Best Deck Builder Lehigh Valley PA | Deck Installer | Deck Contractor

WHAT SHOULD I ASK MY DECK CONTRACTOR?

  When it comes to working with your deck contractor, there’s a lot of important boxes to check to make sure you’re getting value and quality in the finished project. For starters and most importantly, is your deck contractor an expert in the trade, or a contractor that periodically does deck projects?  

One of the biggest reasons this is an important question is because the level of expertise they have is based on their answer. An expert in the trade, a builder that focuses only on deck projects and nothing else will have an unparalleled level of knowledge and experience to bring to the table. In addition to that, they’ve more than likely built strong relationships with their suppliers in the decking-specific trade, meaning negotiated pricing on materials. Although a contractor who does a few deck projects per year may provide a great product, there is the risk factor of less experience and expertise in deck building and design, It's not easy to go from installing roof shingles on Monday to starting a deck build on Wednesday, the same goes for the home improvement contractor going from a kitchen cabinet job to digging 40-inch deep footings by hand for a deck - it rarely works out when jobs are scrutinzed. 

Another valuable question to ask your deck contractor is what materials they recommend for the function you’re looking to get out of your deck. There are some decking materials that are meant to withstand heavy foot traffic, and some for less-harsh activity.  Also, there are boards built for climate-specific regions that have more or less seasonal extremes. There are even materials displaying a more modern look versus those with a more traditional feel. What is best for your outdoor space is all dependent on the vision you have for your deck. Your deck contractor will know what materials are available in the variety you’re looking for, and can best help steer you in the right direction

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A DECK BUILDER?

Hiring a deck contractor can be a daunting task if you’re not sure of the qualities that are important to look for. There are two types of contractors when it comes to decks; the deck contractor who specializes in decks and centers their business entirely around that industry, or the general contractor that does an array of projects including a few decks a year. To break down the logic behind why this matters, it comes down to expertise and quality of craftsmanship. 

When you do the same thing 10 times, you’re naturally going to be better at it the 10th than the 5th. The same goes for the 50th time compared to the 10th. Point is, the more decks someone builds, the higher the quality, know-how, and efficiency going into the project will be. When a contractor that provides a lot of varying services, it’s tough for the crews to become expert-level in one specific trade, such as decking building. That being said, someone who specializes in deck building will naturally provide a more polished experience for you, be fully equipped for the trade, as well as an expert-quality finished project. When contractors change trades several times a week, it is imposible to have every tool you need for the new task with you unless they travel with a tractor trailer filled with all tools for every trade, Most multi-taskers swap tools every morning in and out of their truck and it always happens that you forget something and need to do the best with what you have and this can dramatically change the outcome of a finish somewhere on the deck. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A DECK?

 It’s tough to say how long it will take to build your deck, based on all factors being taken into account. A deck built from scratch will naturally take longer to complete than a resurface using the same frame as before. All design details are unique to each individual outdoor space, such as lighting, staircases, railings, and size, each of which adding or reducing the time needed to be done right. However, for reference, an average a high-quality 300sqft deck build should take 1-2 weeks, depending on all aspects listed above, and of course, weather cooperation. 

On the other hand that same 300 sqft deck can be completed in 3 days by some contractors if your not looking for a quality job, will the contractor sort the wood to acheieve a flat deck or just grab joists and nail them up leaving a wavy deck behind. Will they plane wood that has alot of wane or just install the joists off the pile, will they pre-drill to avoid splitting the wood (which will show itself in a few months) or will they just start driving bolts, will they dig deep enough and make sure footings are wide enough or just cement and backfill, will they picture frame a deck for professional installations or leave deck ends exposed, will they cut stair fascia or screw up the full piece traping debis/ice and water in the stair corners. These are all thing to take into account when your spending top dollar on todays high priced composites. If price, speed and good looking for today is the buying decision then we recommed installing wood. If quality, long lasting and a deck thats pleasing to look at is your goal then hire a deck professional and get the 30-years out of your investment.