Six Questions To Ask Any Patio Builder in Sydney

When you’re looking to install a patio in your home, there are a few questions you need to ask your prospective builder before they get to work.

It’s important to be working with someone trustworthy and experienced so that your patio project runs smoothly and your new outdoor living space looks great for years to come.

Are you licenced?

This should be the first question you ask a prospective patio builder. Once you confirm that they are licenced, ask for their licence number.

Of course, we don’t like to think that anyone would feign being licenced in the hopes of building your patio, but being certain that they are licenced before they start will protect you in the long-run.

There are lots of reasons you need a patio builder working on your project who is appropriately qualified – you can read more about this here.

Do you have workers’ compensation insurance?

It’s not always something we think of (and hopefully isn’t something you’ll need to worry about!) but it’s important to make sure that your builder has workers’ compensation insurance. It’s also wise to request a Certificate of Currency so that this insurance can be validated as being legitimate and up-to-date.

If your builder does not have workers’ compensation insurance, you may be liable for any injuries that occur to the builder or any of their staff while on your property. While precautionary measures are taken by builders to ensure the safety of their workers, you never can be too careful.

If the builder you’re planning on working with does not have workers’ compensation insurance, we strongly recommend looking for one that does. This will give you the peace of mind you deserve, for the duration of your patio build.

Do you have building insurance?

This is another question that you must ask before choosing to work with a patio builder in Sydney, as it protects any existing buildings and building materials involved in your project.

It is integral that your chosen builder has building insurance. This will cover anything unforeseen that goes wrong onsite, including: damage to your patio build or to your property in general.

Be certain to confirm the validity of the insurance by requesting a Certificate of Currency prior to engaging the services of a builder.

How long have you been in the patio business?

As with many trades and industries, years of experience is a really good indicator of quality of service.

Builders who’ve been in the patio business for a long time have spent many years perfecting their craft, gathering knowledge and becoming well-versed in all the possible scenarios that can occur during a patio project – this includes being familiar with various local councils and their restrictions. Experienced builders have a strong grasp of what is and isn’t possible when it comes to council regulations, and are able to expedite the approval process as a result of understanding the rules and systems in play.

Additionally, when patio builders have been around the block, they’ve had time to develop strong relationships with material suppliers and build a team of loyal and experienced workers. This often means they’re able to price competitively as well as offer higher quality materials and labour.

Do you hire employees or subcontractors?

While subcontractors certainly have their place, they do present more risks when compared with having permanent employees. Subcontractors aren’t necessarily covered under your builder’s insurance, so it can be tricky to ensure that they have their own set of insurance, as well as being independently licenced and qualified.

A patio builder with a group of full-time staff usually indicates that they are larger and more experienced as a business. It also often means that these permanent employees are trained and upskilled regularly within their organisation, having a positive effect on the quality and consistency of work provided.

A builder hiring employees, rather than subcontractors, creates accountability and highlights a commitment to maintaining a strong team that consistently delivers good results.

What kind of warranties do you provide?

Ask your builder what kinds of warranties they offer on their work. How long are they for? Are there any exclusions or parameters that you should know about?

Find out the answers to these questions up-front. It will sometimes give you an idea of the quality of materials that are being used as well as the confidence that a builder has in their craftsmanship. If warranties are very limited (or non-existent) – beware.

Be curious and do your research before you decide to work with a builder. Compare your options and look out for any red flags around licencing, insurance and warranties.

Choosing a patio builder in Sydney might take a little while, so use that time to get to know the builders you might be interested in working with. You’ll be spending the duration of your patio project with them, so it’ll be helpful if you get along! Remember: there’s no such thing as a silly question.

Are you thinking about building a patio? Feel free to get in touch and ask us some of these questions! Contact us online today!