VIEWPOINT BY JIM SCHAIBLE, MANAGING EDITOR
Doing it right L
ast summer my Chicago bungalow was in dire need of a new roof; I had put it off as long as I dared. A neighbor recommended a roofing contractor who had shown up
on short notice, like a knight in shining armor, to fix an earlier botched job by a fly-by-night roofer. The local roofer, a third- generation Chicago family business, made a quick repair to keep the rain out and later did the entire job properly. My wife called them on a Tuesday and
they said they’d send a representative to do an estimate at 7 the next evening. At 7:01 Wednesday the doorbell rang and an engaging young man, the owner’s son, set about the estimate. He put up a ladder and climbed all over the house, and the next evening stopped by with an estimate for a complete roof using energy-efficient materials, as I had requested. His figures were on a par with two other roofers we had called, but unlike them he could begin the job the next Monday. For our part, we
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agreed to prune a backyard apple tree to provide room for the crews to work, and to clear out our attic to minimize cleanup. We agreed on payment and signed the contract. At 8 a.m. Monday two trucks pulled up and a crew got
busy removing the old roof. They bundled the old roofing from the top flat section and lowered it over the side with ropes rather than simply toss it over the side. They leaned plywood and hung tarps to catch debris from the gabled sections. Because I was unable to be at home my wife nervously observed the proceedings. If she had a question the job supervisor explained everything. We were concerned about our flower gardens but the owner assured us that his own mother is a stickler about her gardens and he treats every job as if his mom were supervising. Not a stem was broken. The removal crew finished by noon, picking up any scraps and magneting the yard. The roofing crew got busy, first
| ADVERTISERS’ INDEX |
Apollo Valve......................................3
www.apollovalves.com
Apricus ............................................64
www.apricus.com
Bare Bones Biz.................................69
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Bavco...............................................16
www.bavco.com
Bradford White................................37
www.bradfordwhite.com
Burnham........................................IFC
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Cash Acme ......................................31
www.sharkbitepro.com
Chicago Faucets...............................11
www.chicagofaucets.com
Cimberio Valve................................25
www.fastlockfittings.com
Eternal Hybrid Water Heater.............9
www.eternalwaterheater.com
Floodmaster.....................................35
www.floodmaster.com
Franklin Electric...............................47
www.franklin-electric.com/lg
General Pipe Cleaners, a div. of GeneralWire Spring......51, 53
www.drainbrain.com
Halsey Taylor ...................................30
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Heat-Flo Products............................41
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HeatingHelp.com............................46
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InSinkErator ..............................18, 19
www.insinkerator.com
ITT/Bell & Gossett ..........................59
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John Guest ......................................26
www.johnguest.com
Liberty Pumps .................................43
www.libertypumps.com
NAOHSM.......................................68
www.naohsm.org
Navien .......................................17, 57
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Noble Company ..............................12
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Oventrop...........................................7
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PEX Supply.....................................33
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Precision Hydronics Products ..........42
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Quietside.........................................65
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Red-White Valve Corp.....................27
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RIDGID..........................................15
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Slant/Fin..........................................14
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Smith Mfg. Co., Jay R. .....................10
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Stiebel Eltron...................................61
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Taco.................................................49
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Triangle Tube.................................IBC
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Tyler Pipe ........................................23
www.tylerpipe.com
Viega..........................................38-39
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Watco ..............................................48
www.watcomfg.com
Watts LavSafe..................................67
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Watts Radiant ..................................45
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Webstone.......................................4, 5
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Weldbend...................................20-21
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Woodford Manufacturing ................13
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Zurn Plumbing Products Group .....BC
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replacing deteriorated planks and installing extra vents. The job went like clockwork during the next few days despite the summer heat, and we provided plenty of bottled water for the men. The owner or his son stopped by frequently to check on the work flow and answer my wife’s questions. They put her at ease and she felt she could relax despite the activity. There was no noise beyond normal construction; the owner forbids distractions such as radios on the job, although there was occasional exuberant singing in one of three languages. During the job the owner invited me to climb up and see
the progress, and to demonstrate the amazing effect of energy- efficient reflective roofing. Finally the gutter crew arrived and soon the entire job was complete. The supervisor walked the yard and picked up the few remaining scraps. From start to finish the project ran smoothly and professionally; the contractor did everything he could to put us at ease, and the crews worked efficiently and courteously. The project was everything I expected a contracting job to be, and the owner has made periodic follow-up calls. I recommend his company every chance I get. This contractor understood a fundamental aspect of any
customer job; that although the procedure is routine for him and his crew, to us it was a major disruption with many areas of concern. He essentially held our hands throughout the project, did a first-rate job and left us with a good feeling. During the course of the project the contractor and I
discussed the business in general. He mentioned that too often the different disciplines don’t communicate very well; he specifically maintained that roofing contractors and HVAC contractors are natural enemies. “I’ll put on a quality roof, and the next thing you know, an HVAC crew is up there chopping holes in it. They slap tar around the pipes and when the roof leaks, the building owner is chewing me out!” What I observed was that good planning, a few simple rules
of operation, being on time and always seeing the project from the customer’s standpoint will win you repeat business every time. And if you work with other contractors in the course of the job, make sure everyone is on the same page.;
phcmarch 2011
www.phcnews.com
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