Frequently asked questions
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How long have you been in business?
We have been operating since 2007 and have been a Licensed contractor since 2020. We have weathered the housing crash of 2008 and the pandemic of 2020. We have a combined 75 years experience in the construction industry. We have been expanding our business and workforce over the years and have no plans of going anywhere.
What is a Licensed contractor?
Below is a window from the NC contractors board to describe this.
We are a licensed Building Contractor.
Are you a licensed contractor?
Yes, our contractor number is 85252 in NC.
You can verify our license or anyone else's using the window below.
Why should I hire a verified contractor?
A contractor provides the experience to comply with current building codes, permitting, and legal requirements of any project. Each project has its own set of challenges and we have the experience to overcome the challenges that come with a project and keep things on schedule. Having a contractor makes the process much, much easier. We also offer you protection that your project rests on us and not on you calling 20 people to make sure everything happens the way it should.
There are a lot of want-to-be contractors out there and verifying your contractor and their insurance is a critical step. The verification is easy. With the window above just type in your contractors name or their business name. If they do not show up with the word valid beside their name they are not a currently licensed contractor.
To verify insurance all you need is for the contractor to issue you a certificate of insurance (COI) and then you call that company to verify it is a valid policy that covers the work being done.
Is a Licensed contractor more money?
Yes, in most cases there is a marginal price increase compared to an unlicensed person doing your project. A licensed contractor is required to meet many standards, carry insurance policies, and is held to a much higher educational and financial standard than a handyman. With this it requires more costs to be compliant. This added cost is factored into each job throughout the year. This cost also provides you peace of mind that your job will be completed in a timely manner and guaranteed to meet or exceed building codes. When factoring this in you must consider that this cost is far less expensive than having to have your new project repaired should something go wrong.
What is your service area?
We generally operate in Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, & Wilkes counties in N.C.
Carroll & Grayson counties in V.A.
We do travel outside of these areas so feel free to call us regardless of where you are located.
Can I get a free estimate?
Yes, within the borders of Alleghany County we offer free estimates. Anything outside the county has a small fee that will be credited to your project estimate should you accept our estimate.
How long are your estimates valid?
All of our estimates are valid for 14 day. This is due to material price fluctuations and wanting to give you the best available prices.
Why do you require a deposit?
All of our estimates require a deposit to have it scheduled. We have had many unsecured jobs that would cancel at the last minute even as far as when we arrived on site to start work. This leads to a massive amount of work to return materials and reschedule other jobs to keep our crews working and supporting their families. With the way our system works you have a legally binding contract that secures that we will do the work as outlined in the scope of work and we have monetary security upfront to partially pay for the materials and to hold the day you have requested.
What is your payment schedule?
All of our estimates require a deposit but depending on the type of work you are needing sets the structure unless requested otherwise.
For repair work: we do 1/2 upfront and 1/2 on the last day of work
For any large scale work lasting over a week our standard is:
1/4 upfront to schedule
1/4 at material delivery on our 1st day of work
1/4 at a significant milestone at least 2/3rds through your project, that is outlined in the estimate.
1/4 due at the last day of work or when we have passed final inspection. Whichever is last
What if I have started my project and I'm in over my head?
Give us a call. We can come in as a consultant or we can assume your job entirely. It can look easy to make phone calls and get people on a schedule but when you have a 1 and done job it is harder to keep that schedule as time goes on. In every project there are unforeseen things and delays but when you are an owner-contractor, sometimes delays can be nothing more than a company padding their pockets and taking advantage of someone who doesn't know the industry. With years of experience and the intimate knowledge of the industry we are here to help. Feel free to call us, wither it is just questions to ease your mind or a site visit to actively help your project our consulting services can bring thing back in line. If that is not for you we are more than happy to assume the job in its entirety and you sit back and watch your project come to life.
How long should my project take?
This is a loaded question to ask. The only answer that is correct is "it depends". Several factors go into every job. Elevation changes, ground type, scale of the project, if demolition is needed, materials to be used, change orders, weather, etc. Here is an average for a non complicated build to factor in small to large sizes.
Decks - 2-3 weeks
Home builds 8-14 weeks
Additions - 4-10 weeks
Bathroom renovations 2-6 weeks
Kitchen remodels 2-6 weeks
Basic Flooring 1 day - 2 weeks
Hardwood flooring - 1-3 weeks
What is your weather policy?
If the roads are safe and weather is conducive to the type of work we are doing, we will do all we can to get on site. The rule of thumb we follow most is if Alleghany County Schools are open we are working. If they close for severe weather or hazardous conditions we will ususally follow suit though there are some exceptions.