 hile the contractor's level of experience is important, the number of years' experience is less
important than a thorough understanding of the preservation process and a willingness to participate in it.
Consider the scope of the project. Do you need a general contractor, a subcontractor, or a small
versatile company? What trades will be involved? Is there masonry, carpentry, painting and roofing?
Do you need electrical, plumbing, or heat and air work? Ask your contractor who his sub-contractors
are. A company who did a good job last year may have an entirely different crew this year. Any company
is only as good and reliable as its workmen.
Make sure your workmen are covered by workers compensation insurance. The homeowner can be held
responsible for injuries on your property if the workmen are not covered. Small contractors or
subs are not required by law to carry comp insurance, however that doesn't remove the liability.
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No matter how small the project, you should have an agreement in writing. This can be on a
preprinted proposal form, as long as it is legally binding.
It never hurts to check references. No one is going to submit the name of an unsatisfied customer;
still, you need to know that a contractor you are considering has made someone happy.
The old adage that "there is more than one way to skin a cat" can certainly be applied to endeavors of
preservation and restoration. Any good contractor will have preferred methods of work, yet there is
no one right solution for the preservation or repair of building components. Many factors come into
play, but a few basic principles can be used for a course of action.
Review these issues with your contractor before you begin:
- Is the level of intervention at the lowest possible level to successfully do the job? Is it necessary to replace a component or is a repair sufficient?
- Is it the gentlest treatment possible? Use a procedure that has the least impact to produce the desired results.
- Is the treatment reversible? Irreversible repairs constitute undue encroachment on historic building fabrics and thereby inappropriate intervention.
- Are replacement materials "in-kind"? Efforts should be made to match existing materials and more importantly, their dimensions and profiles. It is reasonable to replace, for example, old wood with new wood rather than a substitute material, while maintaining the dimensions and profile of the old wooden component. It is usually acceptable to make replacement repairs by repeating the original technology. Be careful, however, not to repeat a previous unacceptable repair just because it was what was in place.
- Are repairs identifiable? Clearly identifying new or replaced material is a responsible way of documenting replacement work so that it is not confused with original building fabric.
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