You’ve thought about building a new patio, a place where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view of your yard. However, you might have discovered your lack of skills or patience when it comes to installing a patio yourself. You’ll want to find a patio contractor who understands your needs and knows how to deliver a quality outdoor space you expect.
When hiring a patio contractor, it’s a good idea to ask the right questions to help ensure a successful outcome. Choosing the wrong contractor can lead to delays, higher costs and problems with the final result. If you want to save yourself time and a headache, ask these questions to weed out the unqualified contractors and find one that you can trust to do the job.
1. Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
Not only does having a license and insurance indicate a contractor’s experience and professionalism, but it also demonstrates the contractor’s diligence to follow city and state laws. Make sure the contractor has insurance; otherwise, you could end up paying for any damages that the contractor causes to your home or property.
2. Do you offer your services in writing?
Don’t just take the contractor’s word for it; get it in writing. A professional won’t hesitate to offer a contract and go through every detail with you from the beginning to the end.
3. What hours do you plan to work?
You’re hiring a screen enclosure contractor; the contractor isn’t hiring you. Make sure the work crew arrives and leaves your home at the same time each day. Ask ahead of time about the crew’s work schedule and when the workers plan to finish the job.
4. Can you give me an written estimate?
If a contractor can only offer you a price range, find a new contractor. An experienced contractor can provide a written estimate with a fixed cost for your patio installation after coming to your home and evaluating the job.
5. Do you have any references?
Ask the contractor for references of past clients or a portfolio to evaluate previous work. A qualified contractor not only has beautiful images to show but also testimonials to share from happy, satisfied customers.
These five questions can help you choose a qualified patio contractor for the job and make sure that it gets done right. A few side questions you can include in your conversation are:
- How will you help design the right patio space for me?
- How will you prepare the foundation?
- What are the steps involved in the installation?
- What can I do to prepare for the patio construction process? By the way, we wrote another article with the answer. Read: 6 Steps to Take Before Starting The Project
Installing a screened in patio is not a simple task, and it takes an experienced contractor to see the job through to completion and to deliver what you asked for. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible so that you know what’s going on and what you can expect from your new contractor.
