You want to improve your home, and you don't have the skills, the time, or maybe just the desire to do the work yourself. So, if you're like hundreds of homeowners in your area, you'll hire someone to do it. A good contractor can give you the wonderful, exciting experience of seeing your roof, siding, windows, dream kitchen or recreation room take shape and come to life.

But a bad unlicensed contractor can propel you into a nightmare of stress.

You need a permit for electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural work, even to build a fence.

Total Remodeling is a state licensed contractor in Colorado. We are licensed in every aspect of general contracting. We are able to build large scale projects such as homes to smaller projects such as a deck or even installing a door. We have a large network of licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers and every other field needed to accomplish your commercial or residential remodeling project. We also keep a state certified engineer and architect on staff.

Here are five key questions for homeowners to ask when looking for qualified contractors:

• 1. Is the contractor licensed by the state? Colorado has web sites listing the contractors and the licenses they hold.
• 2. Does the contractor have the right license for the work being performed?
• 3. Is the contractor a certified member of a professional organization?
• 4. Did the contractor provide references, and have you solicited proposals to compare not only the cost but the specific work to be performed and the materials used?
• 5. Is the contractor fully insured and bonded? This includes workers compensation insurance and general liability insurance for damage to your home or injury to the homeowner or the contractor's employees.

Are You Protected? We Are!

Client Protections

Given today’s legal environment, property owners must protect themselves by requiring contractors to carry adequate insurance coverage. Because roofing is a high risk classification, insurance costs are a considerable expense. For this reason, many contractors carry only the minimums mandated by the state, which most will agree are inadequate. In fact, some important types of insurance are not even required by the state, which may expose a property owner to unforeseen liabilities. It is very important to review a potential contractor’s insurance to be certain that you, the consumer, are properly covered.

General Liability Insurance	"State Required Limits"	Total Remodeling Limits
Completed Operations	$100,000	$ 1 Million
Workers Comp Employers Liability	$100,000	$ 1 Million
Automobile Bodily Injury	$500,000	$ 1 Million
Automobile Property Damage Liability	$25,000	$ 1 Million
Contractors Equipment Insurance	$0	$ 1 Million
Builders Risk	$0	$500,000
Business Interruption Insurance	$0	$100,000
Pollution Liability	$0	$ 5 Million

This coverage protects you if your contractor were to damage your property i.e. catches the building on fire. It also covers bodily injury and property damage to others who may be on your property if they are hurt by the contractors operations i.e. hot tar spills on them, a hammer falls off the roof and strikes them. Colorado law only requires $100,000 of coverage.

Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $1,000,000 with a 2,000,000 Aggregate

Completed Operations:

Once the contractor completes their work and leaves the property, this covers damage that could occur which was caused by their work i.e. the roof collapses because of excessive standing water. It does not cover the interior from water intrusion damage. This coverage is not required under Colorado law.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $1,000,000

Contractors Equipment Insurance:

If a contractor’s equipment is stolen from the job site, is the owner or the contractor responsible to cover the loss? This policy covers the contractor’s equipment against theft or loss. This is not required by law.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $1,000,000

Builders Risk:

If material is stolen from the job site, whose material was stolen? Is the owner or the contractor responsible to cover the loss? This policy covers the material stored on the job site. This is not required by law.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $500,000

Pollution Liability Coverage: (covers owned premises and work sites)

Coverage is provided for third party damages caused by a release of pollutants. Most General Liability Policies specifically exclude Pollution Coverage. Also, many pollution policies cover the insured’s property but not their work sites.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $1,000,000

Business Interruption Insurance:

If a disaster occurs and damages or ruins a contractor’s ability to operate normally, this coverage provides the needed cash to cover expenses so that they can continue as a business. This helps to ensure that your project will be successfully completed. This is not required by law.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $100,000

Workers Compensation Employers Liability:

Workers compensation insurance, which is required by Colorado law, covers lost wages and medical expenses for an injured worker and generally precludes the injured from filing a civil suit for damages. However, if employer negligence is found to be the cause of the injury i.e. requiring workers to use unsafe equipment or to work in what OSHA deems an unsafe work environment, then Colorado allows for civil litigation which is not covered by standard workers compensation insurance. For this protection, Employers Liability must be added to the standard policy. If your contractor lacks this additional policy, then the building owner’s insurance could be held liable.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $1,000,000

Automobile Insurance:

This is often the most overlooked area of contractors insurance. If a contractor were to hit someone on your property with their automobile, this policy provides coverage for damage to their person and their automobile. Colorado law requires $50,000 for Bodily Injury and $25,000 for Property Damage.
Remodeling Solution’s Coverage: $5,000,000

Performance & Payment Bond

A performance and payment bond (P & P Bond) is a guarantee by an insurance company (Surety Company) that a project will be completed in the event of default by a contractor. It further guarantees that the costs for all labor and materials will be paid and that no liens will be placed on your property. If a contractor defaults, the Surety Company takes the project over and does whatever is required to complete it. In short, a P & P Bond guarantees a lien free, completed project, built to the plans and specification, at no additional expense to the owner.

One of the most effective methods of determining the overall stability of a contractor is to check their bonding capabilities. A surety company maintains a staff of construction accounting specialists and construction management experts that scrutinize various aspects of a contractor’s business.

The Surety’s accounting examination is considered unparalleled in the construction industry. Their construction risk management team reviews numerous financial ratios, based on a contractor’s audited financial statements, in an effort to eliminate the risk that the Surety may have to pay a claim.

Our Bonding Capacity:

• Single Job: $ 10 Million
• Aggregate: $ 20 Million
• Surety: International Fidelity Insurance Company
• A.M. Best Rating: A (Excellent)

Industry Bonding Statistics:

• Approximately 50% of all surety companies will not bond roofing contractors.
• Only 10 to 20 percent of all roofing contractors can qualify for a performance bond.
• Pertaining to bondable roofing contractors:
• Less than 10% are insured by an “A” rated Surety.
• About 80% are limited to $1 Million or less.
• Fewer than 3% have a $20 million aggregate limit.