Top Shelf Construction Inc.

FAQ’s

What Do You Mean By "Sub-Par" Products?

What I am referring to are those products and materials that are referred to as "builder grade" or "contractor grade" products. In short, the home improvement / remodeling / and custom home building industry is very different than the spec home BUILDING industry. In the home building industry, homebuilders and contractors are normally building "spec" homes and are looking to maximize profits. One way of doing that is by using "contractor" or "builder" grade materials.

So What Exactly Makes These Products Sub-Par?

Contractor grade or builder grade products are MASS PRODUCED to overly generic standards and measurements, where they even incorporate "margins of error" into the design and build process. Unfortunately, these are usually the same type of products you find in those "off-the-shelf" big-box retailers. To put it bluntly, these types of products are adequate at a distance, but far from what our clients expect from a “quality finished job”. Because they're massed produced, they are much cheaper than custom measured and custom-built products. Which is why "contractors" and "builders" love to install them. But the differences are going to be glaringly apparent over time. Custom built products simply have a better quality of construction. For example, a custom measured, custom built and expertly installed window will simply last longer, work better and save you a lot more money in the long-run… not to mention how amazing they look. The same goes for your kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, etc. Simply stated, don't be fooled by cheaper prices… make sure you know EXACTLY what you are getting before you sign on the dotted line.

You Talk A Lot About "Top Quality" Installation…

Can You Explain What You Mean? We just got done talking about custom made products. These products aren’t cheap. So what good does it do you to spend thousands on your new windows, for example, if the guy's installing them don't know what they're doing? Bottom Line, even the best products in the world are going to fail prematurely if they are not installed correctly. This is particularly poignant when you consider how some contractors ruthlessly cut costs by hiring unskilled "day laborers" just so they can low-ball an estimate or pad profits. Just as an example, using our windows from above… replacing your windows is not as simple as just showing up and ripping out the old ones and putting in new ones. There is so much prep work that has to go in to make sure your windows installed as close to perfection as humanly possible. For example, the window frame must be plum, level and square before you can even think about putting in the new ones. Anything less than that and you are wasting your time and money. And we're just talking about your windows. What about your kitchen cabinets, stoves, bathroom vanity, bath, toilet etc.? Without top quality construction and / or installation you are wasting your money.

If you want to be “Green” in your construction and life, buy high quality products that are made to last a long time and remain beautiful over the long haul. Inexpensive often just means “Cheap” and you are replacing the same product every 2-3 years and simply disposing of the old one in the landfill.