Drainage contractors can save the day if you have water issues in your yard. They may also be necessary if you plan to build a new home or if you upgrade an existing lot.
Choosing the right contractor for your drainage solutions is essential to have the job done right and making sure it lasts.
Questions to Ask a Drainage Contractor
When you decide you need to have drainage work done at your home it’s vital to pick a competent company to do the work.
Asking the right questions of a contractor will help you make a better decision. Following are a few questions to ask:
- Are you licensed? – You need to pick a contractor that is licensed and bonded so that you are sure the people doing your work are competent. The contractor’s license number should be readily apparent on the website, correspondence, trucks and in other conspicuous places.
- Do you have full coverage when it comes to insurance? – The company will need to show you proof of insurance for liability and worker’s compensation. Don’t take their word for it. Ask to see the certificate or card and check up on them with a phone call to the insurance company. The contractor will be digging in your yard and there could be issues with utilities, trees and other items. You don’t want to be responsible for this!
- Do you itemize your bid? – Many firms prefer to give you a lump sum price for the entire project. You want to see what you are being charged for each part of the project. If you want to cut or add something you need to know how it will impact your cost. A contractor should not give you a hard time on this. They had to figure their cost line by line. It’s not any extra work. Be wary if they resist. They may be trying to hide something.
- Is your bid an estimate or a fixed price? – Often the cost of a job is just an estimate. Your final cost could be higher depending on the circumstances. Ask the contractor to give you a fixed price. If not ask why they can’t. If there are too many unknowns on your project you may have to ask the company to describe what they plan to do. If additional work is needed you can do a change order.
- Do you have references? – If the contractor is above board and good they will be more than happy to give you references to show off their work. Of course, most of the work drainage contractors do is underground but you can still inquire with the people who they did the work for.
Approximate Costs and Prices of Drainage Work
There is a wide variation in the cost of work done by drainage contractors. Giving specific figures is impossible due to the range of conditions at each home. Some of the factors affecting cost are:
- How much soil and rock the ground contains.
- Extent of what needs to be done.
- Type of equipment needed to do the job.
- Type of material used (PVC vs. metal; sand vs. gravel; etc.).
- Time frame you need the work done.
- Local codes and regulations.
- How landscaping will affect the work.
Be Diligent Before Hiring
Hiring drainage contractors is a serious matter. If you have water issues in your yard you want the job done right. Ask the correct questions, get a fair price from a good contractor and have peace of mind knowing that your drainage solutions will be solved.
