Aluminium windows and doors are eco-friendly, longer lasting, and used almost exclusively in today’s up-and-coming housing complexes and estates. Here’s the issue: aluminium products are not all produced to the same standards. Going with the cheapest company is risky if you want quality fixtures that will last. Picking the best starts with asking the right questions. Here’s how to choose an aluminium window and door company:
What to ask the company
There are five criteria you can use to establish the quality of any aluminium company. These include their accreditations, their industry experience, their references, their pricing, and the guarantees they offer.
What accreditation do you have?
Be wary of any company that isn’t certified. AAAMSA is the Association of Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers of South Africa. This authority regulates the standards and quality of aluminium used in construction. Aluminium products installed by AAAMSA members must meet design load criteria and specific site conditions.
Building regulations also require a ‘glazing certificate’ for any aluminium and glass installation. All new builds will need a ‘glazing certificate’ before people can use the building. Also, no aluminium window and door company will provide a compliance certificate if they have not done the job themselves.
How long have you been in business?
When it comes to professional aluminium fixture installations, experience counts a lot. This means that the company has been tasked with installing aluminium fixtures before, and the longer they’ve been open, the more experience they’ll have. The last thing you want is to be an upcoming aluminium company’s guinea pig client.
It is better to spend a little more money on a company with extensive experience. Opting for cheaper companies that are still building their track records opens you up to issues like poor workmanship, unprofessional conduct, and potential after-sales service issues.
Do you have any references?
Experience is important, and so are any positive reviews you can get your hands on. These include testimonials from clients who have worked with the aluminium window and door company previously. Any aluminium company can claim to be the best at what they do, but the best companies are those which let their quality of work do the talking.
The only way to see if a company can do what they promise is to hear from people for whom they’ve performed similar services. Things to find out: which recognisable projects have they been involved with, and do they have any photos you can look at? If there is no track record of quality work, how sure are you that you’ll get what you’re paying for?
How competitive is your pricing?
It is a good idea to source a few quotes before selecting your preferred aluminium window and door company. So that you get an idea of average pricing, and you can compare apples to apples (instead of apples to oranges). Some companies use low-quality aluminium products that lack durability and strength, some companies may be pricing on a different glass spec, which is why they can charge less than their competitors.
The trick is to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of your local aluminium companies, comparing them to each other using more than just their pricing. If one comes in way lower than the rest, that’s a red flag. If one is much more expensive than the rest, that’s also worth investigating.
What guarantees do you provide?
Very few construction projects are completed without at least one issue somewhere. It’s only natural that a mistake might be made, and that’s where having some guarantees can put your mind at ease. For example:
- Will the company be able to come back and resolve any issues that may arise?
- Are there any guarantees on the products installed?
The chances are slim that an aluminium window and door company will admit to using inferior-quality products or providing poor customer service. It is worth asking whether they offer any guarantees to protect you should something go wrong.
Accredited, experienced, recognised and preferred.
Look no further than PG Aluminium KZN for industry-leading aluminium window and door installations in KwaZulu-Natal. We are AAAMSA accredited, we’re backed by a leading industry name, we’ve been in the business for XX years, and we’ve got countless references available. This sets us apart as a preferred aluminium company, and every project we work on is a testament to this. Contact PG Aluminium today to work with an experienced, trusted aluminium company in KwaZulu-Natal.