Looking to get a pergola or patio installed in your home? When looking for a patio or pergola builder there are many pointsyou should ask to make sure you are getting the best company for the job – no matter how big or small.
Six steps to getting a quality patio builder:
- Investigate if the builder has all the correct licenses.
- Get two or more references.
- Ask how long they have been in business organisation.
- Talk to a few different companies and get more than 1 price to compare the options.
- Find a patio supplier that will give you pricing for small jobs over the phone.
- Make sure you get an all-inclusive price so you know upfront the total bill.
Before you start contacting patio and pergola suppliers and companies do a bit of research first. Find people who have had some work done and ask them about their experience, the company they used and if they would hire them again. You can also try industry contacts like hardware stores, real estate agents and contractors. Try to get as many references and recommendations as possible and make sure you record the information and also the job type that was done. Was it commercial or residential? Steel or Timber?
3 Must Ask Questions to Any Patio Contractor 
Do they submit council applications and how long will this take?
Depending on your local council, this process may differ slightly, however the contractor should take care of this whole process for you. They should create the drawings, submit the paper work, liase with the council and be responsible for getting approval. From start to end this shouldn’t take much more than 4 weeks, although there are some exceptions. Make sure the contractor is experienced in this area and will do all the work for you.
Is the design process free and will they come to you?
A new patio or pergola can cost many thousands of dollars. It is a big task and can make a big difference to your house. To ensure you end up with what you actually want, the contractor needs to come to where you live to hear your plans, suggest their own ideas and draw up quote on exactly what you want. This includes some drawings of the final product to make sure you both understand each other. Ask the contractor questions about this and make sure they can provide all of this for free. If you don’t like what they offer you should be able to stop the process before you are committed to them – and you shouldn’t have to pay for anythign until you have signed a contract.
Where Do They Get Their Materials, What Guarantee Do They Provide and What Choices Do You Have?
Good quality materials will be recommended by good patio constructors, you probably don’t need the most expensive product, but don’t cheap out on this either. Make sure the builder can explicate the benefits of the materials they are recommending and ask for documentation of any maker’s guarantee info and product data.
In my experience some patio and pergola companies don’t really have your best interest in mind. They will quote cheap, cut corners, do a sub-standard job, are hard to work with and will quickly move on to the next sucker. I am sick of it and have create a report that you must read if you are looking to get a patio or pergola. Check it out for free at http://www.PergolaPatioPerth.com and get the insider secrets.