Seven questions to ask before you sign.

Three quotes for the same balcony can differ by thousands, and the cheapest is not always the bargain it appears. These are the seven questions that separate fabricators from resellers and firm prices from moving ones. Ask them of anyone, including us.

1. Who actually makes it?

Some companies fabricate; many resell a supplier's panels and subcontract the install. In-house fabrication means the people quoting can change the design, fix a surprise mid-job, and stand behind the welds. Ask to see the workshop; a real fabricator will be pleased you asked.

2. Does the same team measure and install?

Most balustrade defects are handover errors: measured by one party, made by another, fitted by a third. When one team owns the job end to end, tolerances survive the journey.

3. Is the price fixed?

"From" pricing and per-metre rates leave room for the number to grow once reality arrives. A fabricator who has measured properly can commit to a figure.

4. What exact spec is in the quote?

Glass thickness and type, steel section and grade, coating system, hardware grade. If the quote does not say, you cannot compare it, and salt-air jobs without marine-grade hardware are a rust problem on a timer.

5. Who handles compliance?

The NCC, AS 1170 loads and AS 1288 glazing are not optional. Ask who provides the documentation a certifier will ask for. Silence here is your answer.

6. What happens if something is wrong?

A fabricator who made the rail can remake a section in days. A reseller is at their supplier's mercy. Ask how defects are handled and how long the workmanship is stood behind.

7. Can you see previous work?

Not a brochure: addresses, photos of real jobs, or a builder who will vouch. Two decades of work leaves a trail; ask to see ours.