Apples to apples comparison of general contractors

It can be very confusing for you when every general contractor claims it is the best. We are not afraid of our competition. As a matter of fact, we encourage you to do an apples to apples comparison.

While we may not win every bid, we guarantee you that our estimates will be complete and accurate. No deliberate omissions or cutting corners to be the lowest bidder. Neither will we nickel and dime you with change orders until you’ve spent much more than the original estimate.

With others you get what you pay for. With RBS, you get everything you pay for!

The art and science of comparing apples to apples

Compare prices:

Most competitive bids should be within 10% of one another. If a bid is not within the 10% range, then chances are the builder is providing a different product or package.

Compare the accessories included in your quotes:

Does your base bid include: gutters, down spouts, windows, walk doors, roof vents, deadbolt locks, overhead doors, skylites, framed openings or insulation? These items may be listed as an alternate or an option and may not be included in some base bids.

Compare related items:

Does your quote include sales tax, freight, permits, fees, etc?

Compare the level of completion:

Are you buying raw materials that need to be cut and welded (higher erection cost) or are you buying a complete bolt up building kit? Are they providing the labor to erect your building? Does the price include preparing the building’s site? Does the price include a foundation (be sure to compare foundation designs)? Be sure to ask what other items will be required to complete your project.

Compare building codes:

What code do they base their wind velocity, frame live load and roof live load on? For example a 90 MPH IBC (International Building Code) wind load is roughly equivalent to a 110 MPH SBC (Standard Building Code) wind load.

Compare the quality of materials:

Roof and Wall panels: Grades (commercial vs. commodity), Gauge 29-22 (the smaller the number, the thicker the panel), warranty (0-20years) and panel finish (cost, appearance and warranty), Red-iron/Structural: (Import vs. Domestic steel) Imported steel may come without a mill report and have inconsistent tensile strengths.

Compare builder reputations:

A company’s reputation says it all. Find out how long they have been in the metal building business. Ask for customer references and check with the Better Business Bureau for claims. This is a good way to find out if the builder was hard to work with, if they had any major delays on the job and if there were any additional charges applied.

Ask to see examples of their work:

Take your time and really examine the structure. Is the structure plumb and level? Does the insulation have excessive sagging? Does the line of the wall panel match the trim? Is the trim straight?

Ask if they are insured:

You may be liable in the event of an accident (this includes subcontractors).

Please note that some suppliers are taking full advantage of the general public’s inexperience. Ultimately your goal should be to compare estimates on an equal basis. No two quotes are exactly alike and this guide is designed to assist you in your apples to apples comparison.

Let’s get started – call 979.596.1451 or just fill out the Quick RFQ form on the right hand side of this page.