Investing in a hardscape for your property is one that will pay off in many ways. Hardscapes can increase property value, provide more opportunities for socialization, and give your family hours of fun and relaxation for years to come. Hardscapes can add joy and beauty to your life, creating an atmosphere of calm and serenity. Choosing a reliable, trustworthy hardscape contractor is essential when you’re making this kind of investment. But how do you know if you’re getting a quality company that will work with you to achieve your vision? Just follow these five guidelines, and you’ll end up with a great contractor who can make your dreams of the perfect hardscape a reality!
1. Ask the contractor what their vision of the project is. This might sound counterintuitive — shouldn’t the contractor go with what you want? The answer is yes, BUT a quality hardscape contractor will first survey your property and then be able to suggest different hardscape options that will enhance your property and provide the function you want. He or she will listen to your ideas and work with you. Avoid contractors who seem to be in a hurry, don’t take a careful look at your property, talk over you, or give you a quick opinion without hearing your thoughts. Do be open to suggestions from your contractor — a good one might even have a better idea than what you’d envisioned!
2. Ask the contractor for a copy of their insurance and certifications. A good hardscape contractor will carry all necessary insurance and certifications, including being a certified installer through the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. They’ll also be able to tell you if your hardscape requires permitting in your area and should be able to either file the permits for you or refer you to the proper government permitting office.
3. Ask the contractor what they anticipate the timeline of the project will be. And don’t assume that a contractor who can start the job in just a day or so is your best bet! Quality contractors are often in high demand, so having to wait a bit before they can begin on your project can be a good sign. However, the contractor should be able to provide you with a realistic start and finish date, and should then keep in touch with you to let you know if anything changes. Communication is key during a hardscape project, and if your contractor doesn’t communicate with you right away about timeline expectations, beware.
4. Ask the contractor for references. He or she should be able to provide you with more than one person who can speak to you about their experience. Good questions to ask former clients include whether the contractor communicated well throughout the project, how they kept the job site, how they handled any challenges that arose, the quality of work they did, if the client had any negative experiences during the project and if those were resolved. You can also research your contractor through your local Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, Yelp, and Google.
5. Ask the contractor to provide you with a written quote for the hardscape project. Be sure to get the quote in writing — no handshake agreements! The quote should include a detailed outline of the project as well as noting that any changes to the project will be agreed upon in writing before they are undertaken.
TPS is always happy to provide you with our credentials, references, written quotes, and a clear timeline! We are certified with the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, which is considered the leader in development and dissemination of technical information for design professionals and contractors. We have many happy customers who have loved the hardscapes we’ve built and installed for them! Call us to learn how we can work with you to create the hardscape you’ve always envisioned!