Renovating Or Building – Do You Know What Hardware Suppliers Your Contractors Choose?

Ask anyone who’s ever built or renovated their home, and they’ll all say the same thing: It was stressful! These kinds of projects frequently go over time and over budget, and very often the homeowner feels completely out of control of the entire situation.

As the person ultimately paying for everything, you should have the final say not only on what products you want, but also on what suppliers you would like to provide those products. In this way, you have more control – not only over the budget, but also on the quality of your fixtures. The last thing you need is something going badly wrong simply because your contractor tried to cut corners.

Very few homeowners are also building professionals, which is why they usually leave the decisions regarding suppliers to their contractor or project manager. They trust that they will choose wisely, picking reputable companies with proven experience and reliability. Often however, many contractors base their decisions on price alone, without taking additional important factors into consideration.

This is why it’s really worth doing a little homework upfront. Spend some time investigating the suppliers in your area, looking them up online, reading customer reviews and generally finding out as much about them as possible. In this way, you can make an informed decision of which suppliers you prefer, and can then instruct your contractor to use the companies you’ve chosen.

How To Choose The Right Aluminium Hardware Supplier

When deciding on an aluminium supplier for your door and window hardware, it’s important to look at a few key criteria:

Value For Money

Although price shouldn’t be the only factor you take into account, it is nonetheless very important. Your renovation or build has a budget, and sticking to it as closely as possible is key. So look around and compare pricing between two or three potential suppliers, and be careful of those deals that sound too good to be true. It’s important to strike a balance between cost, reliability, quality and service. And remember, if a product is markedly cheaper than a similar one from a competitor, there is always a reason, and it’s not usually a good one!

Quality

A good rule of thumb is to always buy the best you can afford, and this is never more true that when building or renovating your home. Choose a supplier that uses only the best grades of aluminium – cheaper grades will not be as strong or durable as their better quality counterparts.

Reliability

When things run late, costs run over – it’s a basic rule of construction. So make sure you choose a supplier that honours their stated turnaround time. Many companies make unrealistic claims just to secure the contract, but then fail miserably when it comes time to deliver.

Flexibility

If you’re building your dream home, the last thing you need is for those dreams to be curtailed by someone else’s limitations. Don’t allow your supplier to dictate what can and can’t be done. Choose a company that’s happy to meet your needs and work beside you to make your dream home a reality.

Financial Stability

Does your supplier have a healthy cash flow? You need them to deliver what you want, when you want it, without continually having to ask you for upfront payments. And of course, you If in doubt, it’s easy to do a quick credit check to put your mind at rest.

Track Record

Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for experience. Companies with many happy customer testimonials and a good reputation in the industry are usually a safe choice. They’re undaunted by challenging briefs, and know all the tricks of the trade.

GHI – Ask For Us By Name

As the leading distributor of hardware to the architectural aluminium industry in South Africa, Grace Haven Industries (GHI) supplies silicone sealants, architectural glass hardware, wooden window and door hardware, and folding door hardware.

We’re committed to maintaining our position at the forefront of the architectural hardware industry in South Africa. This is why we regularly update and improve our product range to stay in line with changing design trends and technical requirements.

Based in Linbro Park, Johannesburg, and with conveniently-located branches in both Durban and Cape Town, we are well positioned to service the entire South African market.

So, if your architect, contractor or project manager isn’t asking for us by name, perhaps you should be asking why.