Eavestrough installation seems like it should be a pretty straightforward process: you do a little online research and find a company near you, then call and arrange for them to come and take care of the installation. Easy, right? Well, yes and no. If you’ve found a company with a reputation for quality work at affordable prices then the answer is “yes”. If on the other hand you found someone whose primary interest is getting 25% cash up front then the answer is probably “no”. So how to separate the trustworthy from the scam artists? In this post we’ll provide you with 6 questions that should help.
Ensure a Smooth Eavestrough Installation by Asking These Questions
When it comes to home improvement projects everyone wants a good price. Problems arise however when you get blinded by a great price and neglect to ask the following questions in order to find out if the prospective contractor is legit.
1) Can you provide references? – This is right up front because if they can’t provide references you shouldn’t even consider them. If they do supply you with names and numbers it’s important that you follow up by calling those folks and possibly taking a ride by their house to check out the quality of the work.
2) Are you licensed and insured? – Licensed contractors need to live up to certain standards. Unlicensed contractors get to make it up as they go. Whoever does your installation also needs to be able to prove they have robust liability coverage and that their employees are covered by workman’s comp in case of accident. No insurance, no deal.
3) What material choices do you offer? – If all they only offer 1 kind of eavestrough you may want to try someone else. Eavestroughs today come in a variety of materials including:
- a) Copper – The natural beauty of copper comes at a price. So beware.
- b) Vinyl – Vinyl is lightweight, easy to install, 100% corrosion-proof and inexpensive.
- c) Wood – For wood eavestroughs you’ll want a company that’s done it before.
- d) Galvanized – Galvanized was the industry standard before aluminum.
- e) Aluminum – Aluminum is durable, corrosion resistance and easily formed onsite.
4) Do you use nails or screws? – This is important for the long term viability of the eavestrough installation. Sometimes homeowners have to replace their eavestroughs not because they’ve worn out but because the nails the installer used pulled out over time and the eavestrough gave way. This won’t happen when the installer uses screws.
5) How do you handle damaged supports? – Sometimes when the old eavestroughs are removed damage to the underlying fascia is revealed; meaning attaching new eavestroughs to it won’t work. You’ll need to have this damage repaired first. A reputable company will be able to take care of it for you and give you some idea how much they charge for such a service.
6) How long will the job take? – The prospective company should be able to give you a clear idea how long the job will take them. While weather delays are always a possibility it shouldn’t impact the number of working days it will take to finish the job. Depending on the size of your home it should only take a few days.
Other things you’ll want to discuss with the contractor include clean-up, payment schedule and whether or not they offer a warranty on their eavestrough installation work.
When it’s time to replace the eavestroughs on your Milton, Oakville, Burlington or Toronto home call the pros at Alliance Trust Aluminum Inc. We’ve been creating satisfied customers right across the GTA for more than 6 years with our fair pricing and no hassle, no tricks eavestrough installation.