If you’re replacing your existing home’s exterior cladding it’s extremely important to do it right. We have worked with dozens of people who had previously spent $10,000 or more in repairs or replacement of some part of their homes exterior, only to have the problems reoccur or had new problems crop up, due solely to improper or inferior repairs. This is exactly why it is so important to have the work done properly and thoroughly the first time.
RAM Builders also specializes in working on homes that are occupied and landscaped. Additionally, we are sensitive to the needs and concerns of affected neighbors. Our employees don’t carry out construction projects leaving drink cups and lunch trash all over the job site. And you won’t need to hire a landscaper to make repairs to your yard or replace your concrete porch or drive that often occurs after so many exterior repairs in the valley. We take great efforts to protect your property while we work, including covering the cement flat work, the ground, plants and trees with burlap, which keeps stucco out of your flower beds and off your plants . You will also have access to your home during the repair process. We place the scaffolding so that you can still access and use your garage and front door! This is standard procedure for RAM, at no special request!
Many of the leaks that we fix are due to the improper work one subcontractor ties into another subcontractor’s efforts. At these joining connections a flashing is usually required. Since it’s at a transition point it’s often unclear who provides the flashing so, many times the critical flashing simply fail to get installed. (Usually the contractor providing the flashing is not the contractor tying into the flashing, therefore the second contractor that’s tying into it may not understand what it’s for or how to conduct a proper tie-in correctly). If the crucial flashing is not tied into correctly, it can actually direct more water into the home than would happen if the flashing were not there in the first place!
Initially, the window installers flash the windows. It’s then up to the stucco, stone, or brick contractor to tie-in his building papers correctly. Failure to correctly tie into the window flashings will cause a leak. Numerous problems can arise by organizing this “tie-in” procedure between sub-contractors. For example, some of the flashings may blow off between the time they’re installed and the installation of the exterior clad that’s going to tie the flashings together. The stucco, stone, or brick contractor may not take the time, have the knowledge, or have the material, to re-flash the window, since it’s perceived to not be part of their job stage.
RAM Builders will not make these mistakes; our employees will install your entire exterior. We know the importance of tying each part of the exterior in to the next part, so that the proper overlapping effect is maintained from the roof all the way down to the foundation.
