FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. How do I know if I have a good contractor?

A. Many contractors list organizations they belong to.  Anybody can join these organizations. Our recommendation is to call the people they have done work for in the last six months to get a good idea of what they are about today.

Another important tool is to go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor or Construction Supervisor's web site after obtaining their licensing information and looking up if they have any complaints against them.  Go here to look one up now.

Q. Should my contractor be licensed and insured?

A.  Absolutely.  In Massachusetts using an unlicensed contractor who does not obtain the proper building permit will disqualify you from seeking relief if there are problems with your project from the Massachusetts Contractor's Guaranteed Fund.  One of the things about having a properly licensed contractor that obtains the necessary permits is that the contractor has to show the proper license and proof of insurance to obtain the building permit.  And you have the added protection of the building inspector checking on the quality of work and compliance with building codes.

Insurance is very important, especially Worker's Compensation and Liability because if an employee was to have an accident while working on your property, you could be held liable for any expenses associated with any injury or damages.

Q. How does the quality of materials affect my project?

A. The quality of the materials is paramount to the quality of the workmanship. From our experience we made a mistake in trying a new and unproven product that was recommended by salesmen from a major building material supplier that was a $4,000 entrance door that came blemished and damaged to the site. The use of proven and highly recognized products and materials will definitely give you quality, durability, value and peace of mind with your project.

For example, take ice and water barrier:  We do a test where we puncture samples with a nail.  On one product, the nail slips right out.  The other product, which is, like most products we use, recommended by architects and engineers, completely seals around the nail and when the nail is pulled out the sealant comes with it.

Not all pressure treated lumber, trim and framing materials, cedar wood siding and roofing is the same.  There are many grades to choose from.  Make sure your contractor knows his lumber.

Q. How is your construction company different from all the others?

A. I believe leadership starts at the top, and have built this company with one goal in mind - to provide the best quality, service and value for every project.

I have over thirty-five years of experience and education in the construction business.  I got into the trades in the early 70's and was trained by "old school" ways. I learned how to value pride in workmanship, consistency, and professionalism.

Quinn's Construction's priority is to leave every customer delighted that they chose Quinn's to complete their project.

Quinn's Construction provides from five year to lifetime manufacturer's material and labor warranties.

We are focused on environmentally sensitive building practices and on using eco-friendly building materials wherever practical - both in remodeling and in new building construction. Building “green” with an awareness of the environmental impact is a philosophy that makes sense for our customers and for our world. Quinn's Construction views every project as an opportunity to evaluate and potentially reduce environmental impact.

Read about some of the green products and practices we use in our construction and roofing projects and feel free to ask us about any that you don't see listed on our site.

Q. What should a contract consist of?

A. In Massachusetts, M.G.L. c142 A governs all home improvement contracts.  There are fourteen detailed items that should be included in your contract.  In summary, here are some of the important ones:

• The complete agreement between contractor and owner

• Full names, salespersons, owners

• Date on which work is scheduled to begin

• Date on which work is scheduled to be completed

• Detailed description of work to be done and materials to be used

• Total amount agreed to be paid for the work to be performed

• Time schedule of payments, finance charges.

• No final payment until work is completed

• All parties must sign the contract.

• Contractor's registration number

• Cancellation clause

• Do not sign clause

• Permit clause

• No acceleration of payment clause

• Signing of the contract clause

• Arbitration clause

Q. Are you a member of the Better Business Bureau? 

A.  Yes we are. And we are proud to be a member.  As an accredited business in the Better Business Bureau, you can trust Quinn's Construction to perform its services in an ethical and professional manner. The BBB fosters ethical advertising and selling practices. They alert consumers to bad business and advertising practices and protect consumers by disseminating information through newspapers, radio, television and printed literature.

The Better Business Bureau will provide information about a company before you do business with it, including a final step of binding arbitration in most areas. BBB will provide you with good consumer information so that you can make intelligent buying decisions.

Q. How are you able to offer a Lifetime Guarantee for our roof?

Many people are skeptical about contractors and wary of claims. This is one claim we can guarantee because Quinn’s Construction is a GAF Master Elite Factory-Certified Roofing Contractor. The claim is backed by GAF the most trusted name in roofing shingles. You can read their press release and Quinn’s can offer homeowners a Lifetime Guarantee on roofs that they install.

This means that when your roof is replaced or installed by Quinn’s Construction after January 1, 2011 with GAF laminated shingles, it carries a Lifetime Limited Warranty. Your roof is guaranteed for as long as you own your home!

Click on the logos below to download a PDF brochure of specific products.  You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these files.  Download it for free now by clicking on the Acrobat logo.

Site Design & Maintenance - M. Snow