Thursday, December 6, 2018

Choosing A San Antonio Hardscape Contractor

By Jennifer Wallace


During summer or spring, people organize parties outdoors while others take most meals like breakfast outside. Your outdoor room or space must, therefore, be safe and aesthetically appealing. Elements of the landscape like the spa, paving stones, decks and walls must be repaired or installed by someone who is knowledgeable. The following is a guide on how to choose a San Antonio Hardscape Contractor.

First, start by finding people who are certified or have hardscape certification. A landscaper who specializes in things that grow like flowers, grass, and plants cannot handle a paving project or patio because they are in different areas. A contractor will require additional training to provide such services. Therefore, when hiring apart from looking at the landscaping documents of a contractor, request for a certificate to proving extra training in this industry.

Similarly, get proof of insurance from the company. One must get proof or evidence from potential candidates that they are covered against all mishaps. Things like accidents, errors, and damages can cost you a lot financially. You will be forced to compensate those that are injured or foot hospital bills and pay for repairs. Rather than hoping no mishaps will occur, pick people with liability and staff compensation insurance for protection.

Good communication is also an important thing to consider. You want your patio tailored or made according to your specifications. This can happen only if you are in constant communication with the contractor so that adjustments can be made where necessary and you also get responses to some of your questions regarding the project. In your initial meetings, make sure you check their customer services and if they have a good communication system.

During the search, if anyone asks for a deposit more than 25 percent of all the project costs, it is the rule of the thumb to steer clear from them since it might be a scam or they might not finish the project or even delay it due to a financial crisis. Reputable and financially stable companies will ask for fair deposits because they can fund the rest of your project.

Additionally, request pictures showing previous jobs of the contractor you want to hire. Certification, insurance, and deposit are not enough to measure the performance of hardscape contractors. The best way to measure performance is by going through images of their past work. If you want a patio, ask for images of projects like those they have completed. It will be easy to get new ideas of the project or know what to expect from the contractor.

Another step after finding the right companies is checking those among them that offer a warranty. Even though you have seen good images of some previous jobs, it is good that they be willing to stand behind their work. Workmanship errors and the use of faulty materials are common and instead of carrying the burden of repairs that come later, with a warranty, the contractor will offer free repairs.

In conclusion, ask for a written agreement. Trusting verbal agreement can put you in much trouble later since it can be easy to change the terms. Ensure insurance, cost estimate and timeline are put down on a piece of paper and signed by the parties involved. After, trust your gut to make the right decision.




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