1 Quick Trick to Finding a Great Hardscaping Contractor, by EP Henry
A reliable and efficient contractor is essential for any renovation, big or small, but finding a dependable installation expert in a market flooded with options is the most difficult step in the journey.
WOODBURY, N.J., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Great renovations start with great contractors. Finding one can be a challenge.
Home renovation is a multi-billion dollar industry. A recent survey of 72,000 Houzz.com users said more than half spent more than $15,000 on home renovations in 2015-2016, with the top 10% of first-time home buyers spending $60,000 or more. A reliable and efficient contractor is essential for any renovation, big or small, but finding a dependable installation expert in a market flooded with options is the most difficult step in the journey.
The common advice for contractor selection is to seek recommendations, but when a homeowner is new to the neighborhood, recommendations can be difficult to gather. Referral sites like Angie's List and Yelp don't offer complete pictures.
An industry secret to finding a recommended contractor is to ask the manufacturer of the materials to be used in the project.
EP Henry, a leading stone manufacturer serving the Mid-Atlantic states, has an Authorized Hardscaping Contractor list filled with professionals that were painstakingly vetted by EP Henry's experts. Membership on the list is governed by strict criteria, including professional certifications, years of experience and demonstrated installation mastery. EP Henry's on-site experts do the legwork of verifying certifications, checking qualifications and visiting completed projects. When recommending a contractor for a customer, they have the utmost confidence in the referral.
Here are a few key things EP Henry's experts check for when adding a business to their list.
- ICPI Certification. To become certified, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute requires a contractor to have a minimum of 5 projects of a combined 10,000 square feet of paver or veneer stone installation following ICPI guidelines, as well as passing a 2 day course and test.
- NCMA Certification. If there is a retaining wall on the project, National Concrete Masonry Association certification is required. Retaining wall installation is a specialized skill.
- On-site visits. Seeing the contractor's work in person is important to ensure that they are qualified to perform certain project scopes, e.g., if the project includes a raised patio, the contractor must show that they have experiencing in building one.
- Warranty on the installation. EP Henry requires their contractors to provide the customer a warranty.
- Proof of liability insurance. The business must be fully insured in liability, workman's compensation and more.
When reviewing a contractor's website, EP Henry recommends looking for their EP Henry Authorized Hardscaping Contractor(r) logo and/or ICPI and NCMA logos, which indicate the business has obtained the qualified professional certifications needed for proper Hardscape installation.
A renovation starts with a dream and ends with the last stone put in place. The right contractor for the job is the best way to get a home renovation project off on the right foot. For homeowners, taking the time to verify the quality of materials and the contractor is required to turn that dream into a reality.
About EP Henry®
EP Henry®, the oldest American family-owned and operated manufacturer of unit concrete products in North America, provides the highest quality and broadest product offerings in Hardscaping(™). Based in Woodbury, New Jersey, EP Henry manufactures a wide range of paving stone and retaining wall products, including permeable pavers which are a best management practice (BMP) for stormwater management. EP Henry also offers beautiful patio pavers, outdoor kitchen kits, garden wall solutions and more. For more information on EP Henry Hardscaping products, visit EPHenry.com or call 800-44-HENRY (800-444-3679).
SOURCE EP Henry
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