WARNING: Read This Before You Hire a Contractor
My name is Nick Lehrter, owner of BlueSky Exteriors.
I’ve been around construction my entire life and worked on homes long before starting this company.
Living in Iowa, I’ve seen firsthand what storms like the 2020 derecho can do to homes and how many homeowners get taken advantage of in the process.
That’s why I built BlueSky differently.
We slow things down, explain everything, and do the job the right way the first time.
Most homeowners don’t realize what actually gets skipped during a roof or siding job… until it’s too late.
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Corners get cut where you can’t see
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Cheap bids = hidden shortcuts
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Materials get reused that should be replaced
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Problems don’t show up until months later
Drip Edge
Many contractors reuse this.
I overheard the owner of a roofing company said once “We get paid the most for the work we don’t do, but charge for.” Referencing not changing drip edge.
It protects your roof edge from water damage.
MAKE SURE YOUR CONTRACTOR REPLACES THIS. It is part of the roofing system.
Underlayment (Felt)
Old felt is often damaged and reused.
That traps moisture and leads to rot.
We have seen as many as 4 layers when doing a roof replacement.
The roofer can’t see if any wood decking is damaged or rotten and needs replaced.
This goes for Roofing and Siding.
Ice & Water Shield
Iowa weather forces water under shingles.
This is what actually stops leaks.
BlueSky Exteriors always does 2 rows for added protection from Iowa’s harsh winters.
Flashing & Vents
One of the most common leak points.
Old materials = future problems.
Make sure your contractor replaces all vents and flashing.
Shingles
Make sure your contractor uses a decent shingle.
We install Class 4 impact-resistant shingles at no extra cost.
Built for Iowa hail + possible insurance discounts.
WARRANTY
Make sure your contractor has a good written workmanship warranty.
BlueSky’s workmanship warranty is 10 years.
License and Insurance
Make sure the contractor you use has an updated Iowa license and insurance.
BlueSky Exteriors keeps everything up to date.
Working with Insurance Companies
Insurance adjusters miss many things on claims after a storm.
Your contractor needs to be well versed in spotting damage adjusters miss. As well as knowing exactly how to submit missed items for approval to the insurance company and get them approved.
Shown are a couple actual claims. You can see how much was missed on the original claim and how much was added. Insurance will miss a lot of items.
The first claim, insurance came back with a $13,263.58. We got it up to $59,051.95, after adding everything they missed.
Second claim started at $15,858.46. We got it to $61,210.93.
*These are extreme examples, but it shows how much can be missed by insurance adjusters.
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