Q&A / 

Allowances in the quote from a contractor cover items not yet selected. Financial woe can result if this budget is exceeded. Your contract should be very specific to avoid overspending projected costs.

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The costs of building a new home or adding room additions will vary from contractor to contractor. Request a breakdown of the costs. Provide them with a standardized form to help you compare "apples to apples." This will also help you determine if your contractors payment requests are in line.

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Ice dams can form on any roof under cold weather and snowfall. When gutters turn to solid ice and the barrier creeps up onto your roof, thawing will cause a deluge of ice dam water to leak into your home. Protect your roof with an ice dam membrane.

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Your heating ductwork is okay. Your furnace and air conditioner are working and are sized correctly, but no air is coming out of some of the heating ducts. Equalized static pressure is important for air flow. As supply pipes are branched off the main supply duct, they should get smaller to provide the correct static pressure.

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Exterior paint will last much longer if you properly prep the house before you actually paint. Before you apply exterior house paint, cleaning the exterior of your home well with soap and water will aid in preventing peeling paint.

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If you want a truly waterproof foundation, use the right products and a good drainage system. Damp proofing products are generally asphalt or tar based compounds sprayed on the foundation. Waterproofing compounds are different from damproofing.

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