Building your own home from the ground up can be an exciting and daunting task. Besides the builder of your foundation, the framing contractor is the next most important person you will need to hire to ensure a solid structure. eieihome spoke to Integrity Contracting, who provides a comprehensive range of services, from framing and architectural design, to tiling and carpentry. Their framing package is delivered by the experienced owner of the company, Daniel Vaqueiro. “While we provide a consultation, you should also know the most important questions to ask when hiring a framing contractor,” he says. Vaqueiro provided the following list of questions to ask before securing your framing contractor;
- Is the contractor licensed and insured?
Protect yourself and your investment. Make sure your contractor is licensed and accredited by a reputable organization. Check that they are insured to reduce your liability factor in the event of an injury. - How long have they been in business?
Verify their experience. Framing can be learned hands-on, but ensure your contractor has sufficient formal training along with the skills required to get the job done right. - Can they show you past projects they’ve completed?
If they cannot, or are unwilling to provide references, this could be a sign that you need to find more trustworthy contractor. - Can they provide you with a fixed start and completion date?
Having a timeline is important. Experienced framing contractors will give you an estimate of how much time they will need to complete the job. - Will they be working independently or subcontracting?
Ask who will be doing the work and if there will be a reliable supervisor on site. Integrity Contracting ensures a skilled and efficient build team, using only trusted colleagues as subcontractors. - Can you get everything in writing?
Get an itemized estimate for your entire project; materials, cost of labor, and all other costs included. Compare estimates, which are always provided in writing by a trustworthy and professional contractor.
Use these questions to your advantage and you will be more likely to find a solid framing contractor to get the job done right. Integrity Contracting can be found at www.integrityhomeadditions.com or at EiEiHome, along with all kinds of home service professionals for your new build or home improvement projects.
