Do you have mason work that you need completed by a professional? Hiring a masonry contractor in St. Paul shouldn’t be a hassle. Here are some tips and tricks to ensuring that you hire the right contractor for the job!
1. Get References
The masonry contractor you hire should be trustworthy and reliable. When you choose to work with a professional, they should always be able to provide you with references attesting to their skill and professionalism. If they refuse to provide you with references, that could be a sign that they’ve left previous customers unsatisfied with their work and should be a red flag!
If you aren’t quite ready to contact a contractor to ask for references just yet, check out their testimonials. Good reviews from past customers can give you an idea of what to expect, even just for your initial contact with the contractor.
2. Ask Questions
When it’s time to have masonry work done, make sure you ask all of the questions you’re thinking. Presumably, you’re not an expert in masonry personally, and that’s why you are hiring a professional. No professional worth hiring will mind if you have a variety of questions about the job!
If you’re not sure where to start with asking questions, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Who will be managing the project?
- Do you hire subcontractors?
- Do you have insurance?
- Will you match my brick?
- Do you specialize in any kinds of masonry?
- How long have you worked in the area?
- Do you offer guarantees or warranties?
- Will you clean up once the project is complete?
All of these are good questions to ask, as they can be imperative down the line. You may be able to find answers to some of these questions on a masonry contractor’s website – so feel free to do some background research on them before contacting them!
3. Don’t Pick Solely by Price
If you’re getting multiple bids for a job, it may be tempting to go with the lowest offer – but that’s not always a sound strategy. When a contractor offers you a much lower offer than other bids, be sure to ask questions. While it may be tempting to accept the offer without digging a little deeper, you should always ensure that you are hiring a professional who won’t cut corners on your job.
4. Get a Timeline
Before your masonry contractor of choice begins work, always make sure that you have an estimate for how long the job will take. This allows you to manage expectations about the work while also setting the bar for a reasonable amount of time for the project to be completed. If a contractor can’t get you an estimate or set a timeline, that’s a red flag and you should consider working with someone else.
5. Have Everything in Writing
When you’ve decided on a contractor to hire for your mason work, make sure that you are given a written contract with details about your job. Each contract should contain:
- The original bid
- Itemized cost of materials and labor
- Timeline or estimated completion date
- Payment options
These are critical items to have included in a contract, and a professional, experienced contractor should have no issues providing you with this information.
When it’s time to hire a masonry contractor in St. Paul and the surrounding Twin Cities area, it’s important to hire a professional that you can trust. Call Wohlwend Concrete at 651-426-2610 or contact us to learn how we can help you get the mason work of your dreams!