Seven questions to ask before you hire a welding contractor

Welding has a low barrier to entry and a high cost of failure. A $600 machine and a weekend of YouTube will make something that looks like a weld. Whether it holds a stair, a pressure line or a 30,000 lb trailer is another matter. Before you hire anyone, including us, ask these seven questions and expect straight answers.

1. Who exactly will be welding my job, and what are they certified to?

"We're certified" means nothing on its own. Certified to what code, by whom, and is it current? For structural steel the answer should be AWS D1.1. For pressure piping, ASME Section IX. For aluminum structures, AWS D1.2. Ask to see the welder's qualification record and the continuity log showing they have welded that process in the last six months, because certs lapse.

Also ask whether the welding is done in-house. Some "fabricators" are brokers who sub the work to whoever is cheapest that week. You want the name of the person holding the torch.

2. Do you have a Welding Procedure Specification for this work?

A WPS is the recipe: process, filler metal, amperage, travel speed, preheat, joint design. Code work requires one, and a serious shop has them ready. If you are asked "what's a WPS?" on a structural or pipe job, keep looking. For a farm gate, this matters less. For anything an engineer stamped, it is not optional.

3. How will the welds be inspected, and by whom?

Every weld should get a visual inspection against an acceptance standard. Structural and pressure work may also need dye penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic or radiographic testing. Ask who does it. A shop with a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) on staff catches its own problems. A shop with none is relying on you to notice.

Ask what documentation you will receive. Weld maps, inspection reports and material certs should come with the job, not after three phone calls.

4. Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?

General liability of at least $1M, commercial auto if they are coming to your site, and workers' compensation for every employee. Get the certificate of insurance with your company named. Anyone who hesitates here is telling you something.

5. Can I see something you built that is like what I need?

Not a photo gallery. An address. A stair they built three years ago that you can go look at, a plant where they did the conveyor frames, a homeowner with the railing. Then go look, or call. A shop that does good work has customers happy to talk about it.

6. What is the lead time, and what happens if it slips?

You want a date in writing. Then ask how they communicate delays. Steel is late from the mill, an engineer's review takes an extra week, another job runs over. Those things happen. What matters is whether you find out in advance from them or on the day from your site super.

7. What is included in this price, and what is not?

Go through the quote line by line. Material? Shop drawings? Engineering? Finish (prime, paint, powder coat, galvanize)? Delivery? Installation? Anchors and hardware? Inspection and paperwork? Permits? Two quotes that differ by 40% often differ by exactly these items. Make them match before you compare the totals.

Red flags

• Verbal quotes only, or a single number with no scope.
• No physical shop address, or a shop you are not welcome to visit.
• "We don't need drawings, we'll figure it out."
• Reluctance to show certifications, insurance or references.
• A price far below everyone else with no explanation of why.
• Pressure to pay a large deposit in cash.

Green flags

• They ask you more questions than you ask them, about load, use, environment and finish.
• They tell you when a cheaper process or material will do the job.
• They catch a problem in your drawing before cutting steel.
• The estimator can walk you onto the floor and show you similar work in progress.
• The paperwork arrives without you asking.

Ask us the same questions

We would rather you ask than assume. Our certifications and insurance are listed on the about page, the shop is open to visitors most weekday afternoons, and any of our references will take your call. Get in touch and we will start with the questions we need to ask you.