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| “Ask the Expert” |
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The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB), with professional advice
from the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA), offers the opportunity
for New York consumers to “Ask the Home Improvement Expert” questions. This
site is for those homeowners who are considering a project but have not
begun work or hired a contractor. |
| How to Submit a Question: |
| Send us a question about repairing or maintaining your home by e-mailing Ask the Expert. Questions will be reviewed for appropriateness by the CPB, answered by the NYSBA and subsequently posted on the Most Recent Reponses page and stored on the Archive page. If you do not see an answer relevant to your situation, Ask the Home Improvement Expert to answer a new question and we will do our best to respond.
Generally, appropriate questions and answers will be posted the week following submission by the consumer. The CPB, together with the NYSBA, will make every effort to answer all questions, however, due to the high volume of inquiries, we may not be able to answer every question. In order to protect the privacy of consumers, the only personal information that will be collected is your city, state, and project type. This information, along with your question, will be publicized. No other personal information will be collected or publicized. Sample Question: We want to replace our carpet in the lower level of our split entry house. We have berber carpet over our concrete floor. We would like to know if there are some materials that are better to install over concrete than others. Also, what type of installation is necessary to avoid moisture problems? Other Home Improvement Resources: The CPB addresses thousands of complaints involving home improvement contractors. These problems range from incomplete or poor workmanship to instances where contractors take up-front payments but never show up for work. For guidance in handling home improvement issues, please check out our brochure below: Home Improvement Brochure and Model Contract Consumer Tool Kit to Home Improvement - Learn about rip-offs and common tools and lines of persuasion offered by some unethical contractors in this publication brought to you by the New York State Consumer Protection Board. |
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Note: The CPB's "Ask the Home Improvement Expert" portion of our website is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace an actual visual inspection, evaluation or estimate for any home maintenance or improvement project you are undertaking. Any discussion of costs or contractor prices are used for illustrative purposes only. Only a contractor visually inspecting the site and actually working for you can quote a price for the job and best answer your project site specific questions.
The answers being provided on this website are based on very limited information and reflect only one perspective based on general experience with that type of project. The answer is intended to provide some general guidance and direction. Typically, the construction industry has multiple and varying solutions to building questions. Consumers with a serious issue in need of attention should consult with a professional directly and immediately. Do not wait for a response from this site. You should ensure that your home improvement project conforms to the New York State Building Code and your local codes. The following is a link to the New York State Department of State building code website: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/CODE/LS-CODES.HTML. If you are unsure as to what your local codes are, call your local building department. Additionally, consumers should make sure that their home improvement professional complies with the Home Improvement Contract law (New York State General Business Law Article 36-A) and any other local ordinance. Remember, any work that is being done MUST be performed in a safe manner to ensure your safety and that others. |