delivered by our supplier two days before your planned roofing date. In most cases, the materials will be loaded directly to the roof area of your home, allowing you access to your parking area. If there are reasons your roof cannot be loaded (power lines or tree branches in the way, or if your roof has too steep of a pitch) you will be notified in advance of the situation. We do request that you keep the driveway area clear of vehicles on the day your delivery is scheduled unless someone will be home to move the vehicles when the supplier arrives.
Q: Do I need to be home while the work is in progress?
A: No. In fact many folks prefer not to be home when the hammering starts.
Q: How do you handle communications during the construction process?
A: Our owner personally checks on each job daily and is able to address any problem that may arise. Our goal is to answer your questions and concerns before you have to ask them.
Q: Do I need to protect items inside my house from possible damage?
A: On all roofing jobs there is a degree of vibration which comes down through the framework of the home. While it is not necessary to panic, it is recommended you safeguard fragile items such as glass globes on chandeliers, pictures which are not securely mounted to the wall, or the "old family heirloom" on the mantel. Items in the kitchen cabinets should not be affected, nor should there be a need to empty the china cabinet. If in doubt, take a few minutes to protect any non-replaceable items.
Q: What about clean up?
A: What often separates many companies is the quality of the site clean up at the end of a job. Professional contractors should remove all debris, if it is a roofing job, clean out the gutter system and do a thorough cleaning of the grounds and landscaping. Included in this is the use of a magnet to pick up any nails that have reached the ground level. The perimeter of the home including lawn, landscaped areas, driveway and support vehicle parking area should be included in the search for nails.
317.253.1157
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