It has always been good practice to obtain at least 3 quotes for any work you need to have done. However the best quote is not necessarily always the cheapest. There are other factors that need to be compared before a realistic comparison can be made.
When comparing quotes, the expected quality, schedule and the overall costs need to be considered to gain a better overall understanding of the quotes that you have been presented with. The quotes should be broken down as follow:
Quality
Quality does not only refer to the quality of the physical works being completed. Quality is an all-encompassing concept that relates to every aspect of the work the contractor will be completing for you.
Time
What time frame is available to have the works completed? Some contractors never seem to get their projects completed, either due to shortages of staff, shortages of materials or re-works.
Cost The bottom line. When comparing quotes be sure to take note of the below in order to ensure that you are comparing apples with apples:
1. The company’s details
Who is the contractor that has quoted and are they known to your or your community? Personal references are a powerful indication of what you may expect from their ethics and service. Does the contractor have the expertise to complete the works successfully? We have often been called back to repair a “cheaper” quote.
Who are the staff that are employed, do they have sufficient training and how long have they been working for the contractor? Some fly by nights will have a different crew collected from the roadside for each new job. Also, check that the contractor is sufficiently insured and registered with a construction body such as the Institute for Timber Construction SA or Master Builders. Being a member of a professional body adds weight to the Guarantee on works that the contractor should supply upon completion of the project.
2. The scope of works
The quotes should each detail what work the contractor is planning to complete during the course of the project. Compare the different scope of works and note any differences or exclusions, a cheaper quote could have a number of exclusions that could negatively affect you later during the project.
3. Materials
What materials have been specified? Roof trusses should be designed by an approved roof truss designer and manufactured at a registered truss plant. Handmade trusses, unless detailed by a timber engineer, are not compliant with the SABS building codes. The risk that ‘back yard trusses’ pose are that they are often under designed and can result in deflection or failure. The only remedial to this occurrence would be a complete strip of the installed roof and installation of a completely new roof system which could easily double your costs. Treated roofing timbers and a woven underlay (not plastic) should be detailed. The roofing covering, be it roof sheets or roof tiles must be correctly specified to ensure the overall quality of your roof.
Re-works are costly. If you select purely on the cheapest price there is a good possibility you will end up paying significantly more than you would have if you had appointed the most expensive contractor to complete the works. Your job deserves the best materials installed at the best time at the best price.
GWR Roofing is a fully insured and audited ITC ‘category A’ roofing erector that installs, repairs and maintains a wide range of roof structures across the residential, industrial and commercial markets. Using only qualified leader-lead times on site to eliminate risk underpins our commitment to stringent health and safety standards.
