By Tiffany Slowinski
Garden State Circle is supported by the businesses that partner with us, and Magnolia Home Remodeling Group, Union is an authority partner. We interviewed Vic Fiore, who leads the company, about the hiring and project questions homeowners here actually ask. The partnership pays for the reporting; it does not decide the answers. Most of the numbers below are not published anywhere else.
The proposal is signed.
Now what?
For homeowners, the stretch between “we hired someone” and “people are actually working on the house” can feel like a black box.
Vic Fiore, owner of Magnolia Home Remodeling Group in Union, walked through how Magnolia handles that process on roofing, siding, windows and ground-up decks.
The exact sequence changes by project. The structure does not.
Step 1: The estimate
The estimate is free.
Fiore is very clear on that point.
“Free. Always free.”
A dedicated representative visits the house, measures and inspects the project.
For roofing, that can include looking in the attic where possible, pricing by square footage and product, counting existing roofing layers and checking from the attic for signs that plywood may be an issue.
The homeowner then receives a written proposal describing the scope.
Magnolia’s typical deposit is 10%.
Payment can be made by check, credit card or financing.
“We do not accept cash,” Fiore says.
Financing is available, with terms depending on the lender.
Step 2: The pre-job walkthrough
After signing, the project moves into a more detailed walkthrough.
The project manager is involved. The installer is usually involved. The homeowner is there too.
On some projects, the initial walkthrough can include eight to 10 people as the team works through the details.
For a roof, that means talking through things such as the dumpster location, portable-toilet placement, timeline and what the homeowner should expect once work begins.
For windows, every opening is measured at the walkthrough.
For a ground-up deck, the process becomes much more involved and includes an architect.
Step 3: Materials and logistics
On a roof, the dumpster, portable toilet and materials are typically dropped a day or two before work begins.
Then the house is protected with tarps. The roof is stripped. The deck underneath is inspected.
If the team finds a hidden issue such as additional plywood or rot, Magnolia documents it.
Fiore says the homeowner sees photos and understands the added cost before that work moves forward.
“We’re not going to start changing significant amounts of plywood or doing work on the home until they understand it and approve it.”
That approval step matters because remodeling almost always includes things that cannot be fully seen until something is opened.
Step 4: The project manager keeps the homeowner in the loop
Magnolia uses a project manager who is on site at points during the job and stays in contact with the installers throughout the day using pictures, videos and notes.
The homeowner is updated in what Fiore describes as almost real time.
There are also in-office coordinators who can see the project and help answer questions.
Magnolia also uses a weekly homeowner call on active projects. On top of that, a member of Magnolia’s office team calls the homeowner every week, not to talk schedule, but to ask how the experience is going and whether anything needs attention.
The point is that the person who sold the project is not the only person who knows what is happening.
What the crews look like by project
Crew size changes depending on the work.
A roofing crew is typically four to five people.
A siding crew is typically four to five people.
Window installation is typically handled by a two-person crew, with only one or two openings out at a time.
On decks, Fiore says two people may handle the footing stage, with three to four people on the framing stage.
Most crews and deliveries arrive in marked vehicles.
Roofing: usually a few days
A typical roof is usually completed in two to three days. Large or complex roofs can take longer.
The project manager walks through at the end. The house is cleaned. Then the dumpster and portable toilet are removed.
Siding: same structure, longer install
Siding follows a similar process.
The homeowner gets the estimate and written scope. There is a walkthrough. Materials are coordinated. The project manager remains involved.
The difference is that siding generally has a longer installation schedule and longer material lead times than a roof.
Windows: measured again before ordering
Magnolia quotes brands including Andersen, Pella, Marvin and Harvey.
At the walkthrough, the installer measures every opening.
The manufacturer quote and specifications are then confirmed with the homeowner.
Lead time is typically three to six weeks, depending on the product.
Installation is usually handled by two people, with only one or two openings out at a time.
Ground-up decks: the town enters the process
A ground-up deck adds another layer because the project has to move through design and municipal approvals.
Fiore says the walkthrough includes the architect, the Magnolia representative, the project manager, Vic and the homeowner.
They work through the shape, size and stair location.
The property survey is reviewed against zoning rules and setbacks.
The homeowner approves the plans.
Then the plans go to the town, first for zoning and then for building approval.
After that, there is another walkthrough with the installer before construction begins.
What homeowners should ask before signing
A remodeling proposal tells you what you are buying.
The process tells you how the next several weeks are going to feel.
Ask who your point person is. Ask who manages the job once work starts. Ask how changes are documented. Ask when extra costs have to be approved. Ask how often you will hear from someone.
Those answers matter just as much as the scope itself.
At Magnolia, the estimate is free, the typical deposit is 10%, and the homeowner works with a dedicated rep, project manager and office team through the project.
Then the job moves from proposal to walkthrough, logistics, construction, documentation and final cleanup in a sequence the homeowner can actually follow.
Pricing ranges in this article are Magnolia Home Remodeling Group’s 2026 estimates for its own jobs. Actual pricing depends on the scope, products, site conditions and selections. A written proposal governs the final scope and price.
About This Article
This article is produced by Garden State Circle and is part of our local guide to kitchen and bath professionals serving the Somerset Hills.
Written by Tiffany Slowinski, Co-Owner, Garden State Circle. Figures were provided by Magnolia Home Remodeling Group · Profile, Union and reflect this market in October 2026.
Also from this reporting: What a Kitchen Remodel Actually Costs in Somerset County in 2026, What a Bathroom Remodel Costs in Somerset County in 2026, and Why the Old House Can Cost More, Does a Leak Mean You Need a New Roof? What to Check First, Replacement Windows: How the Order Actually Works, and What Andersen 200 Costs Installed in 2026 and A Ground-Up Deck: Why There’s an Architect at Your Kitchen Table, and What It Costs in 2026.
Earlier reporting on Magnolia Home Remodeling Group: What Should Be in a Roofing or Siding Contract in Montgomery Township in 2026?, How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost in Warren in 2026?, What Can Be Hiding Under Old Siding in Somerville in 2026?, What Do Replacement Windows Cost in Bridgewater in 2026?, What Does a Composite Deck Cost in Basking Ridge in 2026? and How Much Does New Siding Cost in Basking Ridge in 2026?. Further reading: Built to Gather, City Lifestyle’s October 2026 feature on Magnolia Home Remodeling Group.
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