Before you hire a crew for the whole outside

Yes. A roof, a set of gutters, six windows or one wall of siding is a job like any other. The one contract is for the people who want several parts done in a sensible order, not a rule.

We don't promise a discount. What changes is the setup: one dumpster, one set of ladders, one permit visit and one cleanup. The written estimate shows each part on its own line, so you can see what the overlap does and decide.

The roof, then the gutters and trim, then the windows, then the siding. Work goes from the top down so nothing new gets walked on, dripped on or knocked loose.

We look at the shingles, the flashing, the attic side of the deck and the age of the roof, then show you the photos. If a repair is the honest answer, the estimate says repair.

Heat from the attic melts snow on the roof, and the water freezes again at the cold edge of the eave. Insulation and ventilation are the lasting fix. An ice-and-water barrier along the eaves helps when water backs up. We look at all three at the estimate.

Where your city or county asks for one, the estimate says who pulls it and what it costs. Each town has its own building department, and we will give you the number for yours.

Often, one opening or one wall at a time. Shingles need warm days to seal, so we plan roofs for spring through fall and move siding and window work to the cold months when we can.

We stop and show you a photo. Rotted sheathing is written up on a change sheet with its price, and nothing is done until both of us have signed it.

Iowa registers construction contractors but does not test them, so the registration shows that the business is on file. Our registration and our insurance are listed in the footer of every page, and a certificate of insurance goes to you before work starts.

We inspect, photograph and write an itemized estimate you can share with your insurer. You decide whether to file a claim, and you deal with your insurer. Read what to do first on the storm page.

It is measured in weeks, not days, and it depends on the size of the house and the weather. The estimate gives a schedule in order of work, and it names the days we plan to lose to rain.