"beware Of Hiring Handyman Companies In Rockville"

"Hiring Handyman Companies In Rockville? Read This Article To See Common Problems Handyman Companies Can Cause If You Hire The Wrong One."

Through interviews with a number of Licensed Home Inspectors In Maryland I found that the majority of problems found in homes during inspections may have been caused by Handyman companies. It's not clear if the handyman companies failed to perform the repairs correctly due to their lack of knowledge, from cutting corners on jobs, or just that they didn't care about the customer or the quality of their work.


This study clearly shows me why Handyman companies are among the largest percentage of complaints filed with the Maryland Home Improvement Commission. In most cases the Handyman companies are licensed, but there are also a lot of one handyman companies in Rockville Maryland that is illegally performing maintenance on homes. Quite often problems caused by illegal companies are not reported by the homeowner, and when they are the homeowner has little if any recourse. They usually end up having to pay a second legal contractor, to re-do the work!


Here is the top ten list of the most commonly found problems during home inspections in Rockville Maryland.

Electrical Wiring Problems. Usually this involved wiring that was improperly grounded, undersized electrical service to the house, inadequate overload protection, and amateur, often dangerous, wiring connections.

Improper Surface Grading/Drainage this was the most common problem, and usually results in basement flooding and water penetration into the basement or crawl space. In 99% of surface grading and drainage problems, clogged, loose and leaking gutters are the cause!

Roofing repairs was another very common problem, roof leakage, caused by damaged shingles, improper installation or improper flashing. Inspectors also reported that many of the repairs they see performed are covered in so much roofing caulk they were unable to determine if the roof leak was fixed without going into the attic for a closer inspection.

Heating and Cooling System Problems including broken or malfunctioning operation controls, blocked chimneys, and unsafe exhaust disposal.

Lack of general maintenance usually caused by not hiring a contractor, demonstrated by such signs as cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbling masonry, makeshift wiring or plumbing, and broken fixtures or appliances.

Structural related issues caused by problems with other lack of maintenance or improper repairs of plumbing fixtures, dishwashers that leak and cause damage to structural components like foundation walls, floor joists, rafters, and window and door headers.

Plumbing problems from defects and incorrectly performed repairs include the existence of old or incompatible piping materials, as well as faulty fixtures and waste lines with homemade or amateur workmanship.

Home Exteriors usually have flaws with window and door flashing, caulking and weather stripping. These issues usually cause problems with water and air penetration, and increased utility bills. Inadequate caulking and/or weather-stripping are the most common culprits.

Incorrectly installed gable, soffit and ridge vents, most likely due to overly ambitious efforts to save energy, many home owners have "over-sealed" their homes, resulting in excessive interior moisture which can lead to ice dams and mold growth. This can cause rotting and premature failure of both structural and non-structural elements. Under ventilated attics are also very common.

Other problems include mostly interior repairs that are usually cosmetic in nature caused from lack of maintenance or incomplete finish work such as drywall, painting and trim installation.

One thing that may surprise you is that water penetration from leaking roofs, over flowing and leaking gutters are also a major contributing cause to many problems found in Rockville Maryland homes. This means that by properly cleaning gutters and inspecting your roof a few times a year, and fixing any problems that are found immediately, you can avoid a lot of other expensive repairs.

This is part of a series of articles I am putting together to create a free guide for homeowners hiring a contractor in Maryland. Before hiring any contractor or handyman company take the time to do some research. There is a lot of free information online that can help you avoid Scam Artists, unlicensed contractors and contractors that provide terrible workmanship.