In today’s building industry it is impossible to appoint just one contractor to cover all aspects of a building project. There are specialised areas that need the appointment of qualified, reputable sub-contractors for example kitchen cabinets and other carpentry, window and door frames, and for purposes of this discussion, balustrades and custom manufactured staircases. The question every homeowner or industry professional should ask themselves is, how do you know that the sub-contractor you are about to appoint on the project is in fact qualified in his area of expertise and is the company reputable? The truth is that even when you think you can trust a sub-contractor based purely off of how nice the guy is, you might still land up getting a raw deal. At Steel Studio we are finding more and more that clients may have opted for a less expensive sub-contractor but has had to return to Steel Studio to now rectify the poor installation and workmanship or even worse the sub-contractor has taken a deposit and has never returned. It is therefore vitally important that you do your checks on sub-contractors before spending the money. After all, these products are vital elements in the finishing of your home and are generally the more expensive elements too. The last thing you want is to spend a small fortune on an unqualified installer with a poor workmanship track record. Here are a few checks you can do to ensure your installation will run smoothly and won’t become a costly and calamitous exercise:
1.Ensure that your balustrade sub-contractor will submit an engineer’s certificate on completion, stating that the balustrades comply with SANS10160, SANS10400. Where there is glass in your balustrade system, the balustrades must also comply with SANS1263-1:2006 – (Part 1: Safety performance of glazing materials under human impact). Point 9.4.7. Refers to the fact that the glass needs to withstand an impact of 400J of energy by means of a sand bag(30kg) test. SANS10137:2011 – The installation of glazing in buildings. When your building inspector comes to sign off for occupation, you will be required to hand this certificate to the building inspector. Take note that a balustrade system that only complies with SANS10400 does not cover all of the requirements by SANS in regards to balustrades. Don’t get fooled by a sub-contractor offering an engineer’s certificate for SANS10400 only.
2.Take the time to visit the company you are planning to appoint on your balustrades and staircase installation. On occasions clients are spending a great deal of money on their home. It is important to meet the people that are going to do your installation and to see where they are working from. Ask to see some of their samples and previous work that they have done, so that you know what you are getting.
3.Ask the right questions:
1.How many installation teams does the balustrade sub-contractor have?
2.Are all of the staff internal staff or are the installation teams outsourced, placing the control of the workmanship out of the hands of the company.
3.What is the staff count of the company?
4.Confirm that your balustrade and staircase manufacturer is a member of SASSDA (Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association), SAGGA (South African Glass and Glazing Association) and the GMBA (Gauteng Master Builders Association).
5.Confirm that your balustrade sub-contractor ensures that all of their balustrade systems are tested and approved by a professional engineer to ensure the safety of those that utilise the balustrades.
6.Ensure that your balustrade sub-contractor complies with all the health and safety standards by law.
7.Does your balustrade-subcontractor offer a guarantee on the materials they install?
By asking a few simple questions, you can be assured of a quality installation by a trustworthy installer. At Steel Studio we hold all of our products and levels of workmanship to the highest standards possible. All of our products undergo rigorous load testing to ensure all safety requirements are met in accordance with SANS. We guarantee the highest quality materials and the expert installation of all of our balustrades and staircases. We also offer a 25 year guarantee on all of our materials.