5 Questions To Ask Your Concrete Contractor Before A Project

Posted On Monday, 07 June 2021 19:58

Concrete is a material that’s frequently used in building walls, floors, roads, and more. Working with concrete by yourself can be challenging and time-consuming, so you should leave any concrete work to specialists. However, you have to make sure that the contractor you’re working with is skilled and experienced enough to handle concrete from its unmixed stage until the hard-finished foundation.

You need a concrete contractor if you’re planning to build a house or a commercial building. They also work on building or rebuilding sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. Since concrete serves as the foundation of buildings and houses, you must have enough knowledge on how to hire the best of all the concrete contractors you’ll find.

Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Concrete Contractor

If you have no prior experience in hiring a concrete contractor, here are some questions to ask before hiring one for your project:

1. ‘Do You Have A Website Or A Portfolio I Can Look At?’

Most companies and businesses have their website ready for potential clients, but in case the contractor you’re negotiating with doesn't have one, you can ask if they have a portfolio that you can check out. A website is convenient, however, as you can access it anytime to get a glimpse of how they run their business. It’s also a plus point if their website includes testimonials or reviews from previous clients.

A portfolio can help you determine if a contractor can meet your standards. By looking at the photos of projects they’ve completed in the past, you’ll have an idea of what style and approach they have when working on a project.

Concrete contractors who don’t have a website, a portfolio, or even a social media network might be a red flag. It’s probably better to find someone else who you can check their past works.

2. ‘Can You Give Me An Estimated Cost?’

Whenever you’re planning to build something, everything hinges on your budget. Most concrete contractors will ask you to pay an initial deposit or down payment first before starting the project. Before you pay anything, make sure that you have a clear idea of how much the entire project will cost, as well as the inclusions of their price.

Even if it’s a small residential project or a large commercial building you’re working on, a reputable concrete contractor won’t ask you to pay upfront for the whole cost of their services. If they do, it might be better to look for another contractor to deal with. This is to ensure that the project will be completed without any financial disputes.

3. ‘Does Your Services Include Obtaining Permits For The Project?’

Not all projects will require permits but most building and remodeling projects will do, especially if you’re essentially changing the structure of an existing building or house. Remember to ask the concrete contractor if they’ll be handling the process of obtaining the necessary permits or not.

They should know what kind of permits you’ll need, how to get them, and how much they’ll cost.

4. ‘Can You Give Me An Estimated Timeline For Completion?’

Of course, you need to know when the contractor can complete the project. A professional and skilled contractor must be able to give you a timeline, as well as what other factors or circumstances may affect their projected schedule.

Whether it’s remodeling or an entirely new home that you’re planning to work on, it’s best to have a clear timeframe. You should also ask other questions such as if the contractor has any existing projects that may affect the schedule or if there will be any changes in the future about the timeline, how are they going to address it?

Contractors shouldn’t too long when finishing small concrete projects. Building driveways, for instance, only requires maybe two to three days max. More extensive projects will take longer obviously, and you need to ask them clearly how long they will take to finish it, how many people will be working with them, and if the contractor will be personally handling the project or not.

5. ‘Does The Contract Offer Warranties And Guarantees?’

Any newly built project would look beautiful as the work concludes, but don’t forget to ask if their service comes with a warranty and guarantees. You need this assurance to protect yourself from poor-quality craftmanship and disputes.

A trustworthy contractor would provide a written and definitive description of their warranty. It should include what’s covered and for how long the warranty will remain effective. Ideally, you should look for a concrete contractor who can guarantee the quality of their work for at least 12–24 months.

Hiring The Best Concrete Contractor

It’s not difficult to find a professional and skilled concrete contractor for your project. As long as you know the right questions to ask, you’re a step closer to getting your dream project done as soon as possible.

Ask for the estimated price, their timeline for the project, look over their portfolios to check the quality of their work, and of course, make sure you’re given a guarantee that they’ll resolve any issue that you may encounter even after completing the contract.

Remember that this is your project and you’ll be paying their services up to the last penny. It’s only rightful to ask for every detail and to be assured that you’ll get the best quality that you deserve.

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