Experienced contractors can see the signs or know what to look for in a home that will allow them to make informed decisions about potential unknown conditions. Often this is why an experienced pro- fessional renovator will provide a more detailed and often higher priced estimate than an inexpe- rienced person or a person who does work on the side or under the table. Often, an experienced renovator will include options in their estimates for potential unknowns, such as hazardous materials (asbestos or lead paint), anticipated water damage, re-sheeting a roof and cracked foundations as a few examples of items which a proactive and experienced ren-
By Dan Monk, P.Eng. / Red Seal Carpenter and Owner – MONK Renovations T here are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns, basically items you can predict with relative certainty based on experience and observa-
tion and items that are not possible to know without opening walls, ceilings and floors. I will do my best to explain some of the challenges of home reno- vations and how working with a professional reno- vator can help avoid some pitfalls and their associat- ed cost. Contractors cannot see through walls or under floors, however with years of experience it is possible to know, with some cer- tainty, what could be hidden. An experienced renovator can, and often does, provide pricing for situations that are likely to occur, this allows the home owner to have more certainty of pricing and make decisions on budget before the project starts.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MAY 2018
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