Blog • Classic Construction

What does GAF Master Elite™ Certification mean for our customers?

Here at Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc. we take pride in being among the top 2% of roofing contractors in North America. How did we achieve this lofty goal?

We went through the process of becoming GAF Master Elite® certified!

GAF is an acronym for General Aniline & Film, which is the leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing materials in America. If you have a roof over your head, there’s a 1 in 4 chance that it was built with GAF’s materials.

The Master Elite® Certification is GAF’s factory certification program that provides ongoing training to roofing contractors and assurance to you, the homeowner, that the roof will be completed well and professionally. This is a highly prestigious award because only 2% of all roofing contractors in the country have qualified as Master Elite®.

What does this mean for you as a homeowner?

Choosing a GAF Master Elite® contractor is your assurance that you will be dealing with a quality, dependable and professional contractor. In order for a roofing contractor to qualify for the certification, they must meet the following standards:

A+ BBB rating
possess an established license for the state they work in
be current with distributor partners in receivables
have been in business for at least 3 years
consistently show ethical contracting in their service area
be adequately insured
show a commitment to ongoing professional training

A certified GAF Master Elite® roofer is the only contractor that can offer 2 of the best warranties in the industry, Silver Pledge and Gold Pledge, both backed by GAF. GAF also covers a Master Elite’s workmanship. Approximately 95% of the issues that arise on a roofing project are related to the installation of the product, not the product itself. With a Master Elite® roofer, you can be sure that they have been trained to install the materials correctly and have the ethical wherewithal to make sure that your home is protected.

As a full-service general contractor proudly serving North Texas for over 90 years, and one who qualifies as a top 2% roofing contractor, you can rest assured that your roof is in good hands with Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc.

If you find yourself in need of a new roof, call Classic Construction today for your free quote!

Preparing for Tenant Turnover: What Major Maintenance Items Should Be on Your Checklist?

Tenant turnover is a year-round problem for property managers and landlords. But with the warmer weather on the horizon, turnover rates will be on the rise. According to the National Apartment Association, turnover expenses have the potential to reach up to $162,000 or more annually, depending on the property’s location and turnover rate.

With that being said, here are 3 of the top turnover maintenance tips to help you manage this busy season more effectively and save money in the process.

Begin the process before your current tenant moves out

As long as your resident has given you written notice of their intent to vacate, you can start the turnover process by scheduling a pre-inspection at any time before the current tenant moves out. During this time, you’ll be able to assess the condition of the flooring, the blinds, the appliances and any other big-ticket items that you might need to order in advance.

Speak with your vendors about availability of materials

Because you were smart and started the turnover process early, you now have the opportunity to make sure that your vendors have what you need in stock, or place your order for the materials so that you receive them in a timely manner.

Additionally, your maintenance team will be able to prepare for whatever make-ready responsibilities they will be handling after the tenant is gone. These can include, but are not limited to, replacing window screens, air vents, appliance upkeep and cleaning.

Prepare for both major and minor renovations, if necessary

If during your pre-inspection you realize the unit is overdue for a light remodel, you will be able to assess what items need replacing. Simple renovations such as new light fixtures, additional electrical outlets, or new paint can potentially generate a higher rent and depending on the skills your maintenance team possesses, can be done by them for a relatively low cost.

However, if you or the property owner have been going through the process of completely updating units and this one needs a major remodel, this is the time to request contractor bids and estimate the costs. Doing this before the current resident is gone will help you when looking at your turnover budget and you will be able to then determine an accurate timeline for when the unit can be rent-ready.

Fortunately for you, Classic Construction handles everything from general maintenance to full remodels to large insurance claims. If you find your maintenance staff overwhelmed with their turnover responsibilities, give us a call or contact us today for a free estimate!

Pest Prevention and the Benefits to Your Home

Pests are called “pests” because they are not only irritating, but they also cause mayhem wherever they are found. So it can be almost disastrous when they take up residence in your home. With the rain we’ve been getting here in North Texas, we would all be wise to seek out some pest prevention methods that we could put into play in order to protect our homes. Here are just a few we found from the Community Associations Institute’s Spring 2018 magazine.

And when it comes to pests, our homes need protection. We’ve discussed the damage termites can do to your home in a previous post. Another silent terrorist you want to be aware of is the carpenter ant.

Why are they called carpenter ants?

Because similar to the way termites eat wood, carpenter ants like to do their dirty work in wood. Both of these pests live and die by destroying the wood in your home. While the destruction caused by carpenter ants is not as severe as that caused by termites, it has the potential to grow into a devastating amount of damage over time.

As the ant colony grows, it will continue to expand into other wooden elements of your home including framing, support beams, floor joists, posts, ceiling joists, siding and wall studs. Carpenter ants will typically only nest in wood softened by moisture, so pay particular attention to their potential points of entry such as your attic vents, foundations, cracks, electric wires, and plumbing pipes.

Other types of pests to protect your home against are rodents.

These critters are already unsavory houseguests due to the diseases they can carry, but their indiscriminatory tastes will have you trying to kick them out before dinner once they’ve made their way into your home. Squirrels typically will chew their way through roofing or siding near roofs and under eaves, making their way into your attic. Mice and rats usually eat their way into your home on the ground level.

When I say they have indiscriminatory tastes, I mean they will eat or chew through just about anything! This poses an obvious threat to the belongings in your attic or garage, but more than this is at stake.

Rodents will cause damage to your home in a myriad of ways through gnawing, nest-building and defecation. They will chew on just about anything that they deem necessary to build their nests. They will chew up wood to create shavings for the rugs. Insulation isn’t safe either as they will burrow into it to create their beds and sofas. They will even chew through wiring around electrical outlets and appliances, thereby installing their very own entertainment room!

Aside from the wood shavings, the damage caused to your home by rodents chewing through insulation and electrical wiring puts your home at risk of catching on fire. Because of this, it’s important to take steps to “pest-proof” your home as best you can.

Eliminate possible food sources

Keep food in thick plastic or metal containers with tight lids

Secure garbage in similar containers with tight lids

Keep outside cooking areas clean

Clean up spilled food right away and wash dishes and cooking utensils soon after use

Keep compost bins away from your home

Keep pet or other animal food stored in thick plastic or metal containers with airtight lids

Eliminate excess moisture

Fix up dripping taps and leaking pipes

Make sure your gutters’ down spout deposits water at least a couple of feet from your foundation

Fill or remove any indented areas of your lawn close to your home so that they won’t hold standing water

Seal all the holes and gaps inside and around your home

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, mice can squeeze through a hole the size of nickel and rats can squeeze through a hole the size of half dollar. And of course, ants enter through holes we might not be able to see. Keeping ants out can be trickier, but it’s not impossible if you follow the steps below.

Seal interior holes:

Inside, under and behind kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and stoves

Inside closets near the floor corners

Around the fireplace, doors and windows

Around the pipes under sinks, washing machines, hot water heater and furnace

Inside the attic, basement or crawl space

Between the floor and wall juncture

Seal exterior holes:

In the roof among the rafters, gables and eaves

Around windows and doors

Around the foundation

At attic vents and the crawl space

Under doors

Around holes for electrical, plumbing, cable and gas lines

While we here at Classic Construction won’t come clean your dishes for you, we can provide you with the best sealant work in DFW. If you need help making sure you catch all the nooks and crannies that need new caulking, contact us for a free estimate today.

Termite Tip & Tricks: How to asses and prevent termite damage to your home

Spring is often considered a beautiful season as it is the time of year when nature comes back to life after hibernating during the winter months. We see new flowers, new baby animals and lots of new growth all around us. While all this newness can be exciting, the ugly truth is that spring also brings to life termites and other pests we’d rather not see again so soon.

Termites specifically are nasty pests to deal with because they do most of their dirty work out of view and the damage can be catastrophic to your home. According to the National Pest Management Association, termites alone cause up to $5 billion dollars in damage in the U.S. each year!

And it’s not just cosmetic damage; they eat into the very structure of your home. It’s a well-known fact that termites eat wood and many of the foundational elements of your home are made from wood. This includes support beams, floor joists, posts, ceiling joists and wall studs. In addition to their regular fare, termites also enjoy the occasional gourmet meal of plaster, insulation and metal siding.

Visible signs of termite damage include:

Discolored or drooping drywall
Peeling paint that resembles water damage
Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
Small, pinpoint holes in drywall
Buckling wooden or laminate floorboards
Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor
Excessively squeaky floorboards
Crumbling, damaged wood
Stuck windows or doors
Maze-like patterns in furniture, floorboards or walls
Mound of drywood termite pellets, often resembling small piles of salt and pepper
Piles of wings left behind after swarms, often resembling fish scales
Mud tubes climbing the foundation of your home
Flying termite swarms anywhere on your property

If you’re seeing any signs of termite damage to your property, you should definitely call a professional termite company for an inspection because the damage is probably already worse than you think. Termites can live in your home’s foundational elements for a long time before being detected, which means these unseen items have probably already taken on worse damage than those you can see.

A couple of ways to prevent termites from entering your home during the pre-construction phase include pouring a concrete foundation and using pressure-treated wood for framing, etc. These are common in most new homes in the DFW area these days.

But if you are trying to prevent termites from entering your lived-in home, the number one thing you can do is remove all landscaping and soil from around your home’s foundation and siding. Create a 4-inch barrier between mulch and your home. Keep plants at least a few feet away from siding and windows. Make sure the soil around your foundation is at least 6 inches lower than the siding. All these items retain moisture and moisture attracts termites and their very large families.

If you have determined that your home already has termites and termite damage, the first thing you should do is make sure those buggers are dead and gone. Consult with a termite specialist to determine the best way to remove these nuisances from your property.

Then, determine which parts of your home are majorly damaged and which parts are only cosmetically damaged. Most cosmetic damages can be handled with some weekend DIY projects. These include sheetrock/drywall repairs, painting, and floor covering replacement (after your foundation and framing have been repaired, if necessary).

For major repairs, you will need to look into hiring a general contractor. It is not recommended that you try to repair any of the damaged foundational elements of your home mentioned above unless you are a licensed contractor yourself. This is because you might need a more in-depth analysis of the damage in order to accurately assess what needs repair vs what needs replacing. Depending on the age of your home, you might also have code upgrades that might need to be made and a GC can help identify these.

What is weatherstripping and why do I need it?

At its core, weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings such as doors and windows in order to prevent water from entering your home and your air-conditioned air from exiting. The term “weatherstripping” can also refer to the materials used to accomplish this purpose.

Making sure your home’s various openings are sealed is important for a few reasons.

To prevent water damage

Winter and spring are typically wet seasons here in North Texas. Here at Classic Construction, these are the seasons when we perform most of our leak investigations and water tests. Homeowners will report a leak to their property managers after noticing water stains in ceilings or near windows, then the property manager will call us up and ask us to find the source of the leak.

What we typically find as the cause of these leaks is torn, cracked, loose or missing sealant around windows, chimneys, siding, and flashing. In most cases, repairing or replacing this sealant before the rains come would have prevented this damage to the home. This is why it’s important to inspect and replace your sealants at least twice a year: once before winter and once right after spring.

To keep insects out

We all know if insects have the will, they will find a way into your home. Make it harder for them to find an entrance by making sure the caulking around your tubs, sinks, toilets, and plumbing fixtures are tear-free with no gaps. Inspect the siding around your roof and foundation to make sure it is still in good condition and lays close to the home. If the trim around your doors or baseboards are loose, consider sealing these up as well.

To keep your electricity bill down

Most of us underestimate the importance of properly sealed windows and doors when it comes to keeping our electricity bills down. In the winter and spring, loose or missing sealant around windows and doors allows the hot air out and, consequently, can also let the cold air in. This can cause your HVAC system to work overtime just to keep your home at your preferred temperature.

If you’re not sure if your weatherstripping is in good condition or not, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free estimate.Call us today at 972-437-0909.

Coronavirus decontamination and why you should consider hiring a professional sanitation crew

Here at Classic Construction, we know there is a lot of fear and uncertainty concerning the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus in our workplaces. We also understand that preventing the spread of the disease is at the top of everyone’s priority list right now. This is why we’ve come up with a decontamination solution for you.

Decontamination of a room after an incident. Practical exercises According to the Center for Disease Control, COVID-19 is primarily spread “through person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets from an infected person.” However, as scientist continue to learn more about this virus, they have found that it is possible that the virus can also be spread through direct contact with common and frequently touched surfaces such as computer keyboards and mice, phones, doorknobs, sinks, countertops, and tables. All of these are surfaces that are likely to be found in office spaces, schools and common areas of multifamily properties. For surfaces such as these, the CDC recommends daily disinfecting and cleaning.

At Classic Construction we recommend that these surfaces be cleaned professionally at regular intervals for a host of reasons.

The first reason is that preventing the spread of the disease starts with the sanitation crew. At Classic, we simply don’t recommend DIY cleaning for this event. Hospital staff and professional cleaners are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) that protect them from getting infected with the virus and from direct contact with the cleaning products used. In do it yourself (DIY) procedures, these materials are absent or of inferior quality and might increase the chances of contamination for the person carrying out the procedure.

Most regular janitorial and maintenance staff will not be adequately prepared to protect themselves from contracting the virus while they are in the process of decontaminating. This is especially true now that the Texas government is trying to send all available PPE be to those in required fields and essential businesses, primarily those in the healthcare industry.

Professional contractor in PPE at office Additionally, professionally trained cleaning crews understand decontamination best practices. Because there is still relatively little known about the Coronavirus, there is a chance that it might benefit from incorrect cleaning procedures and spread even further. For example, cleaning with the incorrect use of swipes or materials could, in fact, spread the virus to different surfaces, increasing its contamination rate.

More importantly, the disinfection of contaminated surfaces requires handling of potent chemicals, since detergent cleaning is known for not eliminating microbial contamination, and even potentially spreading the contamination from one surface to the next. For this reason, it is important to accurately assess the area and allow for proper personnel to handle the cleaning procedure.

At Classic Construction, our teams can skillfully evaluate potential cross contamination and put in place protocols to prevent this from happening. Our knowledge of the process and procedure improves and increases the safety and the use of the hydrogen peroxides and chlorine-containing agents with quaternary ammonium compound formulations that are required to perform an efficient decontamination of the exposed area.

State of emergency over pandemia with coronavirus. What Classic offers to you in this uncertain time is the peace of mind that the area and its contents have been professionally cleaned and disinfected with the agreed upon prescribed and accepted method. Our end product is a sterile working or living space that is free of the contaminate. We also realize that in some situations this service may need to be reoccurring based on the area (i.e. a mail room or common hallways).

Contact us today and we can produce a personalized plan to decontaminate these types of areas on a reoccurring bases with different types of pricing.

Restoration vs. General Contractors

If you have to work with an insurance company to make repairs to your home after a storm, fire, or other tragedy, you might hear the term “restoration contractor” thrown around a bit. And you might be wondering, “What on Earth is a restoration contractor?”

Most of us know what a general contractor does. This is someone we typically hire when we want to remodel our properties or make upgrades that we will pay for out of pocket. This person or company is primarily responsible for project management; they make sure all the subcontractors for individual trades do their jobs well and on budget.

A restoration contractor can be equally responsible for these duties, but they also possess a better understanding of how the insurance claim and adjustment process works.

Classic Construction looking at floorplans Because of this, a good restoration contractor should be able to:

Accurately assess the damage to your home due to fire, wind, hail, water, etc.
Provide a scope of work that, at the very least, restores your property to its original condition with like kind and quality materials
Helping you to navigate the insurance landscape, submitting a detailed and comprehensive scope of work.
Estimate a scope of work with accurate pricing for any upgrades you might want that your insurance claim won’t cover

Your insurance company might provide you with a list of preferred vendors to choose from when it comes time to hire your contractor. It is probably not always in your best interest to choose someone from their list though as they are invested more in your insurance company’s best interests than in yours. At the very least, you might want to get bids from a couple of different contractors for comparison’s sake and for an outside point of view.

As the policyholder, you will ultimately be the one responsible for choosing the team that completes your repairs. Below are Classic Construction & Restoration’s top tips for helping you make sure you choose a quality restoration contractor.

Get a written agreement of the professional’s work warranty/guarantee including insurance coverage verification before beginning any repairs.
Always verify credentials. Conduct background checks, call references, contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and take all necessary steps to vet any service providers before beginning any work to the property. This should be done even if the service provider is on the insurance company’s “preferred” list.
Contractors are not licensed or certified to adjust claims. This is called the Unauthorized Practice of Public Adjusting and can affect policyholders negatively in an already chaotic time. Public adjusters are the only professionals specifically licensed to adjust, negotiate, and settle property claims for the insured.
Any upgrades suggested by the contractor need to be approved by the insurance company before work can begin. If the work is out of scope or goes beyond repairing the property to its original condition, then you as the insured will be responsible to pay the difference.

Painter family

Contact Classic Construction & Restoration, Inc today for a free estimate or to learn more about how we work with your insurance company to quickly and correctly repair your property.

Concrete Repairs: Who is responsible for repairs or replacement?

For many homeowners in an HOA community, severely cracked and damaged sidewalks and streets aren’t just a nuisance, they’re a safety hazard. And there can be a lot of confusion and drama surrounding the issue of who should be responsible for fixing up these damaged areas and making them both pretty and functional again.

When it comes to the streets, it’s clear who is responsible for the repairs. Many municipalities, Dallas included, take responsibility for street and alley repairs as these are owned by the city. These repairs are done by the Department of Public Works.

Curbs are part of the streets and as such, the repairs are also the city’s responsibility. However, curb repair or replacement is usually only done where the curb is hazardous or is causing a significant standing water problem.

damaged sidewalk Although we at Classic would love to give you a straight answer on who is responsible for sidewalks and walkways, the truth is that it’s not this simple. It all comes down to why or how the concrete came to be damaged. And this is where the drama comes into play.

Many homeowners assume that because the sidewalk is public property, it is a public responsibility (aka, the government’s problem). However, the truth is that many cities and municipalities hold the homeowner directly adjacent to the sidewalk responsible for its repairs.

This issue of responsibility for repairs is further complicated in HOA communities if the HOA technically owns the public spaces. Homeowners then think that the Board is responsible for making sure these eye sores are repaired, but the Board might beg to differ.

If the damaged sidewalk is causing or has the potential to cause injuries to community members, of course they want it repaired. But if the homeowner adjacent to the damaged sidewalk is responsible for the damage, they might pursue measures that would make the homeowner financially responsible for the repairs.

Examples of this would be if a homeowner is known for repeatedly driving their vehicle over the sidewalk or has planted a tree on their property where the root system would easily reach the sidewalk. Both of these actions could cause cracks and shifting of the sidewalk, which would in turn cause damage.

These are just a couple of the issues that surround concrete repairs in an HOA community, but another one we should briefly consider is the cost.

Because more municipalities across the country are placing responsibility for sidewalk repairs in homeowners’ hands, homeowners should consider upping their insurance liability coverage. This is especially true of homeowners in older communities where sidewalk cracks and damage are more likely to occur. Regardless of whether or not you are actually responsible for making the repairs, you wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared for a costly lawsuit if someone got hurt right outside your front door due to a faulty sidewalk.

According to HomeAdvisor, it can cost anywhere between $663 and $2,016 to repair a patio, residential walkway or sidewalk. These numbers are not accurate for every location across the country as they will fluctuate depending on the extent of the damage and construction prices in your area.

You should also check with your local Department of Public Works to see what the requirements are and if your city offers a cost/share program to assist with the replacement of sidewalks and driveways. Some places, like the city of Dallas, require a permit to perform sidewalk repairs/replacement, but they will also help to offset some of the costs.

Spring Cleaning: 9 Maintenance Tips to De-Winterize Your North Texas Home

Spring is here! As exciting as warmer weather is, it’s essential that we make sure our home is ready for the change. Below are 9 of Classic Construction’s top tips to help you prepare your home for Spring.

Inspect your roof

For your safety, you should perform this inspection from the ground to the best of your ability, possibly with binoculars. Check for dents, loose or torn off shingles, and obvious nails sticking out.

Change all your filters

This includes your water, range hood and air vent filters. Spring brings with it all the allergens, so this will help keep your family safe from these annoying particles.

Additionally, you should make sure to clean out your dryer vent. This is massively important to do because it can help you prevent a fire from destroying part or all of your home. Fire restoration services are expensive and time consuming but cleaning your dryer vent is free and takes about an hour.

Check all window and door seals

Spring is a wet season; checking your caulking will help you catch any areas for potential leaks before they cause damage to your home.

Clean out your gutters

If you didn’t do this between autumn and winter, chances are your gutters are chock full of leaves and debris. When the spring showers hit, your gutters could overflow and cause damage to your home. They could also detach completely from your home from the weight filling them up.

Inspect your foundation

If you have a crawlspace, make sure to clear out and repair your foundation vents as these will prevent mold and critters from taking up residence beneath your home. Look for any visible cracks or shifting.

Inspect any brick or concrete surrounding your home

Moisture is the enemy of brick and concrete. If it seeps beneath your driveway, it can cause cracks and splitting. If water sneaks its way into the mortar between your brick walls, they could crumble and fall apart as well. Check for any signs of moisture seepage in these areas around your home and shop around for an estimate for repairs if you think it’s necessary.

Service your HVAC unit

Despite the costs, we all know our HVAC units are the real MVPs of our homes. They’ve kept us warm all winter and we’ll soon be expecting them to keep us cool during the summer. Therefore it’s essential to have them serviced in the spring by a licensed HVAC professional. You don’t want to wait until the heat of summer to find out you have an AC problem.

Inspect your wood siding, decking, and railing

Winter is harsh on wood. Look for any signs of wood damage or deterioration. If any of your wood is rotted, it needs to be replaced. Also be on the lookout for any signs of termites or other critters. It’s better to have these removed or exterminated before acquiring further damage.

De-winterize your pool

If you have a pool, you’re probably already looking forward to using it again. I’m sure you know about the usual cleaning, brushing, chlorinating and debris removal; these are what you usually handle yourself. Make sure you also clean the filter, check the conditioner levels, test your pool equipment, run the pump during the warmest part of the day, and clean your salt cell (if you have a saltwater pool).

Protecting Your Residents’ Pets During a Construction Project

keeping pets safe during construction Losing a pet is hard, and the last thing a contractor wants is to know that they are responsible for the loss of a pet. We understand that there is no easy way inform a resident if this is due to a construction project. That’s why today, we’re going to focus on how you as a property manager can help your residents keep their pets safe during major construction projects.

Here’s what you need to do to ensure your residents’ pets are safe.

The Construction Schedule

The best thing you can do for your residents is to know and inform them when construction will be occurring. Don’t be afraid to ask your contractor when they plan on doing the work. If they are a professional, they should have no problem letting you know when they have scheduled interior and exterior work.

Understand that a construction schedule can be altered due to the weather. If the construction schedule is changed, alert your residents about any updates or dates that may have changed. Just know that there may be some delay in receiving immediate information regarding the date changes.

Chemicals and Noise

If chemicals are being used, they could be harmful to both the residents and their pets. If the construction crew will be using dangerous chemicals that could be harmful to pets, ensure that your residents are notified. This will give them time so that they can make arrangements to either remove their pets from the property or let the construction workers know where in the unit the pet is located so they can avoid using chemicals in that area.

Additionally, some pets are highly sensitive to loud noises. Unfortunately, construction can’t happen without some unexpected noise here and there. Make sure your residents know so that they can find the best ways to help ease their pets anxiety or make plans accordingly.

Try to Understand Your Contractor’s Point of View

Construction workers are onsite to do a job and most of the time, they will not have direct contact with the residents. They will take every precaution they can to prevent anything negative from happening. However, protecting the pets on the property ultimately should come down to the pets’ owner.

If you want your residents’ pets to be safe and your construction jobs to go as smoothly as possible, please make sure your residents know that it is up to them to make sure their pets are secure and safe.

Here at Classic, our team can meet all your needs and take the necessary precautions to help protect your pets. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.