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Before making your decision, consider the following:
1. The most important part of selecting a contractor is to talk to their past clients, and view some of their past projects in person. (preferably decks that are similar to yours) If a contractor is unwilling to provide at least three references or jobs for you to look at, please be wary! Contractors should be proud of their work, and even more proud of the relationships they’ve built with their clients.
2. In this market environment, contractors absolutely must be licensed and insured! If you are in doubt even the slightest, ask them to show you! Your risk as a homeowner is simply too great to have uninsured, unlicensed personnel working on your home.
3. Ask about their warranty. If your deck is properly built, you’ll never use the warranty period. But, should something happen, it’s nice to know that the contractor will be around (and be willing!) to come back out and do what’s needed to make it right.
THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE COST OF A DECK:
• Proper insurance and professional credentials of the contractor.
• Expertise of the craftsmen who will build your deck.
• Type of materials. Knowing exactly what materials are being used is the only way to accurately compare estimates. Just by cutting one corner on materials, prices can be impacted from estimate to estimate by hundreds of dollars. In the case of composite lumber make sure your contractor is using professional grade, well known composite brands such as CorrectDeck or Trex. Some contractors save money by purchasing inferior composite products from the “big box” home improvement stores. Make certain you know what kind of composite materials you’re getting and what the contractor’s experience with it is.
•Creativity and technical accuracy in design. Your deck is a permanent addition to your home and affects it’s usability and resale value. It’s where your family will gather and relax for many summers to come. Design should be done around your family’s functional requirements and style. The design process can only be done once; don’t settle for boring!
•The details: Is trim included? Or under-deck weed control? Or disposal of the existing deck? Or deck lighting? Who will obtain the permit and schedule utility staking? These questions must be answered to your satisfaction before a project gets underway.
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