What to ask a mobile welder before you book

Before the call

Have two or three photos, a rough size, the material if you know it, and the address with directions from a main road. For a new property, add coordinates, since a fresh address may not appear on every map. Know your deadline and whether the item can sit idle or be moved.

Questions about the work

1. Have you repaired this kind of thing before, such as a trailer frame, a pipe gate or a handrail? A short, concrete answer beats a general one.
2. What do you think failed, and how would the repair stop it from happening again? This separates a fix from a patch.
3. Is this better repaired or replaced? A provider who raises replacement when it is wiser is working for you.
4. Can it be done on site, or does something need shop conditions? Thin material, cast iron and heat-treated parts often do.
5. Which welding process will you use and why? The stick, MIG and flux-core guide helps you follow the answer.

Questions about price

• What is the call-out charge or minimum, and what does it cover?
• Is the rest hourly or flat, and when does the clock start?
• Are materials included? Plate, hinges, posts and paint are common extras.
• What happens if the metal is worse than the photos? Who approves extra work, and how is it priced?
• Is there a different rate for evenings, weekends or rush work? Thumbtack lists urgency among the factors that raise a mobile welder's price.

Questions about safety and the site

• What fire precautions do you take? Expect an extinguisher, a plan for clearing or wetting dry ground and a watch afterward. OSHA's welding standard asks for suitable extinguishing equipment ready for instant use and a fire watch of at least a half hour after the work.
• Does a burn ban affect the job today? Read the site prep and fire safety guide for how county orders work in this area.
• What do you need from me: access, clear space, a helper, power?
• Will you refuse anything for safety? A tank that held fuel is a typical example, and a refusal is the right answer.

Questions about paperwork

Ask whether the provider carries liability insurance and whether they can send proof, which many commercial sites and landlords require. Ask to see a license if the work calls for one, and ask who is responsible if a permit is needed. For structural steel in a building, check with the city or county permit office yourself instead of relying on a verbal assurance.

Ask for the scope and price in writing. A text message is enough. It protects both sides if the job changes.

Questions about after the repair

• What coating or primer goes on, and who handles painting? Heat strips paint around a weld.
• What should I watch for in the first few uses?
• If the weld fails, what will you do and what will it cost me?
• Can I inspect the repair before you leave, and is payment due at that point?

Answers that should slow you down

• A firm price before anyone has seen photos or heard what the metal is.
• No questions about what the part carries or how it is used.
• Reluctance to put the scope in writing.
• A promise that the repair will never fail, or any promise about arrival that sounds too neat.

Where this fits

If your call is urgent, read urgent and same-week welding repairs first so you can say the right things up front. For numbers to compare against, see the mobile welding cost guide, and for common questions with short answers see the mobile welding FAQ.

Common questions