Starting a new DIY home project can be challenging and stressful, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the tricks of the trade. For this reason, many Australian homeowners reach out to highly skilled and experienced professional contractors to do the job.
However, not every service provider can properly install composite decking in Brisbane. Many homeowners have been blindsided by shoddy workmanship, unprofessionalism, incomplete installations, and hazardous setups from inferior contractors who prefer a hefty paycheck over 100% customer satisfaction.
Thorough research is the key to avoiding nightmarish scenarios and obtaining excellent value for your money when it comes to composite decking installation. This blog explains several time-tested strategies for selecting a highly qualified installer, empowering clients to make informed decisions and enjoy high-quality daily living.
Prioritise Careful Project Planning
Thoughtful, precise planning always pays dividends in the long run. Measuring composite deck dimensions, choosing between a ground-level or raised version, determining the appropriate ventilation and drainage, and considering other factors before meeting your contractor is half the battle won. Obtaining material supplier estimates and knowing the specific subframe for your decking or cladding will let you determine whether your contractor’s quotation is fair or not.
Get At Least Three Quotes
Choosing a composite decking installer doesn’t mean you have to put all of your eggs in just one basket. As trusted experts of composite decking in Sydney, we strongly recommend obtaining at least three quotes from various contractors to expand your options. This strategy ensures that you have a Plan B in case your primary options don’t materialise, providing you with peace of mind and reassurance.
Not all contractors provide quotations for small-scale jobs. Please remember that the cheapest estimate isn’t necessarily the best one for your composite decking. Some contractors provide customers with pricier quotations because the job requires more workers who can finish it in less time, which may be more advantageous for homeowners who require faster project timelines.
Establish Clear Expectations From the Outset
When hiring contractors for a composite decking installation project that will last more than two days, it’s crucial to establish clear expectations from the outset. This approach includes briefing them on property and facility access, daily schedules, and project timelines. Clearly stated objectives facilitate their work on your composite deck or cladding and ensure the project stays on track.
We strongly encourage homeowners to determine the payment schedule to ensure they’re satisfied with the arrangements. Please remember that few, if any, service providers ask for upfront payment. If your contractor requires one, it is a red flag that may prompt you to seek another installer. Vigilance against potential scams ensures a seamless project and peace of mind.
Ask for Referrals
You cannot embark on your composite decking installation journey alone. While doing extensive research pays enormous dividends, word of mouth ensures you will hire the best composite decking installer.
We recommend that homeowners reach out to family members or friends who previously enjoyed high-quality composite decking installation. Ask them about the contractor’s professionalism, efficiency, prices, punctuality, and other pertinent information. Your inner circle will happily recommend the best service provider who can exceed your expectations.
Review Your Contractor’s Portfolio
Reputable professional composite decking installers have extensive portfolios of their past work. They will upload photos of their best installations to their website for prospective customers to look at.
You don’t hire service providers for your composite deck or cladding haphazardly. In the same manner, you must analyse the portfolios of graphic designers, wedding photographers, website designers, architects, and video editors before hiring them. Otherwise, you may overlook their work quality and pay for substandard, sloppy work.
Ensure Trade Association Affiliation
Many Australian homeowners have fallen prey to unscrupulous fly-by-night contractors who offer low prices, require upfront payments, and then disappear without warning. This scenario is any homeowner’s worst nightmare. Fortunately, you can prevent it by ensuring your service provider has trade association affiliation.
These trade associations protect customers and provide for arbitration rights in the event of disputes related to composite installation. They also ensure that contractors remain up-to-date on safety standards and best practices, receive ongoing technical training and education, and collaborate with suppliers and high-quality product ranges.
The most prominent trade associations that support composite decking professionals include the Australian Deck & Handrail Association (ADHRA), Composites Australia, and the Trade Alliance Group. We highly recommend hiring composite decking contractors who are affiliated with these groups to ensure high-quality workmanship for your long-term peace of mind.
Never Deviate from the Brief
Setting clear expectations for your composite decking project ensures high-quality work that meets the agreed deadlines. However, constantly deviating from the brief will annoy contractors, set your project timeline back, and require numerous adjustments and additional costs.
Please state your project scope, material preferences, site conditions, budget, project timeline, compliance requirements, and client expectations in your brief. Better yet, ask your service provider during your initial meeting if you’ve covered everything so you don’t deviate from the brief midway through the composite decking or cladding project. You will enjoy a seamless endeavour if both parties are on the same page from the beginning.
No Upfront Payments
Shady contractors claim they need upfront payments to obtain the required materials and other project requirements. Unfortunately, they disappear immediately after they receive your hard-earned money. Please don’t fall for this trap, which will leave you with long-term regrets.
On the other hand, respected tradespeople have established records with suppliers and hardware stores that allow them to pay for the required supplies, tools, and materials later. Moreover, in-demand composite decking installers manage multiple tasks simultaneously with several clients, ensuring they have sufficient funds to cover the required expenses.
Busy Contractors Can Be A Good Thing
We understand that tedious waiting times for in-demand composite decking installers can be frustrating and stressful, especially when homeowners require fast turnarounds. However, these service providers typically manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously, so patience is essential.
Choosing a busy contractor can be beneficial because many clients appreciate their professionalism, efficiency, and workmanship. These composite decking installers adhere to best industry practices and safety procedures, showcase comprehensive portfolios, and enjoy an excellent reputation within the industry. You will appreciate these advantages once they are applied to your composite decking or cladding.
In contrast, some tradespeople who advertise their services frantically may be shoddy, low-quality contractors who are desperate for work and income. Doing thorough research and relying on word of mouth from your inner circle will help you avoid these unreliable composite decking installers.
Hire an Approved Ezy Decking Installer
Ezy Decking is the Gold Coast’s trusted composite decking installer. Our company has forged strong connections with reputable contractors who are members of the Ezy Decking Approved Installer Scheme. You can rest assured that we thoroughly review each candidate to ensure our clients enjoy long-term peace of mind and comfort.
Contact us today to learn more about our approved composite deck installers. Our staff will select a contractor in your vicinity who provides reliable and affordable composite decking installation solutions, along with premium workmanship, so that you can enjoy a high-quality living space.