How to Choose a Licensed Aluminium Contractor in Singapore (And Questions to Ask Before You Sign)

Why Contractor Choice Matters More for Aluminium Doors and Windows Than It Seems

Aluminium doors, windows and gates are made to order. Once a frame has been fabricated to the wrong size, or fitted with poor sealing, there is no quick adjustment on site. The usual fix is a remake, which costs time and money.

Credentials matter for a second reason. In an HDB flat, your choice of contractor affects whether the work meets HDB's rules. In a condo, it can decide whether the management corporation approves your application at all.

The risk is rarely dramatic. A homeowner picks the cheapest quotation, then finds the contractor was not registered for the work, the quote left out removal of the old unit, or nobody can say who is responsible for a defect. Checking who is qualified comes first when choosing a licensed aluminium contractor in Singapore.

What "Licensed" Actually Means in Singapore

Many homeowners treat "licensed" as a single credential. In practice, several registrations exist, and which ones matter depends on your property type and the work involved.

HDB Renovation Contractor Registration

HDB's renovation control rules require flat owners to engage contractors from its Directory of Renovation Contractors, as HDB states on its renovation information page. The directory therefore matters for renovation works in your flat.

A listing confirms that the contractor is on HDB's directory. It does not rate workmanship, pricing or service. Treat it as an entry requirement, not a quality guarantee.

BCA Registration and What It Signals

BCA registers contractors in its Contractors Registry under workheads, which are codes for types of work. For windows, BCA defines an approved window contractor as a company registered under workhead RW01. A builder registered under GB1 or GB2 may also install windows.

BCA registration is separate from HDB registration. One is a building-control credential, and the other is HDB's list for renovation in its flats, so a company can appear in one and not the other. BCA's published window requirement is written for windows, so confirm separately whether anything similar applies to doors or gates.

The Separate Requirement for Windows in HDB Flats

This requirement is easy to overlook. HDB's guidance on window works says you must engage a BCA approved window contractor listed in HDB's directory for all window installation or replacement in your flat. General renovation registration alone is not what HDB asks for on windows.

BCA adds that the installation must be done by a trained window installer, an individual certified by BCA who works for an approved contractor or builder. HDB's wording refers to windows. For doors and gates, confirm with HDB what applies to your job.

What Changes for Condo and Landed Properties

Outside HDB estates, HDB registration is not the operative credential. A condo's MCST may set its own contractor requirements in its by-laws, and some may ask for BCA registration before approving works. Ask your managing agent for the criteria that apply to your development.

BCA's window safety guidance, which is not limited to HDB flats, also directs owners replacing windows to an approved window contractor and a trained installer. Landed homes follow different approval routes, so confirm requirements with the relevant authority rather than applying HDB's rules.

How to Verify a Contractor's Credentials Yourself

A claim on a website or brochure is a starting point. These checks take minutes and rely on official records.

Matching the Registered Company Name and Licence Number

Ask the contractor, in writing, for the exact registered company name and the licence number they say they hold. Then look up both in the official directory. Trading names, brand names and registered names often differ, and a licence belongs to the registered entity, not the brand. The name on your quotation, contract and payment instructions should match the entity you verified.

For example, SG Aluminium's About Us page lists the company as SG Aluminium Pte. Ltd. A homeowner can search ACRA's entity search for that name and match it against the HDB and BCA directories. The same steps apply to any contractor, whether or not it publishes its licence number.

Where to Check and What the Results Mean

BCA lists approved window contractors in an online directory, and HDB publishes a list of approved window contractors for HDB owners. Both are linked from BCA's window safety page. HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors is reached through HDB's renovation contractors e-service. ACRA's Bizfile entity search shows whether a business is live and its registered address, as ACRA's search guide explains.

Directory names and access routes change, so reach them through the agency's own pages rather than a link supplied by the contractor. Then read the result:

• Found, and the name matches: check that the listing covers the type of work you need.
• Found under a different name: ask the contractor to explain how the two entities are related.
• Not found: ask for the correct registered name and number, search again, and treat the claim as unverified until it is resolved.

Common Verification Pitfalls

Three situations cause most confusion. The first is a licence belonging to a different entity, such as a subcontractor or affiliated company, rather than the one on your quotation. The second is a claim with no directory listing. The third is a registration that exists but does not cover the work being quoted, for example, a general renovation listing offered as proof of window credentials. In each case, ask the contractor to resolve the gap in writing before you pay anything.

Beyond Licensing: Other Signals Worth Checking

A licence establishes that a contractor is eligible to do the work. It says little about how well the work is done or how they handle problems. The signals below fill part of that gap, though none is a guarantee.

Insurance and Liability for Damage During Installation

Installation involves removing old frames and moving large panels through lifts and corridors. Ask what insurance, if any, covers damage to your unit, common areas or neighbouring units, who holds that cover (the contractor or a subcontractor), and who pays if something goes wrong. Ask for the answer in writing. Requirements differ by property and MCST, so confirm what yours needs.

Workplace Safety and Business Standing

bizSAFE is a workplace safety programme run by the Workplace Safety and Health Council, with progressive levels. A certificate suggests the company has built safety processes. It says nothing about workmanship, so treat it as a supporting signal rather than a licence. If a contractor quotes a bizSAFE level, ask which level and whether it is current.

An ACRA record confirms the business exists and is live. It does not measure competence.

Warranty Scope and Who Honours It

A useful warranty states what it covers (frames, glass, hardware, installation workmanship), how long each part lasts, how to make a claim, and who is responsible. Where a manufacturer or supplier backs part of the product, the contractor should say so clearly. Vague phrases such as "lifetime warranty" without written terms deserve a follow-up question.

Reviewing Past Work and Track Record

Past work is harder to fake than marketing claims, so look for evidence you can assess yourself.

What to Look for in a Project Portfolio

Look for projects similar to yours: the same property type (HDB or condo) and comparable products. Inspect finishing quality in the photos, such as straight sealant lines, even gaps and aligned frames. Ask how the contractor can show that the work shown was their own, for instance through project descriptions or completion details.

Reading Reviews and Asking for References

Read reviews for patterns instead of single opinions. Repeated comments about delays, measurement errors or slow after-sales response matter more than one glowing or angry review. Notice how the contractor responds to complaints. It is reasonable to ask for a previous customer's contact or to see completed work, though some customers will decline.

Comparing Quotations on More Than Price

Compare written quotations like for like. A clear quotation itemises:

• Site inspection and measurement
• Removal and disposal of old units
• Materials and glass specification
• Hardware and finishes
• Sealing and finishing work
• Who handles any required approvals or permits
• Exclusions

A lower total often reflects items left out rather than a better deal, so check the scope line by line before comparing totals.

Payment Terms and Contract Clarity

Get the agreement in writing. CASE advises insisting on a written contract, negotiating the lowest possible deposit, paying progressively as the project reaches milestones, and ensuring outstanding defects are rectified before final payment. It also points consumers to its model agreement on home renovation.

Check what happens if scope or timeline changes. Record changes and agree to them in writing before the extra work begins.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

These questions suit any contractor.

Licensing and Compliance Questions

• What is your exact registered company name and licence number?
• Does your registration cover this property type and this type of work?
• Who handles any required approvals, and who is accountable if an application is rejected?
• For window works, will BCA-trained window installers carry out the installation?

Scope, Scheduling and Site-Management Questions

• Do your own staff measure and install, or do you use subcontractors?
• What is the expected lead time, and how will you tell me about delays?
• How do you comply with working-hour rules, and how will you protect my home and the common areas?
• Who handles clean-up and disposal of old units?

Warranty, After-Sales and Contract Questions

• What does the warranty cover, for how long, and how do I make a claim?
• How will defects found at handover be handled?
• What does the written agreement commit you to on scope, timeline and payment?

Red Flags That Should Slow Down Your Decision

None of these proves a problem, but each justifies slowing down:

• Reluctance to give a registered company name or licence number
• Vague or verbal-only quotations
• Pressure to pay or decide quickly
• A firm price with no on-site inspection
• Warranty promises that cannot be put in writing
• A payment account in a name that does not match the verified company

A Practical Order of Operations for Shortlisting

1. Shortlist a few contractors that appear to handle your property type and product.

2. Verify each one's credentials through official records.

3. Request written quotations after an on-site inspection.

4. Compare scope line by line, not just totals.

5. Put the key questions to each contractor and note the answers.

6. Review the contract carefully before signing.

Conclusion

Licensing in Singapore has several layers, and which ones apply depends on whether you live in an HDB flat, a condo or a landed home. You can check registration claims against official records using the registered company name and licence number. Those credentials are a baseline for eligibility, not proof of good workmanship. Clear written terms on scope, warranty and payment carry as much weight as price. With those points checked, you can compare contractors on facts and know what to confirm before you sign.

 

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