That’s the mark of a great company, says Mark Granato, co-owner of PremierGarage in Foster City. “All companies make mistakes,” he says. “The question is, do they take care of them right away or do they drag them out?” Look for companies that are committed to returning phone calls. Ask if they have a policy for dealing with dissatisfied customers.
Doing your homework is another good rule to follow when selecting a garage improvement company. How long has the company been in business? How many installations has it done? What kind of warranties does it offer? Are the warranties in writing? Look closely at the warranties of competing companies, and make sure the terms are comparable.
Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of contractors, look into their reputations. Needless to say, they should have a contractor’s license. But they should also be able to provide endorsements from previous customers—and those customers should be willing to talk to you. Most satisfied customers are eager to spread the word, says Mr. Granato, so be sure and ask for referrals.
If the company does garage flooring, Mr. Granato recommends you ask about curing time—in other words, how long until you can go into your garage? Also, make sure the flooring has low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. VOCs release vapors that, while not acutely toxic, usually have chronic effects.
