Friday, December 23, 2011

Julian Construction Services 55 Cities of Southern California

Company Announces Official Area of Service For Homeowners In the Greater LA Area

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a construction company specializing in building foundation construction and foundation repair, recently announced its updated areas of service in the greater LA area and Southern California.

LAareamapHomeowners in the following cities should be apprised of the company’s services:

Arcadia, Alhambra, Altadena, Azusa, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Canyon Country, Carpinteria, Chatsworth, Claremont, Culver City, Encino, Fontana, Glendale, Glendora, Hollywood, La Canada, La Crescenta, Lomita, Lompoc, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Marina del Rey, Monrovia, Montrose, Newport, Northridge, North Hollywood, Orange, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Panorama City, Pasadena, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Santa Paula, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland, Tujunga, Valencia, Van Nuys, Venice, Ventura, Westminster, West Hollywood, Whittier and Woodland Hills.

The founder of the company, Julian De La Torre, stated “I think it’s important to get to know your neighbors. The same goes for knowing where to contact those contractors who specialize in exactly what you need for your home. When a person needs help repairing their home’s foundation or earthquake retrofitting (house bolting) to guard against an earthquake, it’s important they have someone to contact. Our goal is to help people have peace of mind and know that their home is as safe as possible in the event of a major earthquake.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com.



 

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Julian Construction Warns Public: Check Credentials Of Contractor

Foundation Company Is Urging Home Owners to Take Steps To Verify Standing First

Julian-logoLOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction Inc. (http://www.julianconstruction.com), a foundation repair and foundation construction company in the Los Angeles area, is warning homeowners to seriously look at the credentials and identity of a foundation contractor, or any other contractor, before trusting them to work on their house.

Julian De La Torre, founder of the company, stated: “As a consumer, if you see a contractor that has no license number you should be concerned, and do further investigation, as this is a red flag. Also as a consumer you should note the license number itself. For example, our number starting with 788, is 10 years plus old. A license that starts with say 876, would be around about 4 years old. A license that starts with 918, would be only two years old and so on. This lets you know if the company has experience or is new to the business of construction.”

He further stated: “Some contractors just use a PO Box, a garage or a small office. The concern here is that it tends to indicate that they have not been in business long, or possibly that they are just paper contractors. So as a consumer, drive by the place of business and ask, does this look like a construction company? Check for a license and verify the number. Make sure they have been around a while.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com

 

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Hiring a Contractor

By Shawn Kyles

California homeowners spend millions of dollars each year on construction projects such as adding a new bathroom, repairing a foundation, framing, wall installation, upgrading a kitchen, creating a home office, building a deck, and re-roofing. 

While some homeowners prefer to do the work themselves, many construction and remodeling jobs will require hiring either a general building contractor or specialized contractor. A contractor manages the entire project from start to finish, including architectural planning, securing any required building permits, as well as providing all of the materials, equipment and labor that will be needed. 

Under state law, a contractor bidding on a job valued at $500 or more must by licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The CSLB licenses contractors in 43 different classifications, including general contractors who manage projects involving two or more subcontractors, and specialized contractors such as:

  • Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor
  • Concrete Contractor
  • Drywall Contractor
  • Electrical Contractor
  • Fencing Contractor
  • Landscaping Contractor
  • Masonry Contractor
  • Plumbing Contractor
  • Roofing Contractor
  • Solar Contractor

The qualifications for a contractor’s license include 4 years of journey-level trade experience, passing a trade and license law examination and posting a license bond.

When hiring a contractor, always ask to see his or her pocket license.  Also verify that the contractor is insured and carries workers’ compensation. If you hire a contractor that doesn’t have workers’ compensation, you are legally considered the employer, and can be held accountable for any job-related injuries.  Once you have verified that the contractor is licensed and insured, ask for references.  Hearing what former clients have to say about the work that was performed can be extremely helpful when deciding who to hire. 

Another step in the hiring process is to ensure that all of the details regarding the job are written out. This includes a complete description of the work that will be done, any necessary permits, what materials and equipment will be needed, the cost of the job, schedule of payments, and when the job will begin and end.  Make sure you get clarification on any terms in the agreement that you are unfamiliar with.

Depending on the type and extent of your construction project or home remodel, hiring a contractor to perform the work can save you time and money.  A general building contractor will know who to hire when the project involves specialized skills, such as plumbing, electrical, foundation repair, or masonry, and will manage all aspects of the job.  Both general and specialized contractors will also know the building codes that need to be followed, and what permits to pull.  If you are uncertain about the type of work that may be needed, such as the best way to repair a foundation, professional help can be critical and will ensure the job is done properly.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous