How to Narrow the Search for a Contractor
The previous articles would have at least given you the basics about pool decks-- its layout, materials, and safety precautions. Let’s say that I have turned on the paranoid in you, and yes, you are convinced that your current pool deck is not safe enough, or if you don’t have a pool just yet and would want a pool deck with the exact configurations I have described-- well then, great! You know what to do but the only problem is you don’t know how to do it. But no worries, here’s where a contractor comes in.
Thumbing through the yellow pages is easy enough. Choosing who to call would prove to be a challenge. You’ll see companies advertising how “good” and “experienced” they are. With a list of firms in front of us all claiming to be the best, we, consumers, tend to be more skeptical than convinced.
A good way to weed out the list is to consult with your friends, relatives and coworkers. Have any of them gotten a pool built before? Did they have a positive experience? Would they recommend the same contractor or would they vouch for someone else?
Your social network would at least give you 2-4 positive recommendations. Call these contractors to have a look at your yard and provide an estimate for the pool deck. After these recommendations, do a little more research on some of the remaining companies on the yellow pages. Half a dozen references would be ideal.
Check Contractor’s License
All contractors are issued licenses from the Contractors State License Board. Licenses are issued in numerical order. Meaning, the lower the license number the longer it has been around. Make sure to check when the license was issued, if the license is still active and able to contract, who the owners are and the other members of the firm.
After checking with the Contractors State License Board, you may have gotten rid of some shady contractors off your list. Once the other legit contractors are already at your residence doing their estimates, ask them questions like:
· Who will be supervising the job?
· Do you have references we can check with?
· Besides a well- built pool and deck, what other considerations should I check?
Remember that the more details they give you, the better.