In the United States, more than 90% of homes are framed using wood. However, with the saturation of framing contractors in the construction industry, it can be difficult to find one that can cater to your unique requirements, preferences, and needs. As framing forms the foundational basis of any house and is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of your residential property, it is vital that you do not take chances when it comes to finding the right contractor for the job, as this could affect the stability of your building in the long term. Therefore, we share five things you should look out for before hiring a framing contractor.
Testimonials and Reviews
There is no better way to understand a business’s service quality than hearing it from the horse’s mouth – customers. Fortunately, many customers and clients will choose to leave reviews or testimonials about their experience on Google and other review sites out of public interest. This provides you with a pretty accurate gauge of whether you should choose to continue pursuing your project with this particular contractor.
In most cases, if you are unsure where you should start, you can begin by speaking to friends and family who might have experience with home building and dealing with a framing contractor. You can even ask for their recommendations for any proficient contractors they may have worked with and that you should consider.
Certification and Licenses
Before approaching a framing contractor, you should take special note of the certifications, licenses, and qualifications they have. You should also check with your state’s regulatory website for any guidelines it has for contractors who specialize in framing. While most excellent and high-quality framers are more than qualified for the job and learn their skills with experience, the best ones in the field tend to go the extra mile to obtain qualifications and certifications to stay updated with the industry’s latest innovations.
Consult with the Contractor
The best way to understand what the contractor can do for you is to arrange a consultation with them to understand their approach to your project. Therefore, you should compile a shortlist of those you are looking to work with and contact them to see if their proposal would suit your needs.
You will also need to understand their working and operating processes, such as whether they will be designing and constructing the framing themselves or hiring an external contractor to perform certain aspects of the tasks. These are important considerations you should have to avoid as much miscommunication as possible.
Enquire About Their Insurance
Most framing businesses will have insurances to cover themselves in the event of any damages or financial loss. An opportune time to ask this question would be your first consultation with them. This would affect the extent of their liability and the amount they would be able to reimburse you if they have damaged your property or possessions when working on the framing of your property. In most cases, General Liability insurance is what they should have to compensate you if things go awry.
Get Multiple Quotations
When making decisions on your framing contractor, avoid rushing to accept the cheapest offer. The quotation provides a complete and comprehensive rundown of the products and services included in the costs. You should examine it carefully to see whether it would suit your budget. In most cases, more expensive quotations would usually include warranties, clean-ups, and additional services that may incur more costs. The quality and type of materials they use would also intrinsically affect the costs of their services. If you are unsure about any details, ask and clarify with the contractor and make an informed decision before signing any documents.
Your Best Choice for Framing
At US Framing, we consider your project preferences and requirements before advising you on the right type of building methods. We specialize in a variety of framing methods ranging from metal studs and industrial framing to cross-laminated timber (CLT) framing to be able to cater to a wide range of needs. We take pride in our versatility as a wood framing contractor as we can adapt our approaches to suit your projects.
For more information about the framing approaches we adopt in our construction practices, please do not hesitate to contact us today!
