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Industry officials: Choose contractor wisely
BY JUSTIN QUINN
By using common sense and caution, avoiding predatory
home improvement contractors in Lancaster County is not that difficult,
local industry experts say.
Not all contractors appear in court as often as roofer Ralph F. Kline Jr. they say.
Kline, who operates Ralph F. Kline Roofing, Siding and Insulation from his home in Lititz, has been the subject of more than 40 civil lawsuits going back to the late 1980s. In 1993, he settled a $22,000 civil lawsuit with the state attorney general’s office, but seven months later, according to the office, Kline was still being accused of shoddy workmanship, refusing to honor warranties and accepting money for work his company never started or completed.
Most Lancaster County contractors do everything they can to avoid litigation, say local industry experts Jack Zimmer and Richard W. Brown Sr.
“Guys like that don’t usually seem to survive very long,” said Zimmer, president of the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors in Lancaster County. “Most contractors want to do everything they can to avoid litigation.”
Though the members of Zimmer’s organization are mostly commercial contractors, the approach to doing business for most contractors in Lancaster County is the same whether it is putting siding on a one-car garage or replacing the roof of a 150-room hotel.
“Lancaster County is a small community, and word travels fast,” Zimmer said. “Most contractors here have a tremendous work ethic. The standards are very high, and a contractor’s reputation is everything.”
Brown, executive vice president of Building Industry Association of Lancaster County, says members of his organization are mostly independent contractors who take their jobs seriously.
“We have strict guidelines on who we accept into our association,” Brown said. “The membership has to mean something.”
Thus, the application process is stringent, he said.
“The company needs to be in business for at least two years,” Brown said. “We require proof of a $100,000 liability insurance policy, and the company must supply us with business and financial references — which we do check.”
Brown said BIA applicants also must submit to a three-tiered approval process.
“First, we do the reference check,” Brown said. “Then, the membership committee conducts a review, and, finally, the applicant is approved by the association’s board of directors.”
Beyond just enjoying the reputation of being part of BIA or ABC, Zimmer said, members are afforded a number of industry advantages.
“Most trade organizations offer informational and educational resources for their members,” Zimmer said. “For contractors, these include new information about (building) code issues, safety and meeting or exceeding industry standards. Basically, it’s one more way for a contractor to keep up on what’s happening in the industry.”
While lawsuits may be necessary every now and then, most local contractors do everything possible to find solutions outside the courtroom.
“Occasionally a lawsuit may be the only way to resolve a problem,” Zimmer said, “but most contractors don’t want that. Unfortunately, we’ve become a very litigious society.”
Kline is not a member of either organization.
Not all contractors appear in court as often as roofer Ralph F. Kline Jr. they say.
Kline, who operates Ralph F. Kline Roofing, Siding and Insulation from his home in Lititz, has been the subject of more than 40 civil lawsuits going back to the late 1980s. In 1993, he settled a $22,000 civil lawsuit with the state attorney general’s office, but seven months later, according to the office, Kline was still being accused of shoddy workmanship, refusing to honor warranties and accepting money for work his company never started or completed.
Most Lancaster County contractors do everything they can to avoid litigation, say local industry experts Jack Zimmer and Richard W. Brown Sr.
“Guys like that don’t usually seem to survive very long,” said Zimmer, president of the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors in Lancaster County. “Most contractors want to do everything they can to avoid litigation.”
Though the members of Zimmer’s organization are mostly commercial contractors, the approach to doing business for most contractors in Lancaster County is the same whether it is putting siding on a one-car garage or replacing the roof of a 150-room hotel.
“Lancaster County is a small community, and word travels fast,” Zimmer said. “Most contractors here have a tremendous work ethic. The standards are very high, and a contractor’s reputation is everything.”
Brown, executive vice president of Building Industry Association of Lancaster County, says members of his organization are mostly independent contractors who take their jobs seriously.
“We have strict guidelines on who we accept into our association,” Brown said. “The membership has to mean something.”
Thus, the application process is stringent, he said.
“The company needs to be in business for at least two years,” Brown said. “We require proof of a $100,000 liability insurance policy, and the company must supply us with business and financial references — which we do check.”
Brown said BIA applicants also must submit to a three-tiered approval process.
“First, we do the reference check,” Brown said. “Then, the membership committee conducts a review, and, finally, the applicant is approved by the association’s board of directors.”
Beyond just enjoying the reputation of being part of BIA or ABC, Zimmer said, members are afforded a number of industry advantages.
“Most trade organizations offer informational and educational resources for their members,” Zimmer said. “For contractors, these include new information about (building) code issues, safety and meeting or exceeding industry standards. Basically, it’s one more way for a contractor to keep up on what’s happening in the industry.”
While lawsuits may be necessary every now and then, most local contractors do everything possible to find solutions outside the courtroom.
“Occasionally a lawsuit may be the only way to resolve a problem,” Zimmer said, “but most contractors don’t want that. Unfortunately, we’ve become a very litigious society.”
Kline is not a member of either organization.
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