Top questions to ask your next contractor

 So you’re ready to break ground on your company’s new industrial site or perhaps you’re preparing for a major expansion of your commercial property. You have all the plans laid out in front of you. You know what you want, and what the company needs.

But have you asked all the questions? More importantly, have you asked all the right questions? A tremendous number of decisions go into making up a top design and construction project, so you want to ensure you have all the bases covered.

Before you give the green light for construction to begin, here are a few questions you may want to consider:

Are you needing design and engineering services, as well as construction services? Does this mean multiple contractors?

With such a large financial commitment going towards your construction project, you want to ensure you’re dealing with a company that can bring everything together seamlessly. Summit Steel Buildings has a diverse ability to provide and manage a comprehensive range of building products, engineering and construction services.

Have you agreed upon a realistic timeline/budget for the project?

Nothing is more frustrating than construction delays and going over budget. While construction projects may occasionally hit a snag for reasons beyond control of the contractors, having set benchmarks and milestone completion dates will allow you to ensure the project remains on track. Any future bumps in the road can then be quickly mitigated.

Can I ask questions along the way?

For sure. You should always feel comfortable in asking what’s being done and why. Summit Steel Buildings uses efficient engineering and design techniques to achieve your optimal design within your budget and allows a single point of contact to manage your building project. Being on a project from vision through completion gives us the understanding to explain what you want to know and provides you transparency of information and constant updates throughout the entire project.

Has the contractor done similar projects to what you want to do? What is their reputation?

You want to have the confidence your contractor is someone you can count on to get the job done right. Whether you’re a small business owner or are perhaps looking for an athletic facility or multi-story building, you want the relationship with your contractor to be as seamless as possible. Always check out previous work and ask for references. Speak to those who have used the services previously. For instance, Summit Steel Buildings completes buildings around the world and our clients stand firmly behind our work.

Will the contractors take care of all the appropriate permits for construction?

Permits are not only a necessity, but help protect you, your project and the community in which you are building by ensuring all building codes, zoning and other laws are followed. You should discuss this process ahead of signing contracts or breaking ground, as permit requirements and zoning bylaws are different for each community. Summit Steel Buildings are more than happy to assist our clients to ensure their structure meets all the necessary requirements before work begins.

What about the COVID-19 situation? How is that going to affect constriction, now and in the months to come?

Business closures, stay-at-home orders and construction sites being deemed ‘non-essential’ businesses have been affecting countless construction projects – contractors are doing their best in facing challenges. From material and labour shortages, to increased costs around safety protocols for workers, delays have been inevitable. You should expect your project to take longer than it would normally, and these setbacks can be built into your project timelines. Summit Steel Buildings has placed a strong emphasis on following government regulations and our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees. We will continue to work with our clients to ensure project completion can be met safely and securely in as timely of a manner as is possible.

About the author

Darren Sperling has specialized in the engineering and delivery of pre-engineered steel buildings for over 15 years and has experience in over 20 countries worldwide. He can be contacted at Summit Steel Buildings at (877) 417-8335 or by email at darren.sperling@summitsteelbuildings.com.