The most obvious reason for professional porch repair is the enhanced appearance that guests will see as their first impression when approaching your home or business. The more hidden reasons are the understanding of structural integrity and the effect of Michigan conditions and how they affect your porch both in the short and long term.
You could research many of these factors and perhaps gain enough confidence to attempt your own porch repair, but you still have the problem of the proper tools which a professional will have on hand. When dealing with masonry, even a small fraction of an inch of inaccuracy can turn the enticing savings of a do it yourself repair into a “What was I thinking?” epiphany after you’re in over your head.
Perhaps in the future we’ll provide information to save you a great deal of research for attempting your own porch repair, but for now, we’ll be covering the basics of how to choose a professional.
Safety is or should be your greatest concern. It’s not just the potential for lawsuits in this day and age, but no one wants to be responsible for an injury taking place on their property that could be prevented by qualified repair work.
When considering the safety issue, Michigan porches and the driveways, walks, and even home structure that surround them are subject to crumbling and cracking, moisture penetration, expansion and contraction, settling, erosion, and sometimes tree roots. You naturally want to save money on repairs; just make sure it’s not at the cost of safety and longevity.
To assess the competency and honesty of a porch repair specialist, see if they address the safety issues of the repair during the inspection and proposal or if they are just trying to offer you a deal. Research their reviews from past customers. In this age of the Internet, it’s much harder for unscrupulous contractors to hide. A few minutes checking their reputation can help prevent you from getting taken.
Once the porch repair is completed by a reputable contractor, you get a renewed pride in the curb appeal of your home, peace of mind in the safety of your guests, satisfaction in knowing your property value has increased, and the assurance of knowing the repairs are good for decades.
