How to choose a good microcement contractor?
When planning to remodel a house, you face a long list of worries, one of them is: how do I hire the right microcement contractor? You’ve surfed the Web, you’ve pinned photos on Pinterest and saved inspirations from Instagram, you’ve read technical data sheets, your interior designer did visualizations and you know for sure that you want to use microcement at home. You love its noble simplicity, seamless surface and the fact that it looks unique in every interior. The most difficult task is yet to come: find a professional who will execute your project.
It’s never easy to find a specialist, and it’s even harder in construction and interior decoration sector. The microcement is still a niche product and not every installer knows this material and has experience in working with it.
Today, we are giving you some tips on how to choose a good microcement contractor.
1. Compare each contractor’s portfolio
A good microcement contractor often boast of his projects on Instagram or Facebook. Of course, the pictures do not fully reflect the reality, they are often refined using filters, but you can see on them, how the microcement surface looks, whether the wall corners are nicely finished, whether there are any cracks or pierces underneath the joints or not. On the basis of the number of photos, you can also draw a conclusion, whether the installer has a lot of work (and thus experience) or not. It is worth asking the contractor if there is a possibility to see one of his works offline. Experienced and reliable contractors often have in their portfolio projects in public buildings, shopping centers, boutiques, cafes. Ask for the address and examine the site carefully. It may also happen that the contractor will invite you to your home, because he/she has his/her own microcement floor or a microcement wall. Such openness is also a good sign.
2. Check the materials and equipment used by the microcement contractor
The professional uses the highest quality materials. The professional knows that it is not profitable for him/her to risk cheap microcement or low-quality cheap sealer, because the possible complaint and repair is a double work (read about the most common mistakes when applying microcement). Ask on what materials the contractor is working with – he/she should not hide it, and if he/she does, it should raise a red flag. In addition, pay attention to the equipment the installer uses – clean floats, good quality paint rollers, branded grinders. Such equipment serves for many years and makes work more pleasant, easier and the final effect more accurate.
3. Ask questions
A good professional knows what he/she’s doing and she/he knows why she/he does it like that, and why, therefore – ask, ask, ask. You will pay a few-dozen thousand euro to a contractor, you have the right to make him a job interview!
Examples of questions that you can ask:
- how many years of experience in microcement business he/she has, what is his/her specialization (large / small surfaces, stairs, bathrooms, etc.)
- how many layers of microcement and how many layers of varnish he/she used to apply
- whether it is necessary to perform dilation on existing screed. If not, why?
- whether microcement can be made on any surface. If not, why?
- if you are planning a microcement on the tiles, ask how the contractor will prepare the substrate, whether he/she uses a mesh, an adhesion promoter, etc.
4. Compare prices
Call 2-3 contractors and compare prices. Remember that the price is influenced by many factors such as the level of complexity of work, type of floor, surface, etc. The highest price does not automatically mean the highest quality, but the price well below the average market price should arouse your suspicion.
5. Contact the producer and ask for a recommendations
Microcement producers work closely with contractors and can recommend a trusted team from a given region. The manufacturer wants the customer to be satisfied, so he will recommend only proven professionals. This arrangement is beneficial for all three parties: the customer will get a product and service of the highest quality, the contractor will earn money and will be recommended further, and the manufacturer will increase sales and confidence in his brand.
Final advice: Don’t make quick decisions. Do your research and take a well-informed selection of the installer.
