Reliable contractor for your outdoor project with Azenco pergola

How to Choose A Contractor for Your Outdoor Living Project

Last Updated on August 23, 2023

Knowing how to choose a contractor for your pergola, carport or pool enclosure project can often seem like a daunting task. Building code requirements, industry lingo, and simply knowing what you should be asking of a prospective contractor can be overwhelming. Well, here’s a brief primer to help you understand the process and, hopefully, be more comfortable as you find the installation superstar that you and your project deserve.

Table of Contents

How to Find a Pergola Contractor Near Me?

Before you choose the right contractor for your outdoor living project, you’ll need to actually find the local contractors that service your area. Often, homeowners turn to simple internet searches to find contractors in the area, but those search results alone are not usually sufficient. Top search results are often based on proximity of their offices to your home, which does not necessarily mean they will be the best or right contractor for you. Instead, use this early search for contractors as a first step in your vetting process by getting a referral.

Where do you find referrals for contractors, you ask? There are several ways to start your search off on the right foot, including:

Ask family and friends

 Tried and true, referrals from people you know and trust are always a great place to start. Ask family and friends who have hired contractors recently if they can make a suggestion. Family and friends will also be able to give you an unbiased review of the work their referral has done in the past, and you can visit their homes to see the work first hand. A pergola contractor is a true specialty niche in the construction sector, so if you do not find a direct referral, family might be able to suggest tangential contractors (landscape architects, stone masons, pool contractors, etc.) that can then refer a company with the skill set you need.

Ask the neighborhood

Another way to find contractors that work locally is to ask your neighbors. While this might be as simple as knocking on a neighbor’s door, local referrals are also readily available in online community forums, localized Facebook Groups, etc. If you live in a Homeowners Association (HOA), the association might also have a list of recommended or pre-approved contractors from which you can start. Without the familial referral, it is always best to properly vet contractors that you find through any online search tactics. We’ll discuss vetting shortly.

Online Referral Services

In the last few years there has been an explosion of online referral services where you can find local contractors, peruse the first-hand accounts of past customers, etc. Sites like Angi, HomeAdviser, and Thumbtack will offer up a list of local contractors, but be aware that to access the full breadth of these sites, you may encounter subscription fees. As an alternative to these services, you can use online review sites like Google Reviews to seek out local contractors as well.
Manufacturer-Approved Dealers – If your home renovation project includes particular manufactured products, like specialty kitchen equipment, overhead doors or, in this case a modern aluminum pergola, then the manufacturers of those products might be able to recommend local dealers that specialize in their products. This is the case for anyone looking to add a luxurious custom Azenco pergola to their home. We have recruited, and trained, qualified pergola contractors throughout the country to which we can refer prospective customers.

Respect Their Time and Expect the Same

Finding the right contractor for your outdoor living project will take some time, both yours and theirs. Remember that contractor is taking their valuable time to meet and develop initial project proposals. You can streamline their proposal process by having done some research and bringing some sense of the outdoor structure you would like to build to the first meeting. Scheduling that consultation when all household decision-makers can attend will also ensure you and your contractor are on the same page for the project. At the same time, if the prospective contractor does not show up when they say or fails to respect your valuable time, it’s likely a sign of trouble down the road.

Contractor for outdoor project: estimate

Always Start With a Local Expert

Most outdoor living space projects are going to necessitate multiple levels of local permitting. Working with a qualified local contractor skilled in navigating the local regulations will save you a lot of time, and probably money. It is also important to choose a contractor with extensive experience building pergolas and other outdoor structures. They will have the knowledge to help you decide whether a standalone pergola is best or if it should be attached to your home, whether a fixed-roof pergola is ideal for you or an adjustable louvered roof. Azenco has cultivated a nationwide network of qualified dealers who we’ve trained to properly install our products.

What Information Should a Quote Include?

The quote is the first step in your analysis. While this is not the final contract pricing, it should still provide a comprehensive overview of all project costs. When building an outdoor structure like a pergola, the term “quote” doesn’t really convey the breadth of detail that will show up in your contractor’s project proposal. The proposal will include a detailed scope of work based on the design considerations you and they have previously discussed. Make sure the proposal includes all necessary fees, and confirm any that are not included in the bottom-line quote. A qualified, experienced contractor with knowledge of your local regulations should be able to pretty-accurately anticipate much of the upcoming requirements for your project such as:

  • the hard cost of the pergola itself
  • engineering costs
  • foundation and footing requirements
  • pergola permit fees
  • electrical permitting needs
  • design fees
  • installation costs, etc.

Check To Make Sure the Contractor Is Licensed and Insured

At this initial proposal phase, it’s also a smart idea to check the contractor’s license and insurance status.

All contractors are required to hold a state-issued license. A qualified contractor will volunteer a copy of their license for your inspection. It’s also a good idea to ensure the contractor is properly insured. You should request documentation for their general liability insurance, which protects you in case they damage your home. Also, confirm they hold workers’ compensation insurance in case their workers are injured on the job.

how to choose a contractor: Licensed, Bonded, Insured

As you interview contractors, pay attention to how they work with you, especially how they communicate about the modern pergola project, and that they are respectful of your time. The initial sales process can be an indicator of how that contractor will work with you throughout the project, which can often take up to six months. If the prospective contractor fails to show up for a meeting, fails to provide price quotes timely, etc., those are all red flags that could portend trouble down the road.

There is certainly a lot of industry terminology that a good contractor will help you understand along the way. You can likely streamline the proposal process by learning some of the lingo too. A good contractor will have the ability to present their work in laymen’s terms so you are both understanding each other, and are creating a shared expectation for the project results.

Contractor communication skills for your pergola project

Check Out Their Previous Work

Reputable contractors will be eager to showcase their previous work. You should absolutely ask to see their photo gallery. Some may share pictures or videos, but the ideal contractor will invite you to visit the homes at which they have completed projects in the past. If you have the opportunity, ask their previous clients how it was to work with them, whether the project was completed on time and on budget, etc. You can also ask their advice on how to choose a contractor. Afterall, they were in your shoes not so long ago.

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How To Choose a Contractor: Check Reviews and References

Again, a qualified contractor will likely volunteer some references. If you haven’t been offered the opportunity to visit their projects already, you should make sure to take the opportunity to at least contact those past clients. When you speak with references, you’ll likely ask about how their experience was working with your prospective contractor, the quality of their work, timeliness in executing the project, etc. But, it’s also important to qualify the experience of the reference. Have they ever worked with other contractors, or was this their only experience? If they have, how did your prospective contractor compare to their other experiences? Lastly, online reviews can be a valuable reference point for a contractor’s past work. Make sure to source reviews from a quality source such as Google Reviews which works diligently to validate its reviewers.

Meet Their Team

Take the opportunity to meet the prospective contractor at their offices. While on-site consultations are necessary to make design and engineering decisions, an office session will allow you a chance to meet their team and see their operation. A contractor with a wholly-formed team around them will be able to streamline the entire process from design, to permitting, to installation. Ask if they have a project manager for your build and ask to meet them. In addition to your specific project manager, a qualified contractor will also have permitting coordinators to manage that process, and a logistical support team in the office. All this support will not only ensure your project is done efficiently, but properly, which will give you better confidence in the long-term warranty on their work.

contractor for your outdoor project

Obtain Multiple Bids and Compare

Always secure multiple bids on any home renovation project. Though, when reviewing the proposals, the bottom-line price is only one factor in your ultimate decision-making process. All the areas of analysis we have just reviewed need to be a factor when selecting the contractor that is right for you, and the cheapest options are not always the best option. Also, it’s important to compare like projects, materials, options, etc. from one pergola contractor to the next. There are a lot of variables which go into any pergola, carport or pool enclosure project which will affect the ultimate cost, but one thing that you should never sacrifice is quality – quality of the structure, or quality of the installer.

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