How to pick the right railings contractor for your Toronto area project

Whether you’re building a custom deck or interior staircase, neither project is complete without custom railings to match.

In order to get a finished product that’s aesthetically pleasing, long lasting, and affordable, you need to select the right contractor for the job. At ME Contracting, we’re Metropolitan Toronto’s number one company for custom railings;

Here are some things to consider when looking for a custom railings contractor in the greater Toronto area:

1. Make sure you have an idea of how much you can afford to spend on custom railings before the job starts, rather than letting the contractor run with the ball. If you know what you can spend, watch out for a hard sales pitch for features you don’t need but which a company may promote as a “must have.”
2. Never let a project begin without a signed contract, especially if money is going from your hand to the contractor’s. Get a contract that specifies the details, including building materials, the type of wood being used, and a timeline before turning over any money.
3. A reputable Toronto custom railings company will always offer a comprehensive warranty on workmanship, but if this isn’t mentioned in your first meeting, look somewhere else.
4. It’s important to get a list of references, the names and contact information of satisfied customers the builder has worked with in the past. Obviously, it’s a warning sign if the company won’t provide references.
5. Get the builder to describe the process they follow, including things like work being delayed by the weather, what happens to the work schedule if someone calls in sick, how your residence will be cleaned up when the job is done, and so forth.
6. Make sure the railings company is licensed and insured. This protects you from liability in the event someone is injured on the job. Otherwise, you would be responsible for medical bills, lost pay, or damages awarded through a law suit.
7. It’s always a good idea to talk to a railings contractor about payment milestones or incentives. For instance, this means you’ll pay the company x-dollars or x-percent of the total cost at certain intervals depending on how quickly a milestone is met.
8. Find out if the railings contractor belongs to professional affiliations or groups. This demonstrates the company keeps up with industry trends and has peers or professional associates to rely on for support and continuing learning opportunities.

Finally, building custom railings can sometimes be expensive, time consuming, and high pressure for all parties involved. With this kind of job, it’s not unusual for the contractor and homeowner to spend several hours together, so make sure you’re comfortable with the working relationship before the job starts. If you get a sense of personality differences, or disagreement on styles or other details that only you can decide, then it may be time to keep looking for the right contractor.

Stylish, functional, and affordable custom railings aren’t just for the covers of glossy home improvement magazines. At ME Contracting, we can help you arrive at a design that fits your needs and budget, so call us today for a complimentary in-home consultation.