OCR Text |
Show 14A Emery County Progress Tuesday, October 10, 1995 What to look for in hiring contractors solicit bids from them for the By John DeVilbiss USU Extension writer needed work.- Make sure all Have you everneeded to find bids are based on the same set a contractor and just didn't of specifications. After getting know where to start? the bids, compare them. Base Inexperienced and unquali- - y0ur final decision on a fied contractors can cost you contractor's ability to do a high thousands of dollars, especially quality job, completeness and when the work has to be re- - accuracy of the bid, and the done, says a Utah State Uni- - kinds of materials that will be versity housing specialist. used in the work. Lona Hawks, with the USU Mter selecting the best t of Family Life, gives tractor) don-- forget the con-th- e - . con-Colle- following guidelines to help you ask the right questions and a knowledgeable choice on who s best for you. First, develop a list of possi- bilities. Ask friends or rela- for names of contractors who have done satisfactory work. Find out where local con- - tractors purchase their mate-riaand ask for recommenda Visitors to the Emery County Fair last summer enjoy looking do comes from exhibits. The fine work that over the 4-- tions. Ask people who work in the building industry, such as subcontractors. Check with loan officers of your lending agency who may know of reputable contractors. Talk to local real estate agents who often know the reputable contractors in your community. Once you have your list, Hawks suggests using the following guidelines: Talk to the contractors to decide compatibility. You are not going to marry them, but you do need to be able to work with them. "If you don't like their personality to begin with, you surely won't like it after working with them awhile," she says. Ask contractors for the names of past clients. Talk to these people and ask: Did the contractor finish on time and at the agreed price? Would they hire that contractor again? "Did the contractor do what was promised in a timely manner? Is he or she licensed? "It is very important to find out if the contractor is licensed," she says. "Membership in the Na-- . tional Association of Home, Builders, the National Home Improvement Council, or the Remodeling Contractors Association does not guarantee quality or reliability, but it may be an indicator of stability and ' experience." The Home Builders Association, the Department of Commerce, Occupational and Professional Licensing, Contractors Division in Salt Lake City and most city building inspectors can provide a list of licensed contractors. Is the contractor insured? This is important, Hawks says. Ask contractors if they're insured against claims covering workers' compensation, property damage, and personal li- ability in case of accidents. Obtain a copy of the certificate ofinsurance or ask for the name of the contractor's insurance carrier to verify that the con- hard work and help from dedicated leaders, H Countys to celebrate 4-H'- ers Week 4-- H Oct. 23-2- 7 ; & CASTLE DALE- Make - "To the Best Better" is the Motto, and that's what in Emery County will be striving to do during the 1995 Utah 4-- H Week, Oct. Week celebrates the accomplishments of youth. 4-- H 4-- 23-2- 7. H 4-- H This year's theme is Than You Ever Imagined," and the theme is a reflection of the variety of programming and diversity of the lives and backgrounds of youth throughout the nation. Diverse groups of youth from across the county participate activities. Young people in between ages five and 39 develop leadership, citizenship, interpersonal and workforce skills in a wide variety of programs. Of the total number 26 percent are of youth in from minority racial-ethni- c groups. These diverse groups of youth participate in projects that fall within four 4-- H 4-- 4-- (801-530-643- 6) H H 4-- H The program includes a wide variety of activi- ties. Above, a display prepared by a group 4-- H 4-- offers tips on safety on the farm, H 4-- 4-- tractor has insurance. Once you have selected two H or more qualified contractors, major academic disciplines: biological sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, physical sciences. The greatest number of participate in biological sciences. creates supportive environments for culturally diverse youth and adults to reach their 4-- By , innovafullest potential. tive programs meet the evolving needs of our nation's diverse suburban and urban youth while continuing to ful4-- fill the needs of young people in rural America. Over 5.6 million youth participate each year "hands-on- " 's self-determin-ed learning activities. is part of the Youth Development Program of the Cooperative Extension System. Among those to be recognized Week will be local during who were winners on the state level this year. They 4-- 4-- H H are: First Place Archery and Second Play Team Overall- - Travis Baker, Jesse Curtis, Jared Gunter and Layne Fox. Third Place Overall-- Cade Jones, Owen Fillmore, Joe ; Humphrey and Kendra Gunter. First Place Black Powder In- dividual- Owen Fillmore. State Blue Ribbon Winners- - tract. The contract should be e jn Writing. Read it very fully and make sure you un derstand all the parts. If nec- essary, an attorney should be consulted. Remember that er you hire a contractor, you have three days to back out of the deal without a penalty, she care-mak- af-tiv-es Before signing any paper, Hawks suggests you ask the following questions and include satisfactory answers in your contract: Who is to obtain and pay for the necessary permits? What is the start and completion date? Will the contractor provide a written warranty of workmanship? Are all of the promises made by the contractor in the con- tract? What quality,, brand and grades of materials will be used in the work? Is all the work to be completed in the contract? "What damages will be paid to me if the work is not completed on time? Who will clean up and remove debris from the job site? What are the written provisions for protection of property near or in the work area, including landscaping, driving over trees, or damaging the sidewalk? "What is my right as the owner to make changes? (This should include a change order and agreement on cost of the ' changes.) The amount you have agreed to pay the contractor. An agreement that the work will conform to local and state codes. That the agreement frees you from all liens that may be placed against the job for failure of the contractor to pay for materials, labor, equipment, etc. The schedule of when payments are to be made and to whom. (It is best to pay as work progresses. Don't pay for work before it starts. Hold back the final payment until you're sure the contractor's work has been completed to your satisfaction.) "Special requests such as saving lumber for firewood. If you intend to do some work yourself, this should be in the contract. "Your right, as the owner, to cancel the contract. String trimmers are to woody trees deadly John H in ls ge comes through One of the positive aspects of are a big Ribbons well done. the rewards for a job 4-- H Public Speaking, Cade Jones; Meal Preparation Team, Ashley Riddle and Melissa Mangum. Recordbook Winners- - Cade Jones, public speaking; and Joe Humphrey, agriculture. part of 4-- H activities include: cleanup on Oct. 10 at 4:30 p.m.; Poster Contest with judging on Oct. 16; Recordbooks are due in the Extension Office on Awards Night, Oct, Oct. 19; Local 4-- H 4-- H Adopt-A-Highw- ay 4-- 4-- H H accomplishments, San Rafael; to county visit Bear Jazz ReOct. Western 25; schools, Lake Salt Congress, gion and Western City, Dec. Forum. Leader's Region March Boise, Idaho, 23, Museum of the 4-- H 1-- 5; 4-- H 13-1- 6. DeVilbiss USU Extension writer To a young Aspen tree, seeing you with a plastic string trimmer in hand is akin to spotting Freddy Krueger with , a chain saw. "It is amazing how fast a string trimmer can girdle a young tree," says Larry Rupp, Utah State University Extension ornamental horticulturist." "And nothing is sadder than looking at a new landscape full of dead trees because of an over zealous string trimmer." It is a big temptation to use string trimmers around the base of trees where grass commonly grows, but RESIST this temptation, he says. All it takes is one mishap for the string to hit the bark of a small tree. If this occurs, you are inch wide band ofbark that commonly left with a one-ha- lf is stripped from around the tree trunk and a girdled tree that is as good as dead," he says. "The solution to this problem is to never write this on your teenager's forehea- d- NEVER use a string trimmer around the trunks of woody plants," Rupp says. Instead, make a grass-fre- e ring around the tree by digor sod the by ging up spraying it with an herbicide such as i Roundup. This ring can be filled with decorative mulch that will allow the tree to grow healthily and be kept easily trimmed with a lawnmower, he says. If you hire others to do your landscaping, screen candidates by asking them how close they can trim the lawn around your tree with a string trimmer. "If they say they can knock a fly off the back without touching the tree, be polite, but tell them no thanks," Rupp says. - |