Contractor Vetting Guide
Not all contractors understand steel construction. Here’s what separates the pros from the pretenders — and how to make sure you hire right the first time.
Why Vetting Matters
Just like how in-field experience matters when trusting a supplier to select the right building system for your specific needs, it matters even more when selecting the ones actually building it.
After years and 200+ steel buildings across Colorado, we’ve seen what happens when the wrong contractor gets hired. Don’t let it happen to you.
Picking the wrong supplier or contractor decision is the single most expensive mistake a buyer can make on a steel building project. The right one can save you months and tens of thousands of dollars. The wrong one will charge you for both. This guide is to help you make the right call by highlighting some of the most important considerations.
Green Flags
Not just “construction” experience. Ask which steel systems they’ve put up — red iron, cold formed, panelized, tubular — and how many of each.
Every reputable steel project ships with stamped, county-rated engineered plans. If they’re vague about engineering, walk.
Ideally projects similar in scope to yours. Call them. Ask about timeline, change orders, and how problems were handled.
Verify it. Don’t take their word for it. Ask for the certificate of insurance and confirm coverage with the carrier.
Reputable contractors warranty their work for at least 6 months on labor. Get the warranty terms in the agreement — not on a handshake.
Line-item materials, equipment provisions, exclusions clearly listed. Vague quotes mean expensive surprises.
Red Flags
A few things that should make you slow down, ask more questions, or move on. None of these are automatic deal-breakers, but each one earns extra scrutiny.
If one bid is dramatically below the others, something is missing — equipment, scope, materials, or experience. The cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive project.
Vague proposals invite mid-project change orders. If you can’t list what’s in and out from their quote, the contractor is leaving room to bill you later.
Crane, lift, scaffolding, mast climbers — whose are they and who pays for them? If the bid is silent, you’ll find out via change order.
A reputable contractor will give you time to compare. Pressure to sign “today only” is a sales tactic, not a project incentive.
If a contractor can’t tell you who’s stamping the engineering or what loads it’s rated to, they may be planning to cut corners.
A reasonable down payment covers material orders. A demand for 50–75% up front before any work starts is a classic warning sign.
FAQ
After designing your building the right way, to the right codes, with the right materials, the most important thing is getting the right people to assemble the building and lay the foundation it will sit on. These “structural contractors” play the most important role in overall build quality for your project. Prioritize getting the best you can reasonably afford.
Sometimes Yes, Often NO. Compare what’s included in each quote — materials quality, labor warranty, equipment inclusions or exclusions, experience and references. The cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive project.
Lack of detail is the big one. No clear scope of work or materials provided, and no mention of equipment provisions, are sometimes ways a “shady” contractor seems to come in at a low price — just to come back later with hefty change orders and additional charges.
Reputable contractors will have a workmanship warranty in their agreements of at least 6 months. At NatMar ours is 1 year for our crews.
It depends. Every building department jurisdiction has different rules on this. Some you can self-GC on even commercial projects, while some require a licensed GC to perform any work. Contact your local building department to find out for sure.
Testimonials
“Nate and his experienced crew did a fantastic job erecting our 35' x 40' steel shop. I found NatMar through an internet search. I selected NatMar because they were local, displayed excellent expertise, and were competitively priced. Their communications and administration were flawless. The crew was always punctual, polite, and worked with care and attention to detail. We had some challenges along the way; however, everything was dealt with without any fuss or penny-pinching.”
“Nathan and his crew are top notch! They were able to fit in my small project between their bigger jobs which got me finished real quick. They do great quality work and I would highly recommend NatMar to anyone.”
“Complete project was good quality, on time, on budget and craftsmen were very professional. If I could find anything not perfect would be the screws scattered around post completion which is petty. Great job guys!”
“Nathan Margosian of NatMar Construction and his crew have been nothing but excellent. They have just completed a third building for me in the last year. Nathans customer service, punctuality at completion on time, and completing on budget is unmatched, all at a very fair and reasonable rate. I highly recommend Nathan and NatMar Construction for any of your needs for metal buildings.”
“NatMar Construction is the best in Western Colorado! Amazing customer service from first call through final build! Excellent company, highly recommend!”
“Nathan and Braden are working on a project of ours. Very impressive work! Nice to see such care taken on a construction project.”
“Excellent work and attentive to detail. Crew was cordial and easy to work with. Building is magnificent! Looking to build an "A" frame metal barndaminium. Fun!!”
“Great group of people! Their work is phenomenal & it truly shows they care. Would recommend to anyone for all metal building needs!”
“Thank you Nathan for your expertise and efficient building process. I look forward to doing business with you again.”
“Great assembly job and went quickly, even though it rained a couple of days. Good job, guys!!”
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