Are you thinking of hiring a concrete contractor for a project that you are planning to work on? This guide will provide the key questions that you need to remember to ask your contractor before you agree to hire them.
There are numerous jobs and projects that will require the expertise and support of a skilled concrete contractor. It’s important that you take care of this decision. The professional you choose to hire will have a direct impact on the quality of the project as well as the time it takes to complete the job!
To ensure that you do hire the right team, you should be asking a few key questions. Here we will go over the best questions to ask when you contact a concrete contractor for the first time.
How Long Will The Project Take?
You need to have a solid understanding of how long it is going to take to complete the project in question. Be aware that times are going to differ depending on the project that you are working on. For instance, if you are working on a small concrete project like a driveway, then work should be complete in no more than two weeks. However, it’s possible that you are hiring a contractor for a commercial project such as a new sidewalk. If that’s the case, then you should expect it to take considerably more time! Anywhere from two to three weeks would be the average for this type of project.
Are You Able To Provide References?
Ideally, you want to see photographs of previous work that a concrete contractor has completed for different clients. However, this might not always be possible. If that’s the case, then you should certainly ask for references.
References will provide with peace of mind that you are using a team that people have trusted and relied on in the past. Previous clients should be more than happy to take pride in the work that has been completed while a company will often be more than willing to list previous clients that they have worked with.
If there is no evidence of previous work at all, you should approach with caution. Remember, a concrete contractor should have at least five years of experience under their belt to prove that they are reliable.
Are Permits Required?
You should always make sure that you inquire whether any permits are necessary for the work that needs to be completed. Ideally, your concrete contractor should have a wealth of knowledge about the permits required.
They may even be able to handle permits for you. If a concrete contractor is unable to reference the permits required, this could be a sign that they do not have a lot of experience!
Will The Concrete Be Reinforced?
Another key question to consider is whether or not the concrete is going to be reinforced. Again, this is a smart way to assess the knowledge of the contractor.
The type of reinforcement differs depending on the usage of the concrete. If there is going to be additional pressure from cars, as will be the case with a driveway, rebar reinforcement may be required.
Will You Be Managing The Project Directly?
Outsourcing has become common in virtually every industry. You might find that you hire a concrete contractor only to discover that a completely separate team shows up on the day.
It’s understandable that a business may want to use subcontractors for various reasons. However, you should be wary of companies that plan to simply manage the services of another separate business.
The biggest problem with this is that you will have vetted the initial business but you may have no information about the second! This is the last thing you want as a home or business owner.
Your contractor should be able to provide a clear answer about who will be there on the day of the job, and what will be required. It is important that you understand who is in charge of the project and who you will need to speak to if things do go wrong in any way.
How Soon Can You Start?
As well as finding out how long a project is going to take, you should consider when a project is going to start. It’s possible that a concrete contractor does have a jam-packed schedule but others will be able to begin work on your project almost immediately.
You should be sure to inquire about turnaround time and check once more that a contractor is going to be able to work within your deadline. If a contractor provides a date to start work, they should also stick to this instead of stringing you along!
Is The Work Guaranteed In Writing?
Again, this is about make sure that you have full peace of mind for a project. You need to ensure that, if there are any issues, you are covered financially. Be sure that the contractor will agree to fix the issues as they present themselves!
Some businesses will provide an agreement like this in writing. Others will offer a verbal agreement which isn’t quite as iron clad.
Regardless, your contractor should have full details of their insurance coverage. You need to make sure that the coverage provided is relevant and applicable to your specific project. You should also be able to check coverage with the insurance company that they’re using.
You should also be able to guarantee that anyone working on your job has full safety training! They should be experienced in safe work practices and the company should have both liability insurance and workman’s compensation. This will cover you and the contractor for any accidents that could occur during the completion of your project!
Get In Touch Now
We hope this helps you understand some of the key questions to ask your concrete contractor before you hire them for a particular project. If you are already setting up a project please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
We have been in the business for years and we’ve worked on projects both large and small. We’re confident that we can provide the solution that you need. Contact US Concrete, Inc. with any questions you may have!