Five Questions to Ask Your Toronto Commercial Contractor
Starting Toronto commercial construction projects in the city can be a very irritating process to any small business owner. On top of running your business you must coordinate with a commercial construction company regarding the future look or location of your business. The business that you created – your pride and joy! At the end of the day, the last thing you need is more headaches which is why we have a created a list of questions you should ask your potential commercial contractor before you say – Yes!
Background / Experience
What is the commercial contractors background and experience? How long have they been in operations? Do they have experience in the specific type of commercial construction you need?
- This is one of the most obvious questions you can ask, so don’t be shy about asking your contractor, how long they have been working in commercial construction.
- Everyone has different ways of working, however, you don’t want your project to be their first “real” job. You want someone who has experience as a commercial contractor in Toronto and can fix any issue that may arise.
- Choosing a Commercial Retail Contractor , if you’re looking for help with your retail renovation as you need specialized service if you need your retail space similar to other franchise locations in Toronto.
Insurance / Liability
Are they licensed? Do they have proof? Does the company have liability insurance?
- This is one of the most important questions you should ask your commercial contractor. Making sure your contractor is insured and licensed ensures that your chosen commercial contractors are knowledgable and able to do the work correctly.
- If your commercial contractor is uninsured, they should not be working on your property -period. Also, just because they are licensed does not mean they are insured.
- Never “take their word for it”. You may be a very trusting person but all it takes is one incident. For your personal protection make sure your Toronto commercial contractor is insured by requesting a copy of their insurance certificates and license.
Labour / Workers
3. Will they be hiring sub-contractors for this project?
- Most contractors do use sub-contractors to some extent. It is important for you to know how this will affect your overall project.
- It’s important that you know which workers will be at your business during the renovation. You should know who they are – if the contractor will be there and any details about the team working on your commercial site.
- Don’t hesitate to ask your contractor direct questions about who will be supervising the subcontractors on site and who you should call on a daily basis with any questions.
Building Permits
4. How many building permits have they obtained in this area in the last few years?
- Some general contractors may not be familiar with your area and the specific codes related to businesses in the Toronto area.
- While not a deal-breaker, it helps if your contractor is familiar with your local building code requirements and permitting process.
After Construction Support
5. What is there after service support?
- A commercial construction project usually does not end with the crew leaving the site. Ask the Contractor whether they have checklists that you’ll go over together before you sign off. And make sure some kind of process is in place for resolving any items you feel are not up to acceptable standards.
Cleanliness
What is the clean up going to be like on the job site?
- Are they going to clean up the site at the end of each day? You should both define what “clean up” means, because a contractor may have a very loose definition when compared with a homeowner.
- And make sure there is an understanding of dirty work that must go on during the job. For example, if mudding and sanding are required on drywall, there is no getting around that fact that there is going to be a great deal of dust created. The question is, are they going to be prepping the site properly so that dust does not blow throughout your entire retail space. Will they temporarily seal off vents and cover doorways to limit the exposure of areas of the home that are not a part of the work site?
GTA General Contractors is the #1 General Contracting Firm in the Toronto Area. We specialize in everything Commercial Construction. This includes Custom Retail Fixturing, Commercial Washrooms, Retail Renovations, Franchise Construction, Complete Project Management, and Design & Permit Assistance. Call Today to speak with one of our sales staff to find out how we can help you make your retail dreams into reality.
