Thursday, May 9, 2013

CAT Contracting & Matt Spanton poised for a year of success.

INNOVATE, OPTIMIZE, PERSEVERE, AND INTEGRITY

At CAT, our customers are our shareholders, and they are the ones we strive to make happy. Our company was founded with family and friends who sought “higher than industry standards” for our clients. In 2002 when CAT was founded, it derived from 4 founding principles:

Integrity. At CAT, we have our own definition of integrity . . . “Do what’s right, ALWAYS”. Our founders have ingrained this philosophy throughout the culture of our company.

Optimize. Businesses who succeed especially in todays volatile climate are those who can produce the most with the least overhead. By properly integrating technology and systems processes, CAT Contracting can facilitate the claim process with the adequate staff needed without overflow that dips the bottom line into the red.

Perseverance. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ― Thomas A.

Edison. In the last 10 years the construction world has seen rapid increases and downturns and the enduring motto that best suits a company like ours is, “Adapt or Die” Its crucial that both customers and our staff know that no matter how the tide shifts we are a company that will mold to the world around us to remain prosperous in the highest peaks and lowest valleys.

Innovate. The most aspect of business model is to be a “MeToo” in the industry. Stay ahead of the curve, seek out better anymore efficient ways, and innovate where others just wait. Its something firmly embedded in every facet of CAT. Where softwares lacked in our industry, CAT created, where technology wasn’t implemented, CAT brought it to our clients, and where the standard wasn’t enough, CATs owners developed better.
“You Can’t Copy Innovation” – Matt Spanton

Sunday, March 25, 2012

CAT Contracting explains how Hail Is Formed

Hail Damage Mooresville NC

CAT responded to the recent hail storms in Mooresville NC however after inspecting nearly 75 roofs, little damage was found. If you're in need of an inspection and looking for a reputable contractor we encourage you to contact your BBB and look into the Owens Corning Platinum Contractor Program. #HailNC

Monday, March 19, 2012

CAT Contracting in Michigan

Ann Arbors Storm was devastating indeed, not only was it incredibly upsetting to see our Michigan neighbors suffering from the acts mother nature caused but to witness people looking to take advantage of such vulnerability was even worse.

CAT Contracting Hail Damage Insurance Process

STEP 1: The 20 Point CATch ALL

CAT CONTRACTING has implemented a formalized & consistent inspection process for our customers. The “CATch All” process has been designed to efficiently and systematically examine the 20 key points outside and inside the home and report on them for our clients to determine if they wish to file a claim. Below are the items your CAT Rep will analyze and rate using industry recognized criteria. Not only will your Rep perform the inspection, but they will provide a Report Card to you for your records and insurance adjuster.

(Bulleted)
#1. SHINGLE LAYERS- When approaching the eave from the ladder our rep will peel up the rep will lift the layers of shingles in order to determine the number of the layers of roofing present on the property. This is crucial for a few reasons. First it plays a part in determining repairability, Second in the event a replacement is warranted it plays into cost for labor and debris removal, and third storm damage affects the top shingle layer much more severely when multiple layers are present.
#2. ICE & WATER- When examining the eave for the number of roofing layers the rep will determine if the home currently has ice & water shield. If a home has ice and water shield it must be considered when re-roofing the home for both labor and material costing.
#3 VENTILATION- All ventilation items will be inspected. First for cosmetic damages that can help determine the hail size and ferocity and also to see structurally if the home is ventilated properly. More often than one would think, our reps find the ventilation to be insufficiently installed or worse yet, not even open under the ventilation.
#4. FLASHINGS & ROOFING SOFT METAL- Flashings will be inspected next to ensure their integrity after the storm. Hail and high winds batter these metal roof components and can cause opportunity for water to breach the waterproofing capabilities of the roofing system.
#5. SKYLIGHTS- Both the window and the framing of the skylight must be examined. Skylight panes can be tattered from hail in excess of nickel size causing the gas seals to be loosened and ultimately fogging. The frames can be dented and compromised as well.
#6. FIELD SHINGLE (TEST SQUARE)- If the previous items show damage in excess of normal wear and tear the shingle must then be field tested. We then perform a test square by sampling 100 sf on each roofing plane (north, south, east, and west). This 100 SF area is normal taken in a 10’X10’ area in the center of the roofing plane. Starting from the top right, the rep will work left to right, top to bottom along each roofing row searching for hail bruises. Once the last row has been analyzed the rep will count the bruises and if more than 6 hail bruises are found, the square will be determined as warrantying replacement.
#7. GUTTERS- Once the shingles are examined the Guttering will be looked at for knots and dents on both the lip of the gutter and the trough of the gutter.
#8. GARAGE DOORS- After returning to the ground the Rep will begin his perimeter inspection of the home. First he will will inspect the garage doors. Garage doors are often overlooked by insurance carriers and can be an expensive miss if left unclaimed.
#9. DOWNSPOUTS- Downspouts exposed to the storm side are often dented and dinged from the hail or possible blown loose from high winds. Your rep will examine these befor emoving to the Siding.
#10. SIDING PANELS- Siding damage is usually easy to spot however we want to ensure we are identifying Hail damage not previous incidental breaks or dents. We look knee high to the sky! Anything lower is usually not considered from Hail.
#11. SHUTTERS- Most shutters are vinyl on today’s homes and if installed on the storm facing side of the home will be shattered from wind blown hailstones..
#12. ALUMINUM CASEMENTS & WRAPS- Windows, Doors and Garage doors are often cased in aluminum wrapping. These wraps are often dented after affected by wind blown hail stones. This is a labor intensive item which must be carefully inspected and priced in the event a replacement is necessary.
#13. WINDOWS- The rep will then inspect the window frames and glass. Although not completely uncommon, broken windows arent seen as often as thought.
#14 WINDOW SCREENS- Screens are often damaged on storm facing sides. Window screens will be stretched, dented and even torn from hail and flying debris.
#15. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT- Air Conditioning units are skinned in metal fins. these fins can be dented very easily buy the smallest hail stones however when hail falls in great volumes or excessive size these fins can be dented so severely they can not be combed straight thus not allowing air to flow through freely.
#16. DECK, RAILINGS- Decks, Patios and Railings will be looked at for chipping or pot marks. In the event the chips are more than cosmetic reparations must be considered but more often a power-wash and stain will suffice.
#17. FENCES- If the property owner has a fence made from vinyl, composite or wooden material, the fence must be examined for surface damage or marking. Wind events play a major role on fences as well by blowing panels or even full lines down.
#18.COLLATERAL ITEMS (jacuzzi tops, mailboxes, patio furniture) The items are not repaired by CAT but crucial for your setllement
#19. ATTIC INSPECTION- Our clients sometimes wonder why we inspect the attic, simply put the under-surface of your roof is just as important to its integrity as the exterior surface.
#20. INTERIOR CEILINGS & CLOSETS.- We often find leaks go unrecognized simply because as homeowners we rarely look up or in our closets. We want to ensure we aren’t missing anything which can potentially cause issues later in your home.

PAGE 2-3

STEP 2: THE INITIAL CLAIM PROCEDURE (Centered across 2 pages)

Column 1 : FILE THE CLAIM
(Initiating the Insurance Claim)

LOCATE your homeowner’s insurance policy and be sure to keep it handy. Now is an excellent time to find out your deductible amount for future reference.

CONTACT your insurance carrier. You can call your 1-800 claims line or many of our clients find filing online faster, which avoids lengthy hold times. Your carrier will ask you the date of loss. The date which you should file your claim under is _______________________________________. To file online fill in the web links below to your browser, or go to www.catcontracting.com and go to our claim process page and click on your carrier’s logo.

www.travelers.com
www.USAA.com
www.progressive.com
www.safeco.com
www.stateauto.com
www.statefarm.com
www.thehartford.com
www.farmers.com
www.geico.com
www.libertymutual.com
www.metlife.com
www.nationwide.com
www.allstate.com
www.amfam.com
www.amica.com
www.auto-owners.com
www.chubb.com

RECORD the information your insurance company gives you. Your insurance company will assign a claim number, and adjuster to your loss. Be sure to write this information in below.

CLAIM #_______________________Adjuster:________________(____)____-__________

(CALVIN Pointing Up image)
***REMEMBER, Once you file your claim, call your mortgage carrier as soon as possible and ask them for a claim packet. This speeds up the process drastically and ensures your project will not experience delays.

MEET YOUR INSURANCE Co
(The Adjustment Process)

SCHEDULE the adjustment. Your insurance carrier will assign an adjuster who will visit the home to confirm our results and damage severity. 84% of the claims we originally inspect and are present at the initial adjustment get fully-approved. CAT strongly suggests our clients take advantage of our Field Reps ability to help negotiate the proper claim settlement. During these times your insurance adjusters are very busy, however, by suggesting they schedule the adjustment with our rep, we can be sure we present our “CATch All” inspection results and offer a detailed scope of what needs to be repaired or replaced on the home.

Next the ONSITE ADJUSTMENT assistance is key in facilitating an expedited claim process. Our Rep will attend the adjustment along with your insurance adjuster in order to provide scope assistance and give the claim a second set of eyes. Even the best have a bad day and in the event your adjuster overlooks key claim items, well be there to ensure proper settlement.

(Pictometry or eagleview pics) DETAILED ANALYSIS is crucial for a positive outcome. We know what it takes to complete the roofing project and will be sure the settlement includes everything you need to restore your home to pre-storm condition. CAT provides your insurance carrier with a full Aerial Analysis from and scope report to ensure your home is estimated with the most advanced technology available. This ensures there are no discrepancies on size or estimating materials, making the process clear and painless.

A CLAIM SUMMARY will be presented by your insurance adjuster once the adjustment is completed. The claim summary is an itemized scope of damages with market pricing allowances for each individual item. Some Adjusters present this before leaving the property while others mail it to you.

PICK YOUR COLORS
(Material and Project Specifications)

PRODUCT-
Once your Claim has been approved, Its time for the material selection process. We will walk you through your options so that you can make a confident decision. Today market is competitive offering several options and price points within. Its our goal to educate you on the warranties and materials best suited for your home and family.

AGREEMENT
After the material specifications agreement is approved by you, CAT Contracting will requires a standard 33% down payment to order materials for your job. (If your Insurance Draft was endorsed with your mortgage carrier see the “What Ifs” section at the end of this Guide)

C. DELIVERY
Materials will be delivered to your home. At this time, please notify your Field Supervisor that the materials have arrived. Our field supervisor will stop by your home to inventory the materials and make sure everything has been delivered correct. Once the material is confirmed CAT will then accept a standard 33% production deposit 33%. Upon receipt the crew will be scheduled for production within _______ days.

STEP 3: THE PRODUCTION PROCESS Centered across 2 pages)

TRADE RESTORATION
(The Building Process)

Once the materials are checked in at the project address, your CAT rep will enter your job into the production phase. Your job will be coordinated and built in a professional and timely manner. Multiple trade jobs will be scheduled in a roof first, siding second and additional trades next progression. There will be some downtime in between all trades. Your Field Supervisor will be your main point of contact if you should have any questions or concerns during the construction process.

DEPRECIATION RECOVERY

Almost all insurance carriers apply depreciation to each item in the settlement. Think of this as hold back for the difference in value of what your roofing/siding is worth aged (damaged) vs. what it will be worth when it’s newly restored. CAT performs the project based off the insurance company’s settlement so that when the repairs are complete, we can issue the proper invoice to your carrier for you. When we do so, the insurance carrier then pays you only for the depreciation they applied for the items repaired.

An AUTOMATED CALL will be generated from us stating the invoice is ready to be submitted. When you receive this call, it is wise to wait a few days and call your carrier to ensure they have sent your final payment to you. In order for you to receive the depreciation amount in full, you must complete the claim in full and provide invoices for the work. CAT sends this courtesy invoice for you and we place a follow up call to your carrier to ensure they issue you the final amounts owed.

WARRANTY PROCESS

Upon Completion of the project your CAT rep will perform a final walk-thru and certificate of completion with you. They will review the project and make any necessary repair orders for trade items which need addressed. Its important to ask questions as the project progresses so that we may address these items or your concerns as they arise.

A WARRANTY CARD is found on our website under the tab Warranties. When your work has been completed and paid in full please send this warranty card into our office so that we can update your project in our system.

20 Point CATch All

CAT contracting has implemented a brief and consistent inspection process for homeowners who desire having their home inspected after hail and wind events. Its important to work with a company who is efficient and methodical in all of its processes. BY creating the 20- Point CATch ALL inspection process we ensure each customer receives a thorough step by step inspection process consistently followed by all of our team. Just like McDonalds has an exact way in which it makes their famous BIG MAC consistently taste its best, this initial CATch ALL process ensures the remainder of your claim process runs smooth with optimum outcome.

#1. SHINGLE LAYERS- When approaching the eave from the ladder our rep will peel up the rep will lift the layers of shingles in order to determine the number of the layers of roofing present on the property. This is crucial for a few reasons. First it plays a part in determining repair-ability, Second in the event a replacement is warranted it plays into cost for labor and debris removal, and third storm damage affects the top shingle layer much more severely when multiple layers are present.
#2. ICE & WATER- When examining the eave for the number of roofing layers the rep will determine if the home currently has ice & water shield. If a home has ice and water shield it must be considered when re-roofing the home for both labor and material costing.
#3 VENTILATION- All ventilation items will be inspected. First for cosmetic damages that can help determine the hail size and ferocity and also to see structurally if the home is ventilated properly. More often than one would think, our reps find the ventilation to be insufficiently installed or worse yet, not even open under the ventilation.
#4. Fascia- 65% of the homes we inspect have metal wrapped fascia boards. This aluminum wrapping is easily damaged from hail and high winds however in some cases depending on the angle to which youre observing the product, it can be difficult to spot. Looking across the face while even with the plane of the fascia at a 45 degree angle is the best way to spot these damages.
#5ROOFING SOFT METAL- Flashings will be inspected next to ensure their integrity after the storm. Hail and high winds batter these metal roof components and can cause opportunity for water to breach the waterproofing capabilities of the roofing system.
#6. SKYLIGHTS- Both the window and the framing of the skylight must be examined. Skylight panes can be tattered from hail in excess of nickel size causing the gas seals to be loosened and ultimately fogging. The frames can be dented and compromised as well.
#7. FIELD SHINGLE (TEST SQUARE)- If the previous items show damage in excess of normal wear and tear the shingle must then be field tested. We then perform a test square by sampling 100 sf on each roofing plane (north, south, east, and west). This 100 SF area is normal taken in a 10’X10’ area in the center of the roofing plane. Starting from the top right, the rep will work left to right, top to bottom along each roofing row searching for hail bruises. Once the last row has been analyzed the rep will count the bruises and if more than 6 hail bruises are found, the square will be determined as warrantying replacement.
#8. GUTTERS- Once the shingles are examined the Guttering will be looked at for knots and dents on both the lip of the gutter and the trough of the gutter. Gutter Damage can be tricky to spot so our reps will look at these from multiple angles depending on the glare or direction of the suns light.
#9. GARAGE DOORS- After returning to the ground the Rep will begin his perimeter inspection of the home. First he will will inspect the garage doors. Garage doors are often overlooked by insurance carriers and can be an expensive miss if left unclaimed. We are looking for soft dents and often need to examine the panels form different angles like most metals. it also may help the inspection to wet the doors down in order to highlight the dents which other wise could be missed.
10. DOWNSPOUTS- Downspouts exposed to the storm side are often dented and dinged from the hail or possible blown loose from high winds. Your rep will examine these befor emoving to the Siding.
#11. SIDING PANELS- Siding damage is usually easy to spot however we want to ensure we are identifying Hail damage not previous incidental breaks or dents. We start the siding inspection above knee height and are looking for random breaks on vinyl patterns, or dents on metal panels. Vinyl is often broken on the edges while metal siding can be damaged throughout entire profile of the panel.
#12. ALUMINUM CASEMENTS/ WRAPS- Windows, Doors and Garage doors are often cased in aluminum wrapping. These wraps are often dented after affected by wind blown hail stones. This is a labor intensive item which must be carefully inspected and priced in the event a replacement is necessary.
#13. WINDOWS- The rep will then inspect the window frames and glass. Although not completely uncommon, broken windows arent seen as often as thought. The main reason for this is storms commonly occur in the spring when temperatures are rising. Window screens are normally present protecting the actual window panes.
#14 WINDOW SCREENS- Screens are often damaged on storm facing sides. Window screens will be stretched, dented and even torn from hail and flying debris.
#15. AIR CONDITIONING UNIT- Air Conditioning units are skinned in metal fins. these fins can be dented very easily buy the smallest hail stones however when hail falls in great volumes or excessive size these fins can be dented so severely they can not be combed straight thus not allowing air to flow through freely. Although in most cases a simple A/C Comb can remedy the problem at times the damage incapacitates the ability for the conditioner to perform warranting full replacement.
#16. DECK, RAILINGS- Decks, Patios and Railings will be looked at for chipping or pot marks. In the event the chips are more than cosmetic reparations must be considered but more often a power-wash and stain will suffice.
#17. FENCES- If the property owner has a fence made from vinyl, composite or wooden material, the fence must be examined for surface damage or marking. Wind events play a major role on fences as well by blowing panels or even full lines down. This is easily spotted however we also must examine the gates and connections to be sure the security and structure of the fence has withstood the storms impact.
#18.COLLATERAL ITEMS (lights, picnic tablesjacuzzi tops, mailboxes) Although CAT doesn’t repair such items on a regular basis, we will note damage to collateral items such as patio furniture, jacuzzi covers, mailboxes and likewise to be sure we aid our client in their claim settlement. These items are commonly referred to as “personal property” and written in a separate settlement claim & check.
#19. ATTIC INSPECTION- Our clients sometimes wonder why we inspect the attic, simply put the under-surface of your roof is just as important to its integrity as the exterior surface. If the attic shows signs of deterioration or dampness it gives indication of other problems such as leaks, ventilation or insulation. If you took your car to a mechanic and he didnt look under the hood, how would you feel about that mechanic?
#20. INTERIOR CEILINGS & CLOSETS.- Finally we will ask to see the interior ceilings and closets near valleys or protrusions. We often find leaks go unrecognized simply because as homeowners we rarely look up or in our closets. We want to ensure we aren’t missing anything which can potentially cause issues later in your home.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Matt Spanton set to speak at International Roofing Expo

Matt Spanton will speak on; Growing profits through Technology.

to view this presentation in webinar format go to BNP Media Webinar Page and view.

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This year will be a little different at the International Roofing Expo. Technology leaders have combined forces to help roofing contractors be more organized and profitable. The TechKnowHow Pavilion is a place where roofing contractors can see and learn about available products, which can help enhance their business practices. Presentations run from 11:15 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16 and Thursday, February 17. Friday, February 18, will feature product demonstrations from 11:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

Roof-is is the industry leader in web-based roofing management software, which features CRM, Roof Sketch, Eagleview and HailMaps integration, Estimating, Scheduling and more. 3C is set to unveil its iPhone, iPad and Droid applications at this year's expo as well. Spanton says, "With technology moving so fast, it is imperative that roofing contractors know what tools are available for them to dominate their markets and win more jobs."

There are eight companies at the TechKnowHow Pavilion in 2011 including: Eagleview Technologies, Matt Spanton (now President of CAT Contracting) former owner of AccuLynx.com, Allied Building Products, AppliCad, Roofing Contractor Marketing, Estimators on Call, HailWatch, and Roofing Contractor Magazine. Twenty-minute educational presentations are scheduled during show hours on Wednesday and Thursday, beginning at 11:15 each day. Friday will feature product demonstrations.

Discussions include: