Instantly Locate
Welding Pros
Already Working In Your Neighborhood
- Welding
Same Day Service, Future Service, Estimates, and Installations
Welding
Overview
The word “welding”, to most people and most people means the joining two pieces of metal together with extreme heat. But, many welders and customers see their professional as an art.
Welders jobs include commercial, industrial, and residential welding, but they also have the ability to weld custom projects from scratch. So now, in addition to pressure vessels, custom sheet metal fabrication, bridges, pipe welding, handrails, fire escapes, security screens, and mailboxes, Some welding professionals can add the creation of unique pieces of furniture, sculptures, and other objects as needed by the customer.
Welders can handle all metal needs and repairs, and most fabrications on location. From the very first phone call, they will visit the site, estimate the job, draw up the plans, and do the work. They can work with any metal including aluminum, steel, brass, and cast iron. Whatever the need is, commercial or residential, welding professionals can either fix it or make a new one. In other words, the capabilities of a welding professional are endless.
Average Costs
The national average cost is $50 – $150+
The average cost to hire a local professional will average about $50-$150, with some consumers spending over $500 or more. So choosing the right professional the first time is of the essence.
Billing:
Hourly Rate – Most companies charge by the hour.
Flat Rate Per Job – Some companies charge a flat rate for the work they do.
Recognize that there are several variables in developing the price. These include:
- Time that it takes to complete the project.
- How many technicians are working on your project.
- Was it an after hours emergency
- With many more aspects that may add to the cost
Remember, the company quoting a low rate may not necessarily be the right company for you. Some companies may offer low hourly rates, but then charge additional “fees” to complete the job.
You may also need to consider that most companies charge a higher rate for overtime, weekends, holidays and emergency calls.
The best rule of hand is to get an itemized estimate so you know exactly what is expected from the local company.
Basic Information
GMAW or Gas Metal Arc Welding
More commonly called MIG welding this welding type is the most widely used and perhaps the most easily mastered type of welding for industry and home use. The GMAW process is suitable for fusing mild steel, stainless-steel as well as aluminum.
Tungsten Inert Gas
TIG welding is comparable to oxyacetylene gas welding and needs a lot more expertise from the operator. Employed for carrying out high-quality work when a superior standard of finish is needed without making use of excessive clean up by sanding or grinding.
Arc Welding or SMAW
Generally known as stick or arc welding. Arc welding is the most basic of all welding types, is easy to master in a home welding situation.
Stick welding can be used for manufacturing, construction and repairs, very much well suited for heavy metal size 4 millimeters upwards. Thinner sheet metals and alloys are usually more suited to the mig welding types.
Oxyacetylene Welding And Cutting
Not used as widely for general welding of mild steel. Consists of mixing oxygen and acetylene gas to create a flame capable of melting steels. Mostly used today for maintenance work and gas metal cutting. Also common for brazing softer metals such as copper and bronze. Can also be used for welding delicate aluminum parts such as refrigeration pipes.
Tips & Advice
- Ask For The License – Ask for all local and state business licenses.
- Proof Of Insurance– For your own protection, check proof of both workman’s compensation and liability Insurance.
- Business Stability– Find out how long the company has been in business.
- Check Online Reviews – You’re probably not the first person in town looking for their services. Rely on the internet to get reviews written by people in your community.
- References – Expect any top-notch company to be able to provide you with references upon request. Once you have these names, contact the clients to get information about the quality service. When you call, ask questions about the work, timeliness, cost and whether the clients would use the company again for future work.
- 24-hour Emergency Service – Make sure your local company offers emergency 24 hour service. If something goes wrong, it’s good to know that you will not have to wait days for them to come out and fix it.
- Over The Phone Pricing – Honest estimates simply cannot be given over the phone – especially if you aren’t talking with an actual technician when you call.
- Free Estimates – Most companies offer free estimates. This is important because they can provide you with the costs upfront, so that you are not shocked with a bill after the services are completed.
- Safety Record – Safety can be a significant factor, so ask the company about their safety records to ensure that any service professional you hire has a satisfactory safety record. You want a company that doesn’t have a high incidence of on-the-job mishaps or injuries.
- Satisfaction Guarantee – Choosing a company that offers a satisfaction guarantee will ensure that they will get the job done right the first time and will save you money and frustration in the long run.
- Cleanup – The mess left behind after a project can be major. Ask what cleanup work the company includes with it’s services.
