1) Get quotes from 2-3 contactors. You may be tempted to go with the contractor who got recommended to you by
a friend or contractor who did a good job at a project down the street. While referral comes with certain
promise for quality you may be overpaying greatly when selecting a contractor this way. When contractors
get clients from referral or word of mouth, they tend to quote a higher than usual price because
a) they know their reputation is working in their favor.
b) they know a client is likely not shopping around.
2) Don't put too much trust in reviews online. Large companies like Google and Facebook only
relatively recently started enforcing major fight on fake reviews. Smaller companies tend to
be slower at this because they neither have the resources nor have an incentive to tackle
fake reviews (
often their business model depends on fees that they charge to contractors
hence they are hesitant to remove the fake good reviews from their platforms
).
3) While selecting the most affordable contractor it’s better to be weary of the ones that quote prices below
general market price. Firstly, inexperienced contractors may do a bad quality work. Bad retaining wall
alignment or uneven stone cuts are only some of the examples of bad quality work. While some things are
easy to catch right away, others such as poorly compacted grading may not present themselves until couple
of years later. Secondly, small companies or the ones that haven’t been in business for long may not live long
enough to fulfill any possible warranty incidents that may arise in future. Unfortunately, some construction
companies go out of business and if the alignment of your retaining wall becomes uneven the company that’s
out of business will not get fixed it as promised.
4) Ask contractor about the warranty that they are offering for the installation. 2–3-year warranty is the general
norm among good quality contractors.
5) Check out contractor’s portfolio and pictures of previous projects. If any of their retaining wall were built
at the front yard you can even drive around and check them in person. Ask if contractor has done commercial
projects before. If they have usually it’s a good sign of their expertise.
6) When it comes to payments the good approach is to break it into 2 – 3 installments that come due as project moves along.
Every contractor does things different here, but a good rule of thumb is split payments into 3 parts:
Contractor brough team and equipment on site and is ready to start work – 1st payment is due.
Middle of the project is done – excavation, grading, and compacting is done – 2nd payment is due.
Project is complete – garbage/bin is taken out. - 3rd payment is due
Also, it is normal for contractors to take small deposit of $500 after the estimate in order to put your
project in their list of future work.
Factors that affect Driveway Prices
Author: Andrew G., Journalist, Construction Expert
The cost of building a natural stone retaining wall in Ontario will depend on several factors, including:
The height and length of the wall: The taller and longer the wall, the more materials and labor will be required to build it. The type of natural stone used: Natural stone comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and each type can vary in price. Techo-Block and Unilock are one of the most popular suppliers of natural stone The complexity of the design: More intricate designs may require more materials and labor, which can increase the cost. The accessibility of the site: If the site is difficult to access, such as if it's on a steep slope or if there are obstacles in the way, it may be more expensive to build the wall. The cost of building a natural stone retaining wall in Ontario can vary widely depending on these factors. However, here are some estimates for typical prices: A natural stone retaining wall that is four feet high and fifty feet long might cost between $8,000 and $12,000 to install. If the wall is taller or longer or uses more expensive natural stone, the cost will increase accordingly. It's important to note that these are only estimates, and the actual cost of your natural stone retaining wall will depend on the specific details of your project. To get an accurate estimate, it's best to consult with a professional retaining wall contractor. Building a natural stone retaining wall can be a great investment in your Toronto property. With the right contractor, you can create a beautiful and functional retaining wall that will add value to your home for many years to come.