Six Questions Every Customer Should Ask their Gate or Fencing Contractor

For the majority of people their home is their biggest single investment. Therefore, choosing the right company and trades to complete work on your property is important.

Fencing and gates are key to the curb appeal of your home. They are usually one of the first features people see, so you want them to be attractive, as well as functional.

But finding a reliable gate or fencing contractor isn’t always easy. In order to make an informed decision when choosing a contractor, there is some crucial information you need to be armed with. We’ve put together a few key questions you should ask.

One: How long you have been in business?

An extensive history of quality fencing work is a strong indicator of a trustworthy company employing experienced tradespersons. Years of service excellence will naturally attract the most capable workers who understand every facet of the business and take pride in a job well done.

Unfortunately, the construction industry usually has a number of rogue operators, who come and go. But quality operators tend to stand the test of time.

Two: Can you show me examples of your work?

Custom Design Hand Rail and Fencing

Viewing completed work is often the best way to determine what your job will look like when completed. This will allow you to see the quality of the fabrication and installation.  A reputable fencing company will be more than happy to provide you addresses of premises where you can see examples of their work.

An alternative is to visit the company’s workshop and see where their fencing and gates are made. This will allow you to observe the quality of the workmanship first-hand. It will also verify that the fencing and gates were made in Australia, following a quality control method.

Three: Is the company fully insured?

All reputable contractors will be fully insured. If a fencing company does not have insurance, it’s an immediate red flag.

Don’t hesitate to ask any contractor to see their certificate of currency for their public liability and indemnity insurance, as well as their workers compensation coverage.

Four: Do you provide a warranty on your products?

Whenever a company offers a warranty, it is a strong indication of a quality product and service. All reputable fencing and gate contractors will offer a warranty on both materials used and installation completed.

At Fencemakers, we offer a 15-year workmanship warranty on all products.

Five: Why will the fencing or gates made by your company last longer?

This is an extremely open-ended question, however the fencing or gate contractor’s answer will indicate how much they know about their product. It will also demonstrate how professional the operator is and provide you the relevant information you require to determine the quality of the product.

For instance, if you asked Fencemakers this question, we would mention the following points:

• All our fencing and gates are custom-made at our Malaga factory by trade certified fabricators.
• Our employees follow a strict quality control process.
• We use only the highest-grade materials and components.
• We only use Australian-made, pre-galvanised steel.
• All welds are stainless steel and rust-proof.
• All fencing and gates go through a three stage pre-treatment process before powder-coating. This pre-treatment process is regarded as the optimum process and will ensure maximum longevity of the coating.

Six: How long will the process take?

As with any construction project, the people in charge of your fencing project should provide you with an estimated time-frame for completion. They should also provide a rough schedule for the entire project. This information is crucial for your  planning.

When hiring any trade or contractor, you need to make an informed decision. And hiring a fencing or gate contractor is no different. Knowing what questions to ask will help to ensure you are comparing contractors on a like-for-like basis. While cost is a key factor, it is important to not simply compare providers based solely on price. Be sure to consider all factors listed above. This is will allow you to make an informed decision and give you greater bargaining power.

If you would like  more information about Fencemakers range of fencing or gates products, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can arrange for one of our specialists to come out for a free onsite measure and quote.