Choosing the right contractor matters more than choosing the right color of steel. The contractor decides whether your price holds, whether your timeline is real, and whether anyone takes responsibility when a problem shows up. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign — and the specific questions to ask.
Start with the delivery model
Before anything else, understand how the contractor delivers a project. A single-source design-build contractor holds design, engineering, foundation, and construction under one contract — one team, one point of accountability. The alternative is a model where design and build are split across multiple parties and you absorb the coordination. We break this down in design-build vs. general contractor.
Watch for the red flags
- An "estimate" instead of a firm, itemized price you can sign.
- Vague answers about who is responsible for engineering, permits, or the foundation.
- Pricing that seems far below everyone else — often a sign of thin materials or costs that surface later.
- No willingness to show comparable completed work.
- A generic building spec with no reference to your site's wind load or soil.
The questions to ask any contractor
1. Are you licensed and insured?
Confirm both, and that coverage is current. A licensed, insured contractor protects you if something goes wrong on site. SSG is fully licensed and insured and operates as a GTO Construction company.
2. Is your price a firm bid or an estimate?
An estimate can climb once work starts; a firm bid is a fixed, itemized price you can sign. Ask for the firm bid, in writing, with the scope spelled out.
3. How much of the work do you keep in-house?
The more a contractor subcontracts, the more coordination risk falls on you. SSG keeps design, engineering, foundation, and steel erection on one team under one contract.
4. Who handles engineering and permits?
Your contractor should provide stamped engineering and handle permitting. Texas codes vary by city and county, and the building must be engineered for your specific site.
5. Is the building engineered for my site’s wind load and soil?
Coastal wind and salt, expansive clay, and sandy loam all change the spec. A generic catalog package isn’t the same as a building engineered for where it actually stands.
6. What does your warranty cover, and for how long?
Ask what’s covered, what’s excluded, and whether it transfers if you sell. SSG provides a 40-year material warranty plus a one-year workmanship warranty.
7. Who is my single point of contact?
You want one project manager who owns the schedule and answers the phone — not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
8. Can I see comparable completed work?
Ask to see buildings similar in type and size to yours. Browse examples on our project gallery and ask about projects near you.
Want this in a take-anywhere format? Our free, no-email Contractor Checklist puts the full list on one printable page you can bring to every bid meeting.
How SSG answers these
Structural Solutions Group is a single-source design-build contractor in Three Rivers, TX, serving central and south Texas. One team handles design, engineering, in-house foundation work, steel erection, and project management. You get a firm bid — not an estimate — a building engineered for your specific site, and a 40-year material warranty backed by the same team that built it. See the process or our construction company overview for the full picture.