Armor Day 1 Solar

We worked with a designer to select a general contractor.  Armor construction was one of the candidates; they came highly recommended and submitted a very reasonable estimate.  Our meeting with Tony Armor sealed the deal.  Timing was a key element; Armor Construction had an opening between larger projects and they could start immediately.   We were planning to leave on a trip which would allow seven weeks with an unoccupied house ... perfect for the renovation.  We had a week to contact a mover and pack the contents of the house.

The combination of emails and our designer allowed us to monitor the project from France.  We returned for ten days in late May and then took off for another three weeks ... evacuating your home is highly recommended both for your peace of mind, but also, it makes the project go much smoother.  The project was finished in mid July.

Yes, we went well over budget.  In fairness to Armor Construction most of the original estimates came in close or below estimate.  The overruns were in large part to the age of the house.  Many areas that needed attention were revealed once the interior walls came down.  For example: a return air vent made our of wood and not properly sealed.  The heating & ventilating system required a lot of work.  The revised heating system is working so much better.  The same for the plumbing and wiring.  In all fairness the owners (us) were part of the overrun by adding items during construction.  

Since we plan on staying in our home (retired) the cost of renovation is easier to justify; it has improved our quality of life.  If the work were done for resale the overruns would be of greater concern, especially in this economy.