• Hire someone you can trust: A good GC will use quality materials, techniques, and act with integrity. Do your research. Ask for references, check with the Better Business Bureau. If you’re already making plans with an architect or inspector that you trust, ask them for a list of quality contractors that they often work with. Find someone with an excellent reputation and strong track record in the community. Find someone you have a good rapport with that will be on the job site regularly and available to you if there are problems.
• Choose a GC that fits your style and personality: If you like a personal approach, a small one-crew company might be just right for you. The crew may do most of the work themselves and use relatively few subcontractors – usually better for specialized, or very customized work. If you want speed, efficiency, and professionalism, a larger more corporate outfit might suit you better.
• Request their certificate of insurance.
• Meet with and interview potential GS’s: ask how many jobs like this have you completed? What is your average cost per square foot for a project like this? Who will supervise the construction site? Who will I be working with the most once we start? What work will your employees do, opposed to subcontractors? What efforts do you take to keep the job site clean and safe? How do you prefer to work: competitive bid, cost-plus, negotiated price, or other? Do you have a warranty program and what does it look like?
• Bid your project: If you have detailed specs for your project, provide them to a few GC’s. When requesting 2-3 estimates you must ensure that all contractors get the same information and understand your expectations for quality.
• Lowest bidder isn’t always the best choice: Don’t expect to the get the best job from the low bidder. If one bidder is significantly below the others, either he is making a mistake (often due to inexperience), is planning to make up the difference in change orders or is at risk of losing his shirt and may end up cutting corners or even walking off the job.

This answer depends on many factors. Depending on the size of your GC, they may have to schedule you around other projects that they are already involved in, or they may be able to start immediately. If it’s a large firm, they will have a larger team and a more flexible schedule. Does the project involve demo? If your project is new construction, it could take up to 2 weeks for the GC to obtain the proper building permits from the local inspector’s office. The GC will also need time to get subcontractors scheduled. Everything is negotiable and a good contractor will work with you to create and meet realistic deadlines.

As often as you feel necessary; however, keep in mind in new construction that the project may seem to be progressing quickly, and then depending on scheduling of the subcontractors, you may see a period of time where it appears nothing is going on. Quite often, in the last sixty days of construction, it appears that the process slows down, and even just a few weeks prior to the projected completion date, you may think that it will not be completed in time, but this is a common experience. A lot of things are going on in the final stages, so don’t be alarmed by this.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of construction experience of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 or visit our contact page to begin your construction project in Northeastern, PA.

This happens quite often. Contractors call this a “change order”. Once it is established what the requested change is, the contractor will quote you a price in writing, and normally, expects payment of that change prior to making the change. Most customers do experience this during construction, and it is not unusual to have 3-5 change orders. Each change order will be in writing and will be consecutively numbered for your records.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of construction experience of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 or visit our contact page to begin your construction project in Northeastern, PA.

Your GC will make a schedule and keep you informed/give you advance notice as to when you will need to make these decisions.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of construction experience of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 or visit our contact page to begin your construction project in Northeastern, PA

At least twice a year, you should schedule a professional tune-up for your central heating and cooling system for your home or commercial property. Maintenance of your heating and cooling systems should include cleaning the burners, adjusting gas pressure, checking and adjusting the pilot operation, lubrication of all moving parts, changing the air filter, checking the thermostat, and more.

Click here to learn more about Nauman's Comfort Club Membership

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

There are several steps you can take to help keep your HVAC system running efficiently. Check your system manufacturer’s guide to follow repairs and maintenance schedule. Cut back foliage and remove any leaves or debris left by nearby dyer vents that might be blocking airflow to the air conditioner or heat pump. Also, have your system serviced by a licensed professional HVAC technician.

Click here to learn more about Nauman’s Comfort Club Membership

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

Sizing is important because a unit that’s too small won’t cool your space properly, and a unit that’s too big will cost more than necessary. A contractor who will try to sell you a system that’s too big is trying to make more money or they don’t know how to properly size. An experienced contractor will consider several factors; ceiling height, construction and dozens of other variables to calculate the size of an effective system.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

It is impossible to give you an estimate over the phone, without inspecting your home or commercial space and current system. The best way to find out how much a new heating and cooling system will cost is to call a professional HVAC company. You should get several estimates and inquire about installation guidelines, certifications, warranties, and insurance.

Fill out our Digital Appointment Survey to start your HVAC estimate.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

Compare this process to maintaining a vehicle; if you never have the oil changed or refuse to take your car in for any kind of repair, you can expect your vehicle not to run properly. The same goes for your heating and cooling system. Hire a licensed HVAC company to perform precision tune-ups twice a year, once in the spring for your cooling season optimization, and again during the fall to ensure heating system safety and efficiency.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

When choosing a new furnace, heat pump, and/or air conditioning system, it’s important to hire a professional with years of experience and a good reputation. Your HVAC contractor will be able to help you select the best system for your home or commercial property. If your existing system is old, in need of costly repairs or inefficient, purchasing a new unit could be the most beneficial option for you.

Fill out our Digital Appointment Survey to start your HVAC estimate.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service residential HVAC  contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies HVAC team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship, ensuring optimal performance and maximum comfort.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 or visit our contact page to schedule your HVAC service or installation in Northeastern, PA.

Don’t let that little leak turn into a disaster! Licensed plumbing professionals demonstrate competence as installers of plumbing systems and are held to a certain standard of accountability when performing plumbing work. Improper plumbing would probably need to be rectified later, costing more in the long run.

Anytime the temperature drops below 32 degrees, pipes are in danger of freezing. If your home isn’t properly heating, or if there is an issue with your plumbing, extreme cold can cause the water in your pipes to freeze, expand and cause your pipes to burst. Pipes are most at risk in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics, and garages. Before any really cold weather, make sure that your pipes are properly insulated and that you have drained all the outside valves.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service plumbing contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies plumbing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship and expertise.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 to schedule your plumbing service or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Rainwater is naturally soft, however as it reaches the ground and absorbs minerals the water becomes categorized as hard. Over time, this can build up, clog your pipes and affect the performance of household appliances like dishwashers, sinks, bathtubs, showers, and washing machines. Water conditioning systems have the ability to filter and remove minerals and change the quality of water back to soft.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service plumbing contractor. With the experience in installing water softener systems, necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies plumbing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship and expertise.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 to schedule your plumbing service or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Strange sounds or rattling can indicate a plumbing blockage or a break and should be addressed immediately by a licensed plumbing professional. Noises in your pipes should never be ignored.

Nauman Companies is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania full-service plumbing contractor. With the experience necessary to work on both residential and commercial projects in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman Companies plumbing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship and expertise.

Give us a call at 570-476-7515 to schedule your plumbing service or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Spring, summer and fall are arguably the best roofing seasons; it is a common misconception that you cannot do roofing year round. Although Pennsylvania’s heavy winters can slow down the process due to less daylight hours and adverse working conditions, a full roof installation can be accomplished. Every season presents its own set of weather related challenges and it is our job as roofing professionals to know how to work through them safely 365 days a year.

Different roof types fail at varying rates and with different modes of failure. To save you some time, here is a list of general clues indicating roof failure:

• Does the roof leak in several locations?
• Do leaks persist despite repeated repair attempts?
• Do repairs seem to make leaks worse, or do new leaks develop after repairs?
• How tolerant is the occupancy to leaks?
• Low leak tolerance means the “failure” decision is reached sooner. It is generally better to reroof at the appropriate moment, rather than pour money and time into ill-advised repairs, but there are exceptions, which means a thorough inspection is essential to the process.

The following may indicate that your roof needs replacing:

• Missing, cracked or curling shingles
• Wood shakes are dry, curling and splitting
• Metal is rusting or pitting
• Slate is discolored, fracturing or falling off
• flat roof seams are separating, curling or “alligatoring”
• Rubber roof seam de-lamination tears
• Blistering or peeling paint
• Shingle, sheathing or siding decay
• Leakage in the attic or chimney after heavy rains
• Stains on interior walls or ceilings
• Increased energy bills
• Rotten fascia or soffit

Not necessarily, it really depends on the leak. Sometimes the cause is a misplaced flashing, storm damage, a branch poking through, or lack of proper ice and water shield. Most often a complete roof system failure will come from an older roof or an improper installation. Your best course of action is to call a roofing professional for a full inspection of the problem. Only nonprofessionals will try to sell you an entirely new roof system when you don’t need it.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Most of the work should NOT be done yourself. Professional roofing contractors are trained to safely and efficiently repair or replace roof systems. You can damage your roof system by using improper roofing techniques and severely injure yourself by falling off or through your roof.

Maintenance performed by home and building owners should be confined to inspecting roof systems during the fall and spring seasons to check for cracked or curling shingles and cleaning gutters filled with dead leaves and other debris.

If you feel qualified to inspect your roof, use a firmly braced or tied-off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet. Wear rubber-soled shoes and stay on the ladder, (and off the roof system), if possible.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

A good procedure to follow is to inspect your roof annually. This practice can uncover cracked, warped, or missing shingles and tiles, loose seams, deteriorated flashings, excessive surface granules accumulating in the gutters or downspouts, and other visible signs of the roof system being compromised. Look for cracked paint, discolored plasterboard, and peeling wallpaper as indoor signs of damaged roof areas. Also, closely examine all trees growing close to your home, as the branches can scratch or gouge the roof when blown by the wind and the accumulation of leaves and debris can also retain moisture and cause rot.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

You have two options if you need a new roof: tear off your existing roof system and complete a full replacement (re-roof) or, just (re-cover) your existing roof system with a new one. The latter option will initially cost less because it requires less labor, but the fact is that a re-cover will only last half as long as a full replacement roof. The reason being that flashings are not replaced in a (re-cover) installation.

It is important to know that if you have already had one re-cover installed on your original roof system, roof sheathing replacement may be necessary. In many instances, building code requirements allow no more than one roof system re-cover before a complete replacement is mandated. Additionally, manufacturers void their system warranty on recovers and require a complete roof replacement.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Unfortunately, there is no general rule of thumb for determining the cost of a new roof system. Every roof is unique in complexity, size, roof system type, finish selections, geographic location of the building, availability of material, and local labor cost. The best way to estimate your cost is to have a Nauman Roofing certified specialist take a look at your roof.

After a roof consultation to decide the materials and specifications for your new roof, you will want to look at 2-3 quotes from reputable roofing contractors in your area. Members of the National Roofing Contractors Association operate on a professional level and are good candidates for this task, you can visit their website to locate local members.

While making this decision, please keep in mind that price is only one factor and it must be balanced with the quality of the materials and workmanship. According to the Better Business Bureau, out of 8 million filed claims 80% of these came from customers choosing the lowest price. A company that will stand behind the work they do along with upgraded warranties from the manufacturers will not always be the lowest bidder for your project.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Most steep slope roofing systems have a lifetime warranty but some have 25 and 30-year options. Flat or low slope roofing systems will last from 15 to 30 years.

Actual roof system lifespan can be influenced by several factors: local climate, proper design and installation, material quality and suitability, and preventative roof maintenance.

The roofing product manufacturers that Nauman Contracting works with, such as GAF, Carlisle, and Englert, offer a variety of warranties on their products. Take a close look at those warranties to see what responsibilities and financial obligations manufacturers will assume if their products fail to reach their expected lives before making any purchase.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Common in Northeastern, Pennsylvania, this weather can cause unexpected damage to a sloped roof. If the wind is blowing heavy rain against the sidewall of your house, it can cause your roof coverings to shift over time. If your siding and windows are not sealed in properly, the water can enter from there and leak down through your flashing, causing a siding leak which can be harder to identify.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Most home improvement stores sell a mildew cleaner that can be applied to your roof with a sprayer. The right algae cleaner won’t damage your roof. Pressure washing is WILL damage your roof so please avoid this method.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

It is best practice to clean your gutters annually. Nauman Contracting recommends that gutters be cleaned and inspected during the spring and at the end of fall. When water cannot drain properly going into winter, ice and snow will build up and put unnecessary strain on your roof which can cause more damage.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Similar to the question about cost, there are several factors that can affect a project’s deadline. Size, complexity, weather conditions to name a few. In ideal conditions, the average residential roof replacement will take 2 to 3 days. If there is a strong wind, rain, or suspected storm the process can take 2 or more weeks. The completion of a commercial roofing project is harder to determine. The time frame is dependent on whether the old roofing system will require a full tear-off or overlay.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Some municipalities require a permit, some do not. You can contact your county’s Building & Permit Department and they will tell you the requirements for replacing a roof.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.

Unfortunately, for all the honest and professional roofing contractors in the market, there are just as many roofers that want to give consumers a run for their money. Consider the following points before you hire a roofing contractor:

• Go out of business: When a roofer goes out of business there is no recourse or warranty; leaving customers to pay again. Sadly, there are many roofers who do this every few years, only to open a new business in a similar name. It’s an illegal practice that isn’t enforced. Protect yourself by verifying how long the license holder has qualified the business.
• Change license qualifier: Some roofers will purposely change license qualifiers every year to erase their warranty obligations and license complaints. When a customer calls the licensing department or BBB to check on a roofer’s complaint history they are misled into believing the company has a clean record, simply because the qualifier is new.
• Under-Report Sales to an Insurance Carrier: Insurance premiums are based on volume. To save money, roofers will not report accurately. Trouble arises if damage occurs during your job. After the insurance company performs an audit and discovers the fraud, they will deny the claim and leave you paying the bills.
• Under-Report Wages to Insurance Carrier: This is the most widely abused cost savings in roofing today. By under-reporting wages, paying employees cash, and pretending to be exempt from worker’s comp roofers immediately cut 25% off their labor price. Wonder why some bids are lower than others? This is the most likely reason. Without proper coverage, you could be paying the medical bills.
• File Workman’s Comp Exemption: exemptions are NOT allowed for workers. Only one (1) person in the company can file an exemption, the owner. Everyone else must be covered under worker’s comp. Roofers have one of the highest injury records in the workplace today. The last thing you want is a lawsuit because an employee was injured on your job and the roofer didn’t have that employee covered properly.
• Not installing roof to code: Very few roofers actually know the latest codes. Every day new roofs are installed that are already obsolete. Worse, homeowner’s insurance companies are looking for any excuse to drop coverage. That’s why they are using their own inspectors to perform such thorough inspections. Don’t be a victim. Make sure the roofer you chose is active in code updates and can prove to you they know the law.
• Failing to use system components: Manufacturers look for any reason to limit their warranty liability. The easiest way is to claim another product was used outside their specification. Roofing systems today are tested as assemblies. If all the correct components are not used exactly as tested the manufacturer will void their warranty. Watch to ensure the products used match brands.
• By not pulling a permit: You want an official record the roof was replaced to prove to your insurance carrier so they don’t drop coverage. Permits today are hundreds of dollars. By not pulling a permit the roofer saves money on permit fees but also knows there is no one checking the work and will cut corners.
• Selling you a roof system that requires yearly maintenance to keep the warranty: In our opinion, this is a scam. A year after the new roof is installed you’ll receive a call from your roofer informing you the required yearly inspection is due. Refuse and you’ll receive a letter from the company revoking your warranty. Accept and you’ll pay 5% of the new roof cost every year for the dog and pony show.

Nauman Contracting is your Northeastern, Pennsylvania roofing contractor. With years of installing and replacing roofing systems of all types and sizes in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley, and beyond. The Nauman roofing team takes pride in its reputation for its quality workmanship with the highest quality materials.

Give us a call at 570-476-7606 to begin your roofing replacement or repairs in Northeastern, PA.