Are you planning on erecting a fence around your residential property? In this article, we will discuss the important questions you must ask your fencing company in Toronto before hiring them. Hire the wrong fencing contractor and you may be setting yourself up for disputes and costs you can’t recover.
Perhaps the first question to ask should be to yourself:
Should I do it myself?
The common advice is to let a professional fencing company do it. You will probably be OK repairing a broken part of the fence on your own. But putting up the fence from scratch involves a lot of technical work.
There are also by-laws to satisfy. After all, is considered, there is just so much to stay on top of, which can be costly to rectify if mistakes are made. Hire a properly licensed fencing company, of which there are many in Toronto.
The following are questions you should ask your shortlisted fencing contractors:
Do you have experience with this type of fence?
The type of fence you want to install should guide your choice of Toronto fencing company. It is important that the company has experience with that type of fence. It’s even better if the fencing company specializes in that type of fence.
Different fencing materials require people with specific skills, like woodworkers for wood fences and welders for chain link fences. A good idea is to also ask the fencing contractor what type of fence they would recommend for your property. Ask why they recommend that specific fence/material. The answers should help you decide if this is a company that knows what it’s doing.
What fencing by-laws apply in my neighborhood?
Good fencing contractors must know what by-laws apply in the areas they service. Ask your prospective fencing company if there are any by-laws that place restrictions on the type of fence you need installed. If a permit is required, ask if the fencing company will pull the permits or whether you have to do this yourself.
Do you have a portfolio of completed residential fencing projects?
Yes, even the big, established fencing contractors in Toronto started with that one client that took a chance on them. But you’re the one who will be saddled with the added bill in corrections should the work not be done to the expected standards. You shouldn’t be the one to pay for their experience.
Ask the fencing contractor to show you a portfolio of projects they have successfully delivered in the last few months. Ask specifically to check the work they have done recently as this will give you an idea of how busy they are. The better fencing companies will be the busier ones. It helps to look them up online and check reviews by former clients on sites like the Better Business Bureau.
Do you offer warranty protection?
Any fencing contractor worthy of any consideration must be prepared to stand behind their work. The very minimum they can do is to guarantee their services. As part of this, research the company to see how long they have been in business and what their record honoring warranties is like. If the company is not prepared to guarantee their services, move on to the next one on your shortlist.
There are other important questions you should ask the fencing company. You will ask if they will provide an itemized quote and invoice, whether they will sub-contract any of the work, and if they have service liability and worker insurance.
Lastly, if the answers to all these questions have been satisfactory, ask for their website and physical office addresses. If possible, go and sign the contract from their office and be satisfied that the setup there is professional.
Jay Fencing is an awarded, highly experienced fencing company serving clients in Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto and the GTA. We design and build fences, decks, gates, gazebos, pergolas, and other residential and commercial installations. Contact us with your requirements.