Get Your Log Home Projects Done Right with the Help of Specialized Local Contractors

Tip: For homeowners in larger states, you may get more results by increasing the search radius. For best response, we recommend selecting between 3 to 5 contractor leads.

*If your search result equals "no contractors found," be sure to select the prompted location for the address and/or increase your search radius.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When selecting your contractor(s) through the search tool, click on the "Contact this Contractor" at the top of the screen. You will complete a form that contains information about the project, which will be sent to the contractor to familiarize themselves with the project. After submitting your project information, you will receive an email that contains the contractor's contact information so you can reach out to them directly. This email will be from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and if you don't see an email within 24 hours after submitting your request, please check your junk/spam email folders. Gmail users will have a delay in receiving the referral emails. Please only request between 3-7 referrals. Excessive referrals will be flagged as spam by our system.

If you do not receive the referral emails, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. directly and we can send you the information. We are happy to offer you all our resources to make this process a successful experience. We will contact you within 7-10 days to follow-up on the referral connection to ensure information is being exchanged. Possible future follow-up contact may be performed if the job was awarded to one of our preferred log home contractors. Note these contractors are not Perma-Chink Systems employees or companies, they are independent contractors.

WHY HIRE A LOG HOME PRO

Would you entrust your car to a golf-cart mechanic? While similar in nature, there is a difference between the two. Log home maintenance and restoration contractors have experience dealing with the unique characteristics that come with a log and timber home. This experience will give you a better result than hiring a painting contractor. Not to mention the long-term relationship the contractors have with the product manufacturer. When it comes to caring for your log home, it's reassuring to know that you can choose a contractor on whom you can rely on for good advice as well trust that they’re dedicated to providing you with the best results possible. Our network of independent professional log home contractors stand ready to assist you.

HOW TO HIRE A LOG HOME PRO

We offer an extensive referral list of log home contractors from coast to coast. Most of these contractors are self-employed and none are affiliated with Perma-Chink Systems, but they do have both experience and training in using our products on log and timber homes. Many of the contractors we've worked with for years, and we continually review our referral list to provide our customers with the best available log home contractors. Limited as a referral service, it is best to interview the contractors yourself to determine their reliability, reputation, and experience, as well as their procedures that best meet your individual needs.

Seven Key Questions to Consider …

For those of you who maybe just don’t have the time, physical ability or even the confidence level to do the work yourself – Perma-Chink Systems offers an extensive referral list of log home contractors from coast to coast.

So let’s say you’ve decided not to do the work on your home and have chosen instead to hire it done. You’ve gotten a list of several referrals from Perma-Chink Systems or other sources. Now what?

The First Step – Get Smart! A very important first step before interviewing any contractor is to educate yourself.  Perma-Chink Systems can help you better understand the steps and nuances of your project. You can attend one of our free homeowner workshops, read through our literature and application guides or call one of our log home specialists to walk you through the process and related products. Better yet, our website www.permachink.com offers the most detailed How-To tips in the industry, downloadable brochures, online ordering of products and free samples, plus live online help with a specialist via chat session, e-mail or phone. The more you know about your upcoming project, the better you can ask the right questions and understand the answers from the contractors. So please don’t overlook this important step! Obviously, you’ll want to interview all the contractors to determine their reliability, reputation and experience as well as their procedures that best meet your individual needs. So here are 7 key questions to ask each contractor during the bid process.  

The 7 Key Questions you should ask each contractor candidate:

1. What is the full name and address of the contractor’s company?

   Getting the complete address of the company can be an important factor in determining a company's time in business. If a post office box is given, ask for a full street address as well. Many contractors today have their own websites, making the answers to this and the next few questions fairly easy to find.

2. Does the contractor carry insurance?

   A contractor should carry comprehensive liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance to protect you in the event of a job accident. This can be verified by asking to see certificates of insurance. Contractors may carry other kinds of insurance including health, life and auto. Bland assurances of insurance coverage may refer to these. Don't be confused. Ask for proof of general liability and workers' compensation coverage for the type of project.

   Now, there are also contractors who do not carry insurance. They will most likely be cheaper to hire as they do not have the large insurance premiums to pay. Workers' compensation premiums can increase wage costs by about 20% or even higher.

   Ultimately it is up to you to determine if it is worth the risk to hire a contractor who does not carry insurance.

3. Is the contractor licensed or credentialed?

   Ask if the contractor is licensed by your state and/or city. Not all states require contractors to be licensed. Check with your local licensing authority.

   A contractor may also answer this question by telling you they have a business license. However, a business license is a tax requirement only and is not directly relevant to the contractor's competence. Homeowners can view a contractor's credentials as another indicator of their degree of knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to their trade. So ask for copies of all licenses and credentials.
   

4. How long has the contractor been in business?

   Needless to say, longer is usually better.  Less than three years may signal an unstable business or one low on the learning curve. On the other hand, everybody has to start sometime. Be sure to ask how long they’ve been doing log home work.

   References are helpful to research any business and especially important when dealing with a new business. A newer contractor may have a great future, but it is only reasonable to be more careful when considering their references.

5. Will the company provide references from previous jobs?

   Ask for photos of completed work, if available. Most experienced log home contractors will have a portfolio of past jobs, along with photos and testimonial letters. Request a list of 5 names and phone numbers of recent customers (last 12 months). It is not necessary to check all 5, but you will be able to pick randomly from the list those you do call. So ask for (even demand) current references.

6. What is the contractor’s workmanship warranty?

   Some contractors typically warrant their workmanship for one year or more. Longer warranties are not necessarily more valuable than shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is less important than the intent and ability of the contractor to stand behind his warranty. That is best evaluated using customer references.

   Ask the contractor’s customers specifically for information about these four things:

   1. Did they perform the work in a timely and professional manner?
   2. Were they accessible and responsive when asked for information and changes?
   3. Did they act as if they cared about the customer’s interests?
   4. Would you call the contractor trustworthy?
7. What is the contractor’s track record for solving customer complaints?

   Try to find out how your contractor handles problems when they do arise. Request a referral from at least one job that involved a complaint. Ask the contractor if they have ever lost a job-related court case. Ask if their contractor's license has ever been suspended and why.

   Also, in talking to the appropriate authorities, such as the Better Business Bureau and licensing departments, find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractors whom you have interviewed. Many contractors in business for any length of time have been involved in a dispute. Ask how the dispute was resolved to test your contractor's reputation.

“An Ounce of Prevention”

When it comes to caring for your log home, it's reassuring to know that you can choose a contractor on whom you can rely on for good advice as well trust that they’re dedicated to providing you with the best results possible. It takes a little more work to do this “homework”, but it can definitely be worth it. Hopefully, these first few steps will help you in selecting your contractor. Again, Perma-Chink Systems is happy to offer you all our products and resources to make this process a successful experience.
Again, call us for a referral to an experience contractor in your area. Most of these contractors are self-employed and none are affiliated with Perma-Chink Systems, but they have experience and training in using our products on log homes.

For more information regarding hiring a contractor please visit www.contractors-license.org. To order a brochure or view in PDF go to http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor