10 Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Stone Fabricator
Did you know that homeowners lose millions per annum by hiring the wrong stone fabricator?
That amount is even higher for restaurant and hotel owners.
As well as money, hiring an inexperienced stone fabrication company can lead to a loss of valuable time.
Time is money!
Do you want to save your money and time?
Read this article to find out the things you need to consider before hiring a stone fabrication company.
Stone fabricators have become incredibly popular in recent times. Homeowners and business owners are hiring stone fabricators to make stone walls, roof slabs, kitchen countertops, bathroom worktops and more, out of Marble, Granite, and/or Quartz.
Whether your design or construction aspirations are small or large, rest assured an experienced stone fabricator would get the job done. Stone fabricators spend years learning their craft and are able to create masterpieces out of a variety of materials such as quartz, marble, and granite.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s take a look at what you need to know about stone fabricators before you hire one.
10. Make Sure They Are Expert Stone Fabricators
One of the most important things that you need to know before hiring a stone fabricator is ensuring that they are experts. Stone fabrication is a remarkable investment. You can’t hire newbies and act as a guinea pig in their experiment. When you hire a professional, you get years of valuable experience in return for your investment.
An experienced stone fabricator has a wealth of knowledge and experience which they can contribute to your property. Hence, you need to be willing to listen and take advantage of their opinion. By allowing the fabricator to provide you with professional suggestions, you can expect the best outcome.
9. Have a Flexible Timeline
Another important point you need to know is that stone fabricators need to procure several items before starting on your project. Initially, a timeline would be established, however it is crucial that you are flexible. It is not possible to know the exact timeline as issues that you might have never even thought of can easily arise. Hence, it is best to have a flexible timeline. Variations in the timeline are likely, which is why you should be prepared for the project to take longer than anticipated. Creating the perfect kitchen countertop or anything else out of stone is a lengthy process. Give the stone fabricator enough time to get the job done in the best way possible.
8. Discuss the Budget Beforehand
Getting a price quote for your project helps you understand the size of investment you are going to make. Most stone fabricators are able to provide efficient price quotes based on their years of work experience. Hiring a stone fabricator can be costly. To avoid any delays later on, talk about the budgetary requirements in the beginning. Let the expert know what your constraints are and to work within them. Be clear about how the work should be done and how you would make the payment. Keeping realistic expectations would ensure that you do not waste time arguing about things popping up.
7. Verify that the Fabricator is Insured
Before you hire a stone fabricator, it is crucial that you find out if they are insured. A professional should provide you with details of their insurance policy. Do not just accept the policy details. Instead, contact the insurance company to ensure that the policy is valid. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, you would be unable to make a claim. It’s better be safe than sorry!
6. Seek References
When it comes to hiring a stone fabricator, it is in your best interest to ask around for references. As you would be working closely with the professional, you need to hire someone whom you can trust. You should feel comfortable around them and they should understand your needs. Getting recommendations before hiring someone will allow you to hire the perfect person for the job. Word of mouth recommendations go a long way in helping you choose the right service. You should always look for online reviews, which normally provide a good idea of the service quality.
5. Sometimes a Team Will Be Required
Stone fabrication is not always a job for an individual. Sometimes, a team will be required to complete the project. Additional minds and hands may need to be hired to complete the work. Thus, you should be prepared to spend some extra money, should such situation arise. You should enquire about this with your contractor beforehand to have a good understanding of work requirements and scope.
4. Should be a Licensed Professional
According to law, stone fabricators need to have a license. This is why you need to ask the stone fabricator about their licensing before you hire them. You should only hire a stone fabricator if they have a valid license. Otherwise, you could end up facing monetary losses, as well as the loss of your valuable time. There is no need for you to take a risk by hiring someone who does not have a license. Since stonework requires a great deal of training and experience, you cannot just hire anyone. Inquire about the licensing beforehand.
3. Meet with the Stone Fabricator In-Person and Ask for Samples
Once you have narrowed down all of your options, it is time that you meet with the stone fabricators. Visit their workshop, and ask them any questions you may have about your project. Only an expert would be able to answer all your questions, so it is a good way to test the waters. Inquire about the machinery, insurance, and their portfolio. Learn more about their service and evaluate whether they are a good fit for you.
2. Create an Efficient Line of Communication
Before signing the contract with a stone fabricator, you need to make sure that a clear line of communication is established. It is integral to the success of the project. Let the professional know that you need to be updated about the project regularly to make sure that it stays on track, although too much interference should be avoided, as it could delay the project and increase costs.
1. Should be Dedicated Professionals
A best stone fabricator is one who is dedicated to their work. Since the professional should be business-oriented, you must make sure that they are committed to getting the job done. Provide all the details about the work required so that the professional can help create a masterpiece. Ask about their history, their approach, and see if what they tell you fits your needs.
Seems like a lot of work, right? We know how much effort it requires to find a stone fabricator that suits your needs.
Why go through all the trouble?
Pena Marble UK is a licensed and insured stone fabrication business that operates in London and Essex. We have a diverse portfolio, including work projects in the restaurant & hotel industry, as well as serving homeowners for over 2 decades. We follow the industry standards and best practices in our stone fabrication service.
Call us today for any queries, or get a quote for your project.
