How To Pick A Deck Contractor
Building a new deck is not only an excellent investment that can add value to your home, but it’s a great way to extend the useable space of your home outdoors! A professionally build deck is a great place to spend time outdoors with friends or family or to just relax alone and enjoy the tranquillity the outdoors has to offer.
For most homeowners considering a new deck, it’s a big decision. As such, it’s important to pick the right deck contractor to build your deck to ensure not only a return on your investment but that it is a safe structure for your family to enjoy. A professionally build deck is a beautiful, functional extension of your home outdoors, that can last for many decades depending on the materials chosen for the project. A poorly built deck can be an eyesore that is often dangerous and can leave you open to personal injury, liability, or even death. Every year in North America people are injured and killed due to inadequate deck design and construction practices.
Start With A Plan
Before you start calling deck builders, it’s prudent to have a basic plan or vision laid out. This by no means needs to be a detailed plan, but having a basic list of ideas and design criteria already in mind will help you greatly in finding the right contractor for the job. Because deck design styles can vary between contractors, with each contractor having their own signature flair, it can be of benefit to review builders’ portfolios to see if their style matches what you have envisioned for your own deck.
Often, deck contractors will have catalogues or inspiration guides to help assist potential clients with selecting design elements for their new deck, as well as outlining their capabilities. You can check out Align Deckings’ inspiration catalogue here: Inspiration Catalogue
Another aspect of your new deck to have in mind before speaking to potential deck contractors is your budget. A professional deck builder can help work with you in determining what deck design aspects will fit into your budget.
Here are some other points to consider before speaking to a potential deck contractor:
Do you want a wood or composite/PVC deck?
Do you want traditional parallel running boards or a more intricate pattern such as herringbone?
Will your deck need railings?
What railing styles do you like?
Will your deck need staircases?
Will your deck be multi-level or all the same level?
Will your deck be at ground level or elevated?
Will your deck incorporate a covering such as a pergola or a gazebo?
Will your deck incorporate other design features such as embedded lighting, benches or planters?
Browse Local Deck Contractors Online
Now that you have a basic plan ready and have armed yourself with some basic deck knowledge, it’s a great time to look online at local deck builders in your area. Tools like Google, Bing, or Home Stars are excellent for this, as they typically have customer reviews tied directly to the business listing. If a deck contractor has no online reviews, this can be a red flag that the builder is potentially inexperienced. Picking a contractor with an established online presence and positive reviews can help refine your selection of potential deck builders. Checking social media is also another great way to gauge potential contractors’ reputation and credibility.
Have Questions Ready To Ask Contractors
Coming to the conversation prepared is always a good idea. Write down a list of questions to ask potential contractors. Some of these questions will be unique to your particular project, but here is a list of general questions to ask that will apply to any new deck-building project:
How many years of experience do you have? This is a great first question to ask. Any contractor that stumbles while answering this question should raise a red flag. Knowing how long a company has been building decks is a great overall metric to gauge the experience of the builder.
Do you have WSIB and liability insurance? The answer to this question should always be 100% yes with no excuses or caveats. Run the other direction if a potential contractor states they don’t have either of these.
Are you licensed? This is another great question to weed out “fly by night” contractors. Without a valid business license, a contractor is not able to apply for the appropriate liability protections.
Is your crew employed directly by you and covered under your insurance, or are they subcontracted? Often contractors will delegate work to other companies in a process known as subcontracting. It’s important to know if any subcontractors will be working on the project so you can fully vet them and their credentials also.
Will my deck require a permit? Municipal permitting is the responsibility of the homeowner so it’s important to have a clear answer as to whether or not your project will require a building permit.
If so, can you assist with the permitting process? The permitting process can be intimidating to many homeowners seeking a new deck. Some contractors offer to provide assistance throughout this process. Discuss with your potential contractor ahead of time if this is a service they can offer and if there is an added fee for it.
Can you offer 3D renderings of my deck build? Sometimes seeing is believing. Some companies can provide realistic 3D renderings of the completed deck project that allow the customer to visualize the finished product and confirm ahead of time that they are getting what they envision. Discuss with your potential deck contractor if 3D renderings are provided prior to construction and if there is an added cost for this service.
Can I see your portfolio? Seeing a builder’s portfolio of previous works allows to you ensure their style fits with the deck style you desire. If you are looking for a complex multi-level composite deck with a herringbone pattern, and a builder’s portfolio only encompasses small, rectangular pressure-treated decks, perhaps it’s best to consider another contractor. Again, seeing is believing.
Can I speak to previous clients? Speaking with a builder’s previous clients can be a great way to glean valuable insights in determining if that builder is right for your job.
What are your specialties? Often, builders will favor certain materials and styles. Asking a builder’s specialties is a great way to gauge the scope of their abilities.
Are you experienced with composite, PVC, and wood decks? Some deck builders work strictly with wood, others use strictly composite materials, and some are experienced with both. Making sure that the contractor you hire is experienced in installing the type of flooring you have selected is vital to ensuring the success of your project.
How long do you expect my project to take? Project timelines for deck construction can vary widely depending on material choices, this has been especially true in 2021 with ongoing supply chain delays and shortages. Make sure you know what you are getting into ahead of time.
Do you offer financing? Many builders can accept credit cards or even offer other financing options for your deck. If you are looking to purchase your new deck with a credit card, ensure your deck builder accepts it as a form of payment.
What payment schedule do you prefer? Understanding the desired payment schedule of a contractor is a vital piece of information to have. If a contractor is looking for 100% payment upfront, consider another builder.
Speak With Deck Builders Over The Phone
Once you have refined your choices by browsing local contractors online, it’s a good idea to conduct short phone interviews to further gauge the deck builder’s fit for your project. Start by determining the deck builder’s availability. If the contractor can’t start work until August, but you need your new deck finished by July, they obviously aren’t a good fit and can be eliminated right away. Other things to determine over the phone with your potential deck builder include ensuring they are licensed and insured. Speak with the builder about your budget and design preferences so they can determine feasibility and product offerings.
When speaking to potential builders, use your judgment to determine if they sound like trustworthy professionals. If you get a bad feeling from a particular contractor, it’s best to trust your gut instinct and move on to another potential builder.
Meet With Potential Builders In Person
Meeting with potential contractors in person is a great way to further gauge the builder’s character and abilities. This is a good time to further discuss things previously touched upon during your phone call. It’s best to meet the builder at the site of the new deck installation so they can gather all the information and unique traits of the terrain. Now that the builder has an opportunity to evaluate the building site, they can confirm that design attributes and budget constraints align with reality. During an onsite inspection, builders can gather all the necessary information to build an accurate quote for the job, as well as determine any design limitations due to terrain or other site features.
Speak With Multiple Builders If Possible
Barring select cases, there should be a plethora of potential deck builders servicing your immediate area. The more you speak to, the better. You may think that you have found the perfect contractor for your job, but often speaking to other contractors can help broaden your perspective and help enlighten you on aspects you hadn’t previously considered. We recommend speaking to at least 3 potential contractors for your deck-building project.
Get Estimates/Quotes
Just as we recommend speaking with multiple contractors, we recommend getting multiple quotes for your project wherever possible. Having quotes from multiple qualified candidates can help provide peace of mind with regard to pricing, and helps provide a comparison point between potential builders. Is one of your quotes much, much higher than the others? Why is that? Weeding out contractors that lowball the job can also help avoid potential headaches down the road.
Finalize An Agreement
Once you are satisfied that you have found the perfect contractor to build your new deck, its time to finalize an agreement in writing. All terms of the project should be included in this agreement including materials, design, costs, timelines, payment schedules, and any responsibilities of the homeowner such as permitting. Be sure to review all terms carefully and clarify any confusion or concerns with the contractor prior to signing the agreement. This agreement constitutes a written contract and protects both the customer and the contractor.