If you need the service of a contractor for insulating your home or business with spray foam insulation, it is important to know what questions to ask and what to look for in a contractor. The following article provides some guidance.

The first step in finding a contractor is to get referrals from friends and associates that have had spray foam insulation installed in their homes or businesses, if at all possible.

It is advisable to get more than one referral so you can ask each contractor questions about their experience, what materials they use; how they do the job, whether there were any problems and how effectively did they solve them, etc.

Look For An Accredited Organization

Be sure to talk with prospective contractors before deciding on whom to hire. Make sure they are certified by an accredited organization such as the American Foam Contractors Association, Associated Polyurethane Foam Con-tractors (APFC), North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), or the National Roofing Contractors Association, just to name a few. If they are not members of an organization like this, ask them why.

The next step is to check with your state licensing board and/or your local building department for any complaints filed against them by their customers or for any work performance issues filed against them by their subcontractors (sub-trade contractors). If there are no complaints you should be OK if they can give you satisfactory answers for all questions you may have about their experience in doing spray foam insulation jobs similar to yours.

If your state does not require that spray foam installers be licensed then it is still advisable to find out what experience they have had, what materials they use, how they do the job, whether there were any problems and how effectively did they solve them, etcetera. You can find out about their experience by asking questions of your own or by requesting names of some of their customers for you to contact.

Licensed Subcontractors

The next step is to make sure that all subcontractors are certified in the trade needed for the spray foam insulation installation project you are considering. For example, if you are hiring a spray foam contractor for an installation project requiring two plumbers then both plumbers need to be licensed plumbers.

This will ensure that they know what codes have been adopted in your city/county/state that applies to this type of work before any work begins on your project.

Recent Customers

If the contractor you select has a website ask them for references and contact information for at least three of their recent customers to find out if they were satisfied with the work performed, how long it took to complete the job, what materials were used and whether there were any problems and how effectively did they solve them (if problems arose). It is also advisable to ask if they would use the same company again and why or why not.

Proof of Insurance

One key question that should be asked of each contractor that you speak with is whether or not they will provide proof of insurance before starting any work on your project. The only sure way you will know if your contractor can be held responsible in case damages occur during construction by asking them for proof of liability insurance.

If the contractor states that they are not required to carry liability insurance then you should be very concerned about hiring them for your project. A lack of liability insurance is a red flag that may indicate they are not licensed or insured and may therefore be operating without any bond or trust fund backing up their workmanship. You do not want to hire someone who has no financial safeguards in case damages occur during construction.

Bonded For Both Labor And Materials

The next step is to make sure all subcontractors are fully bonded for both labor and materials, just like the spray foam insulation company you have chosen for your project. The only way you will know if this is done before they start working on your job site is by requesting proof of both labor material bonds before signing any agreements with your contractor.

If they are not bonded for both labor and materials then you may be held financially responsible, along with your contractor if damages occur during construction due to faulty workmanship or defective materials used by their subcontractors.

Specifications and Plans

Before the spray foam insulation company begins working on your project you should go over all specifications and plans with them so that they understand exactly what is expected to be done and fully agree with everything in writing before any work begins. This way there will be no misunderstandings as far as what needs to be done and how much it will cost when the job is completed.

Read All Contracts Carefully

One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from fraud or shoddy workmanship is to read all contracts carefully before signing anything because once signed, a contract is a legal document you are obligated to abide by.

By asking the right questions and carefully examining all contracts before signing anything, you avoid being scammed or receiving poor quality, overpriced workmanship.

Other Considerations

Just because someone is licensed, insured, and bonded to do work for you does not automatically mean that they are the right person or company to do the job.

They may be good at what they do but if you don’t like their personality; believe they are overcharging you, or simply feel uncomfortable dealing with them then it would be better to hire someone else even though other spray foam insulation contractors may charge more because you like how they run their business.

Hiring a contractor you can trust will save time, money, and aggravation in the end by providing peace of mind. It takes some effort up-front but it’s well worth having your project completed properly without any unpleasant surprises along the way.

As you can see, there are many questions that should be asked before deciding to hire a contractor for your project. The only way to protect you is by doing the research and asking all of these questions up-front so you don’t get stuck with bad workmanship or overpriced services later on down the road.

By following these simple, easy-to-follow tips you can avoid being ripped off or scammed by an unscrupulous spray foam insulation company.

Royal Spray Foam Can Help you

Royal Spray Foam is your one-stop shop for all your spray foam insulation needs. We are an experienced, professional company that can handle any type of installation or project, large or small. 

We offer a wide selection of quality products and a proven system to provide you with the most efficient insulation available in the industry today.

Our equipment is among the best on the market and our staff has been fully trained to ensure that every aspect of your job will be done correctly from start to finish!    

Call Royal Spray Foam today for a free estimate at 647-560-8099.