The Construction industry is plagued by low quality unreliable contractors. Once of the first things I learned as a general contractor was that the low-bid was not the low bid. This means that the low-bid contractor often has hidden costs such as not using quality materials or not using the proper technique that can result in high costs down the line.

Here are 10 things I have seen hardwood flooring contractors in Chicago do:

1. Not prepare the underlayment properly on floating floors. Construction in certain situations involves laying down plywood on top of a sound proof barrier. The plywood should be 4 by 8 boards that are 3/8th to 1/2 inch thick glued and screwed to create an overlapping pattern. This is labor intensive but it creates a large stable sheet into which hardwood can be nailed. The sheet acts as a system to dampen sound. Low cost contractors will substitute 3/4 inch plywood cut into 4 x 4 sheets. This is easier for them to transport and requires very little labor. The short coming is that the plywood pieces are not connected and therefore don't act as system to dampen sound and carry it laterally. The nail-in hardwood planks provide the connection between the boards and as the boards shift over time, the hardwood will be prone to opening between boards.

2. Not using a water proof barrier. There's always a reason a hardwood floor is replaced. One of them is water damage as result of moisture such as after flooding. If this is the case, then a waterproof barrier has to be installed beneath the hardwood to prevent water from coming up through a moist concrete floor. It can take months for concrete or a plywood subfloor to dry. A good installer will check the moisture content if there is any question. It helps to dehumidify prior to installation if that is required, then a plastic barrier that is either separated or integrated in the underlayment should be used.

3. Not using adequate sound insulation. Sound insulation is inexpensive compared to the cost of a hardwood floor and the difference between a quality sound insulation and low-cost variety is pennies. On the other hand, fixing a sound problem after the floor is laid is a huge undertaking. A good installer will always use a good sound proofing underlayment.

4. Not allowing the wood to acclimatize. The dimension of hardwood depends on it's water content and temperature. Hardwood should be placed within the room that it's going to be laid for several days before work begins. During this time the boards will expand or contract to a dimension that they will more likely retain over time in that room. By allowing this, the boards will likely have tighter joints. Low cost contractors often skip this important step.

5. Not putting on 3 coats of finish. For sanded and finished floors, 3 coats are essential. I've been told many times by sub-contractors that only 2 are needed but I've seen the difference and that third coat is essential for durability and appearance. A quality contractor will put on three coats.

6. Not accounting for expansion. Floating floors expand and contract seasonally. They need room to expand in all directions and there are limits to how large a floor can be in certain directions without putting an expansion joint. Understanding the specific qualities of floor products are crucial to avoiding buckling floors.

7. Damaging walls and not repairing them. If you live in a small condo building you might not notice damage downstairs and the contractors trolley slams into a wall. It's useful to discuss the path the contractor will take to bring his materials in and his waste out, then take photographs. A good contractor accounts for damage to premises in his contract. If he makes a mistake he should point it out to you, but if he doesn't (as his workers may not want to take the credit) when you point it out to him with photos, he should quickly volunteer to remedy the damage. Too often a complaint to a contractor sparks a battle. Many contractors will just say it wasn't them and it will be on the client to do the fix on their own.

8. Fly dumping. Contractors create too much waste to put in your own garbage cans. Unethical contractors will drive up and down alleys off-loading carpet and scrap wood into other people's garbage containers often overflowing them. A good contractor pays for his waste to be disposed of.

9. Not handling questions or correcting a punch list. I've heard contractors say they've never finished a punch list. I'm not sure how they're doing in this economy. A contractor should be available to take your calls and return them in a timely fashion. The better the contractor the more accessible he will be because he wants to make you happy and get your recommendation. Nothing is more destructive to a client-contractor relationship than not being responsive.

10. Adding charges. Some contractors think half-way through your job is a great time to discuss additional charges. After all, what can you do? A contractor with a reputation will rarely do this. He'll do everything possible to anticipate problems and prepare you for them in advance. If he has something unforeseen come up that is too large to be covered by a contingency line item, he'll explain it carefully and give you alternatives. A good contractor has a reputation to defend where a low-cost contractor depends on his low-cost bid to get him the next job.

The best solution is to research your contractor well. If he's well liked on services like Yelp and Angie's list, he's probably taken great care to keep his clients happy. Don't expect him to be the cheapest bid out there, but in the long run, he may well present the best value.

Mitchell Newman is the principal of Stratagem Construction and fully integrated construction and design service in Chicago. 100% customer satisfaction is his goal.