How to choose an installer

SunnysideInstallation

Builder_installer_Sunnyside

One of the more common questions we’re asked is: “Who should I get to install your product?”

A lot of people install our products themselves, especially the basic profiled polycarbonate. There are installation guides and tips on our website, as well as links to some other installation videos.

However, you may not be in a position to install. So now you’re in the process of finding someone who can.

With the current building boom, finding an installer (or even someone who will return your calls) can be difficult! Hopefully this guide will help point you in the right direction.

There are a range of people who can install our product. In fact, most of the following will have installed it at some stage:

  • Builders/carpenters
  • Roofers
  • Pergola builders
  • Landscapers
  • Fencing contractors
  • Handymen

The most suitable person will depend on a number of factors.

1. How big is the job?

Do you need the entire structure built first?
Will it require council consent?
Is it just a matter of replacing the old sheets?
At what height will the installer be working?
Are there other related jobs that need to be done?

If it’s a large job, and requires consent, often smaller handymen might not want to do this. Whereas roofing companies or small to medium building contractors will have the expertise to deal with council and ensure all safety procedures (such as scaffolding etc.) are followed.

If it’s a small job, it will be difficult to find a roofer or larger building company to even look at it. When there’s plenty of work (which there always is for good contractors), they would rather spend their time on a larger job. It’s easier for them to deal with fewer clients and higher value jobs.

So for smaller jobs, look for local handymen or small building companies (with 1-2 builders).

For larger jobs, look at roofers, or small to medium sized building companies.

If there are other jobs such as landscaping, fences, decks etc. then look for people who can do those first. They may be willing and able to install a few sheets of roofing as well.

2. Will they do a good job?

This can be hard to tell. A key question to ask is whether they have installed it before. Some of our products, such as Twinwall, are a little trickier than standard corrugate roofing. It helps a lot if people are familiar with installation beforehand.

Do they have any previous projects that you can have a look at, either in person or on photos?

What are their referrals like? Word of mouth can also be a great way to find someone. Plenty of people have clear roofing on their houses. Chances are you know one or two that do, and they may be able to recommend someone.

3. What are they going to charge?

If it’s a small job (a few sheets), most companies won’t come out and provide a quote, it is not worth their time. However, a local handyman may be able to swing by and take a look.

Try and get a couple of quotes. But again, if it’s a small job, it may be difficult to get anyone to quote on it. In this case, you may just have to pay someone an hourly rate, as long as you’re confident that they will do it in a time that’s realistic and fair.

If it’s a larger job, including consents etc. then you will definitely want a quote or estimate before accepting.

Below is a very rough estimate (depending on a lot of factors) based on a typical install:

6 sheets of 3.6m corrugate (cost not included in the estimate)
Installed on an existing structure with no other building work required
Easy access to structure
No cutting of sheets required
No gutters or flashings installed

This would usually take 1-2 hours plus planning and travel time. So it may cost anywhere between $100-$300

If they need to remove existing sheets then you can add $50-$100 for that

I hope that helps.

If you do have any questions, or would like to get a second opinion on a quote that you’ve received, feel free to get in touch!

Kurt and the Sunnyside team.