Green construction is a field that requires an ample amount of experience and skills, not to mention the proper certification. You need to know who you’re hiring before you commit to paying them for their services.
This article will outline what’s important when looking for a greener construction company, like certifications and licenses as well as their past work history.
Construction companies should be able to present their work history as well as show examples of buildings they have worked on in the past.
1. Licenses And Certification
Having the proper certifications and licensing is a must-have when hiring any construction company. You don’t want to hire a construction company that doesn’t have the proper licensing because it shows they’re not qualified for this line of work.
Proper certification is necessary for construction, especially on big projects. A license in the field proves that they at least have some experience and knowledge of their work, and can show that they can follow the proper safety procedures while completing a task.
It’s possible that a company has done this line of work for years, but they are not licensed or certified. Licensing shows that your company is up-to-date with the current rules and regulations in construction. A successful company will have its licenses up to date.
There are numerous licenses and certifications available for green building projects and it is important to know what each one is used for and which one applies to your project. It’s also important to ask if the construction company you intend on hiring is the one actually doing the work, or if they’re hiring subcontractors to complete each of the smaller parts of a project.
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2. Past Work History
The easiest way to find out if a company is qualified for a job is to see what kind of work they’ve done in the past. When you’re trying to find a greener construction company, it’s always smart to look at their past projects and check what they’ve achieved.
It is important that you find the company’s website online and check out photos and performance data for their previous work. This will give you an idea of how your building might turn out once they’re done.
Remember, though, that it is also important not to base your judgment on only one project. If they have been in business for a while, they should be able to produce at least a few examples of their previous projects. If they claim they can deliver a more energy-efficient building, they should be able to prove that they’ve done so in the past.
3. References
Getting in touch with previous customers is essential when you are looking for a greener construction company. If they have experience in the kind of building you want, they should be able to give you some references.
References will let you know how their past clients felt about the company and whether or not they would hire them again. You can ask the company’s clients about how the company communicated with them throughout the process, what kind of company they are to work with, and whether or not there were any problems.
You can ask if they followed through on green building practices like minimizing waste, and if they clearly outlined their green policies.
It is important that you get in touch with at least three references. Three should be enough to give you an idea of who you’re going to be working with. You can also check out Google or specific websites that offer customer reviews. That can be really helpful since a lot of people these days are sharing their opinions online.
4. Payment Options
Construction is usually an expensive prospect, so it is important that you find out about the payment options before hiring any construction company.
The last thing you want to happen is to have unfinished work on your hands because there was confusion over when and how money would change hands. You must ask what kinds of payment options are available since they could range from making weekly or monthly payments, or paying after every project.
Make sure that the payments do not exceed what was initially agreed upon, and that any potential increase in project costs are communicated in full before the work is started.
Construction projects are expensive and require a lot of experience, both in the field as well as with specific licenses.
Hiring a green construction company is much like hiring any kind of company. Do your research on them, ask them to communicate what makes their company more sustainable and get some proof that they can deliver what they promise.
This article has outlined what to look for when hiring construction companies so that you don’t end up spending more than you expected.
Feature image: Mikael Blomkvist; Image 1: Emmanuel Ikwuegbu
