7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Framing Contractor in BC

Start with fit and scope

Ask what kinds of framing work the contractor wants to review and which drawings or project details are needed to decide whether the scope is a fit. Provide the building type, location, approximate area, number of levels, permit status, target start window and current drawing set. A clear first request helps the contractor respond with relevant questions instead of guessing at a price or schedule.

Ask whether the proposal is labour only, supply and install, or a defined part of a larger package. Identify floors, walls, roof structure, trusses, engineered wood, sheathing, connectors, blocking, temporary bracing, equipment, delivery, cleanup and weather protection. State which tasks belong to the general contractor or another trade. Compare each bid against the same list.

Questions about plans and changes

Which drawing revision does the price use? Who coordinates truss and engineered-product shop drawings? How are questions and conflicts recorded? Who can authorize a change, and what documentation is needed before the crew proceeds? These questions help keep site decisions tied to the current approved set and avoid building from superseded information.

Ask how design revisions, concealed conditions, client selections and material substitutions affect price and timing. A written change process should identify who requests, prices, approves and records a change. For a structural change, the responsible designer or engineer needs to review it where required. A field conversation can uncover the question; it does not replace approval.

Questions about materials and site logistics

Confirm material responsibilities: product types, grades, supplier quotes, delivery, unloading, storage, lifting, hardware, waste and protection. Ask whether the estimate assumes a crane, lift, staged deliveries, road access or unobstructed work area. For wet-weather exposure, ask how materials are stored and which design or manufacturer instructions control protection and drying.

Discuss site readiness, working hours, public access, existing occupancy, neighbouring constraints, utilities, safety responsibilities and staging. For engineered beams, floor systems or trusses, clarify the order and approval sequence, delivery dates, who checks piece marks, and who coordinates installation details. These answers reveal whether the project plan is realistic for the actual lot.

Questions about inspection and handoff

Ask which inspections are identified in the permit, who requests them, what must remain visible, and which trade or engineering approvals must happen first. Surrey states that the permit shows the inspection order; some commercial and townhouse projects have trade prerequisites before a frame inspection. Responsibility for booking and site access should be explicit in the contract.

At handoff, ask what records the contractor provides, how deficiencies are tracked, what approved revisions were installed and what remains incomplete. Do not ask for a blanket “code guarantee” in place of named documents and professional responsibilities. Confirm how the contractor responds to inspection comments and who coordinates a design answer if a correction changes the approved detail.

Questions about the written proposal

A proposal should identify contractor and client, site, scope, drawing date/revision, start assumptions, duration assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, allowances, payment milestones, quote expiry, tax treatment, insurance evidence where relevant, change orders, cleanup, dispute process and closeout. Ask for the total to be broken down enough to compare scope, without assuming every bidder uses the same trade package.

Request proof of qualifications, insurance or safety systems only as relevant to the work and review current documents directly. Do not treat a website badge, social profile or competitor comparison as evidence. Ask who will supervise, which subcontractors or suppliers are involved and how site questions reach the person authorized to respond.

Red flags in a rushed comparison

Be careful when a bid has no drawing reference, hides major exclusions, offers a fixed amount before plans are available, proposes unreviewed structural substitutions or asks the owner to proceed without the required permit. A low headline amount can reflect omitted materials or work. A high amount can include scope other bids excluded. Resolve the difference in writing before signing.

Avoid relying on generic per-square-foot numbers, guaranteed dates without stated assumptions or an unsupported claim that an assembly meets a fire, sound or seismic target. Ask the contractor to identify the documents and responsible professional behind a technical claim. The current code and permit authority decide compliance for a project.

Moonlite's estimate form can receive the building type, project location, drawing stage, scope and target start window. Visitors may attach plans in their own email app; the form does not upload or store them on the site.