That’s interesting about the small crews sometimes doing more. I keep wondering how you actually compare warranties in practice—like, do the bigger companies really honor them better, or is it just easier to find someone when something goes wrong? And how do you even check if a smaller installer will still be around in a few years? I feel like it’s hard to get a straight answer when you ask about these things.
I’ve actually had both—a big-name installer for my upstairs and a local guy for the basement. Funny thing, the “big” company gave me a thick warranty booklet, but when a lock broke, I spent weeks calling their 1-800 number. The local guy? He answered his cell and showed up in two days. Honestly, I’m not convinced size guarantees better follow-through. As for sticking around, even the big ones can go under or get bought out... I guess it’s always a bit of a gamble, no matter who you pick.