| Ordering
a staircase: what to expect
Design
First look at our website’s Staircase
Photographs section to begin deciding on the style
of stair that you want. You can choose timber, wire,
wrought iron or glass balustrades. The Product Information
section shows specific balusters, newel posts and
handrail. Then look at the Parts
of a Stair diagram and the Stair
Terms Dictionary so you know the words to describe
what you want to us. Understanding the terms used
to describe a stair makes it easier to be specific
about what you want. All our stairs are built to your
specifications. Next download the Tips for designing
a stair.
Technical advice
Bring your building plans and come to the office to
see photographs and samples, or call us for an appointment
and we can come to you. The estimators from Tod Stairs
are qualified staircase builders, not just salespeople.
Few people have our mix of expertise and practical
experience. You can ask them questions and solve problems
then and there. If you want to keep the price down
we will suggest design changes to do that. If you
need more extensive help in planning or designing
a large job, we can consult with you at an hourly
rate.
Quotation
Once you decide exactly what you want, we will draw
up a plan and cost it for you. It will take about
5 working days for the quotation to be written up
and sent to you. This is free. Read your quotation
carefully and ask questions until you are sure you
understand exactly what it says. Miscommunications
that occur between customer, builder, architect and
the stair builder can be avoided if everyone is clear
on their agreements. This is why it is important that
you check your quotation to be certain that it describes
what you want. See the Stair
Terms Dictionary and the
Parts of a Stair diagram again for help. When
comparing prices with other stair builders check that
the quotations describe the same work. Usually they
don’t. It is important to compare apples with
apples. Do not compare quotations from
different vendors on price alone. Check the quality
of the work.
Placing an order
If you decide to go ahead with the job, sign the quotation,
confirming you acceptance of its terms and send us
a deposit. NSW building law states that any work over
$200. must have a written quotation. Consequently,
no business can start work without a signed contract.
This quotation is your written contract with Tod Stairs.
A verbal go-ahead over the phone or in person is not
enough to put your stair into production. We must
have a signed quotation and a deposit paid, then you
are on the production schedule.
Plan ahead
Check the length of the waiting list until your job
is started. Mark this date on your calendar “Work
on stair started- od Stairs”. Remember we are
busy because we do high quality work that takes time.
Call the week work is started and find out approximately
when the stair will be finished in the factory. Check
the amount due on delivery of the staircase (the progress
payment), and write both on your calendar.
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