10 Questions to Ask when hiring a Masonry Contractor

Everyone who went through the struggle of finding a masonry contractor for some brick or stonework in their house understands the pain and countless decisions that come along with the work. Like many other areas involving skilled work, masonry also requires significant skill from the workman along with extensive experience to deliver according to the requirements of the client. It can be extremely easy to go with the first masonry contractor that comes in front of your eyes, but if you are adamant about getting the best results possible, then researching and selecting the best masonry contractor becomes extremely important. The degree of skills and the years of experience of all masonry contractors will vary, so it’s crucial that you do extensive research before hiring a contractor and handing him the power to make changes around your house.

The experts at Zero Defects with years of experience in delivering high-quality masonry services have listed down 10 things that you should inquire about from a masonry contractor before hiring him for the job.

Certifications

Certifications can come a long way in proving that the contractor is properly trained and certified to do the job that you are hiring him for. In every country, there will be some sort of certification or license to ensure proper safety procedures and quality of work.

Experience in terms of materials

In masonry, there are a wide variety of materials and techniques and not every mason will be able to work expertly with every material or technique. Hence, it is crucial to ask the contractor beforehand whether he will be able to work with the material of your choice.

Experience with cutting and laying patterns

Every client/homeowner’s requirement will be different and chances are that you would have some specific masonry design or pattern in mind involving different types of materials or cuts. Talk to your mason about the image of the work that you have in mind.

Timeframe

Agreeing or at least discussing the timeframe before hiring a contractor will help you get an idea of how long the project will last. Sometimes it happens that the contractor and the client do not discuss the time frame and the client hugely underestimate the duration of the project leading to disappointment and heated discussions with the contractor. It is always advisable to get an idea of the duration of the project beforehand, so that even if it can’t be completed within the stipulated time, at least you will have a general idea of how long it will take.

Preparations before the project starts

Some contractors will expect the homeowner to do some prep work before the project starts to accelerate the work. Ask your mason about it beforehand to keep communication clear and to facilitate quick completion of the project.

References

Never underestimate the importance of this step as it will give you the best estimate about the competence and sincerity of the contractor. Ask the contractor for references of previous clients and check his completed projects to determine whether he will do a satisfactory job or not. Also, talk with his previous clients to know whether he will deliver the work in a timely and professional manner.

Proof of Insurance

An Insured contractor is crucial to avoid any unforeseen disasters while he is working on your home. Ask to see the proof when it comes to insurance as it is very easy for anyone to lie about the status of their insurance.

Payment Schedule

For most homeowners, budget and payment are the central aspects of the whole project. So, it’s important to discuss the terms of payment beforehand with your contractor as every contractor has different expectations when it comes to payments. Some might ask for half the cost upfront to cover the cost of materials while the rest of the cost would have to be paid in installments. Don’t ever complete the payment in full until you are satisfied with the work.

Buying materials

Discuss without your contractor whether he will buy the materials required for the project or if it is your responsibility. Also, it’s important to consider that sometimes you will be able to procure the materials yourself at considerably cheaper rates than the contractor.

Clean-up

Unless you want to be stuck with cleaning the debris and residue from your house after the Mason has finished the project and left, you should put it in the contract that the cleanup process after the completion of the project will be the contractor’s responsibility.

For a full-range of solutions and cost-effective repairs, contact the Masonry Repair Experts in Toronto.

Get in touch with the team at Zero Defects today to schedule your no-obligation consultation or book your masonry project with us. Contact us to learn more or to Request a Free Estimate.