Proper drainage is a crucial component of any residential or commercial property. The drainage system is responsible for transporting waste and stormwater away from buildings to keep them dry, safe, and hygienic.
When it comes to installing, servicing and maintaining drainage systems in Auckland, the role of a drainlayer is crucial to ensure that the system does what it was designed to do. In this post we will go over all the things you need to know in order to select the right drainlayer to install or maintain your drainage system.
Why Selecting the Right Drainlayer Is Crucial
Before we go into choosing a drainlayer, it’s important to understand what drainlayers actually do.
The job is a drainlayer is to design, install, maintain, and repair drainage systems that transport wastewater, stormwater, and sewerage. Their role includes not only the physical work of digging trenches and laying pipes but also planning the layout of the system, sourcing materials, and ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Typically, drainlayers work on a variety of projects, including residential properties, commercial sites, and municipal infrastructure.
Due to the many variables that go into this work, drainlayers must have a good understanding of both legal requirements as well as how drainage systems work in order to correctly install and maintain an system and keep it functioning correctly.
What to Look For When Selecting a Drainlayer
If you want to ensure you select a good drainlayer who knows what they are doing for your drainage job, here is what you should look out for:
Certification and Licensing
In New Zealand, drainlaying is a regulated trade, and it’s illegal for anyone to carry out this work unless they’re a licensed drainlayer or under the supervision of one. The Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) oversees the licensing and regulation of all drainlayers.
When choosing a drainlayer, your first step should be to verify their license. Don’t hesitate to ask for proof of certification. This certification guarantees they have completed the necessary training and have been assessed as competent in their trade by the PGDB.
Relevant Experience
Experience is a crucial factor when selecting a drainlayer. Drainlaying involves a variety of skills and a wide range of knowledge in many different areas of the topic, particularly when it comes to different types of systems such as residential and commercial.
An experienced drainlayer will have a solid understanding of different types of drainage systems, soil conditions, local building regulations, and more, allowing them to offer the correct solution for your specific situation.
The more experience they have, especially with jobs similar to yours, the more likely they are to be able to solved similar problems and deal with unique situations, allowing them to find solutions that less experienced drainlayers may not know about.
Reviews and References
These days it is very easy to find reviews of local tradespeople. Sites like Google, Facebook, and trade directories often have ratings and reviews of local drainlayers.
Reading through these will give you a good idea of the drainlayer’s reputation and how satisfied their clients were. If practically all of their previous client’s have been very happy with their work, odds are they probably know what they are doing and will do a good job.
Services Offered
Drainlayers typically offer a wide range of services. It’s important to understand which type of work you need so that you can get the right drainlayer on the job.
Drainage services typically include:
- Drain unblocking, clearing blockages from drains, often using specialist equipment. Many companies specialise specifically in this, and only this, so be aware of that if calling a drain unblocker
- Drain repairs for damaged drains
- New drainage system design and installation for new buildings, renovations or extensions
- CCTV drain inspections to inspect your drains and identify problems without the need for disruptive excavation. This is typically tied in to drain unblocking
- Maintenance of existing drainage systems to keep your drains in top condition
- Subsoil drainage services
- Stormwater drainage services
- Driveway channel installation or repair
- And more
When contacting drainlayers, make sure they offer the specific services you need. You may need to describe your requirements in detail to ensure they fully understand the scope of the work, and are able to recommend the proper solution.
Understand their Pricing Structure
Price is a significant factor when hiring any tradesperson, and drainlayers are no exception. The cost of drainlaying services can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the complexity of the work, the materials used, and the drainlayer’s experience and reputation.
A reputable drainlayer should be able to provide a detailed, itemised quote that outlines the costs of materials, labour, and any other expenses. This transparency helps you understand where your money is going and makes it easier to compare quotes from different drainlayers.
However, remember that the cheapest quote isn’t always the best. Quality workmanship and materials can save you money in the long run by preventing future issues. It’s better to consider the overall value for money, rather than just the initial cost.
Availability and Responsiveness
Drainage issues can arise unexpectedly and often need to be addressed quickly to prevent further damage. For this reason, it’s crucial to consider the availability and responsiveness of the drainlayer.
Some drainlayers offer 24/7 emergency services to deal with urgent problems. If this is a service you think you might need, check with the drainlayer to confirm they offer it.
You can also get an idea of a drainlayer’s responsiveness from your initial interactions with them. How quickly do they respond to your enquiry or request for a quote? Are they communicative and clear in their correspondence? These early interactions can give you an idea of what to expect in the future.
Commitment to Health and Safety
The nature of drainlaying work means that it can involve certain risks and potential health hazards. Trenches need to be dug safely to avoid collapses, and workers need to be protected from potential contaminants. Also, drains that are not installed correctly and leak can pose serious health risks as well as property damage, especially if they are sewer drains.
As such, health and safety should be a priority when selecting a drainlayer.
Ask your potential drainlayer about their health and safety policies. Do they provide their workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)? Do they follow industry-standard safety protocols? Are they aware of the specific health and safety requirements for working with wastewater and sewage?
Answers to these questions can tell you how thorough they are with their work, and how likely they are to follow the laws, which can extend into other areas of the work as well.
Respect for Your Property
Drainlaying work can sometimes be messy, but a good drainlayer will take steps to minimise the impact on your property. They should aim to keep disruption to a minimum and leave your property clean and tidy once the work is completed.
When discussing the project, ask how the drainlayer plans to protect your property. For example, if they need to dig up part of your garden, will they replace the turf afterwards? If they’re working inside your home, how will they prevent dirt and mess from spreading?
Getting answers to these questions at the beginning can save you from big problems down the road when you are left to deal with the mess yourself.
Conclusion
Selecting the right drainlayer in Auckland is an important choice that requires careful consideration. By taking the time to research and evaluate your options, you can find a drainlayer who provides high-quality work, values customer satisfaction, and has the expertise to handle your specific needs.
Whether you’re dealing with an urgent drainage issue or planning a new build, remember that your choice of drainlayer can significantly impact the functionality and safety of your property. So, invest the time to find a professional you can trust.
If you have drainage work you would like to discuss, be sure to speak to our team today by clicking the button below or filling out the form and we’d be happy to help!