With summer knocking on the door, it is quite common that homeowners start looking at ways to reduce their cooling costs. When winter comes around, homeowners are in search of ways to reduce their heating costs. Insulating your home to avoid air from escaping from your home. In most cases, spray foam insulation is the most economic option. Not that it’s the most affordable, but the installation of a quality spray foam will last you a lifetime.
This type of insulation offers numerous other advantages over its competitors, such as fiberglass. It’s non-toxic, easier to install, and environmentally friendlier.
Having said that, deciding to opt for spray foam insulation is the easy part. Finding the right contractor to actually perform the work can be harder, and arguably the most important part of your installation. With the correct insulation contractor on board, your installation could turn out to be a total waste of time and money.
Questions To Ask Your Spray Insulation Contractor Before You Give The Go-Ahead
It is up to you, the house-owner, to work in close collaboration with the spray foam insulation specialists to fully understand the product, its implications, and installation requirements.
Here is a list of questions you absolutely have to ask your spray foam, insulation contractor.
This will not only assist you in finding the best contractor for your particular installation, but also a feel for your region’s pricing trends when you compare their estimates.
How Long Have They Been in Business?
There is no substitute for experience. When comparing quotes, try to find a company that’s been in business for a number of years. Vet them online and check their reviews. Keep in mind that spray foam can start to show signs of deterioration after 5 years if poor workmanship was applied. This could mean that some companies who have been installing this product for the last 4 – 5 years may suddenly start to get a lot of comebacks and end up simply dropping off the radar. Opt for a company with at least 6-7 years of experience and trade in this industry to ensure you eliminate (possibly) more unreliable contractors. Older companies are also more likely to offer quality materials and services while still honoring their guarantees.
The reason for this is quite simple. Often spray foam insulation start showing problems when they get 4 or 5 years old. Any manufacturer offers warranties for the material cost. Many companies make the mistake of using foam based on price. After 4 to 5 years, they suddenly find an increasing number of customers wanting them to fix their problems. This makes them shut down their business and disappear. Going for a decade-old company assures you that they would be giving you quality material and service and would always honor their guarantee.
Do They Have The Necessary Licensing?
Don’t just take someone’s word for their qualifications. You can check the qualifications of your potential contractor with your local licensing board. This is usually classified into residential and commercial.
It’s important that your contractor is licensed no matter what size project you have. This means that they have an in-depth knowledge of the contracting industry. This includes:
- current building codes
- safety policies
- how to handle and dispose of hazardous materials
- labor and hiring laws
- permitting requirements
Getting the project code approved is extremely important. For example, all spray foam must have a Fire-retardant sprayed on top of it.
Without this, you have a massive risk on your hands, not to mention that your insurance will not payout in the event of an accident if everything wasn’t done up to code. In the long run, it is definitely not worth it to employ a spray foam insulation contractor without the necessary licensing.
Can I Get a Detailed Estimate?
It’s never a good idea to take an over-the-phone estimate or a verbal one for that matter. You want to make sure you get everything in writing. Your estimate should have as much detail as possible so that you know where your money is going.
A down payment or deposit might be in order, depending on the size and complexity of your project. This is a good practice and shows your contractor you are sincere in your intentions. Typically, this can be up to 33% of your total cost. Always make sure that this is part of your contract.