Do your fall plans include adding, expanding, or updating your deck? Ensure the deck contractor you hire brings craftsmanship and not hassle and drama. Follow these tips for hiring a deck contractor.
Check Credentials
Many handymen say they can build a deck or add a balcony. But do you want to trust their carpentry and engineering skills if they aren’t licensed, bonded, and insured?
Make sure the company you hire holds a current and active license from the State of California. Checking a professional license with the Department of Consumer Affairs only takes a minute and saves grief in the long term.
Check for insurance. If a deck contractor’s employee gets hurt at your house you could be on the hook for medical expenses. Unless of course, the contractor carries worker’s compensation insurance.
A bond protects you in the case of fraud. A bonded contractor gives you peace of mind that the terms of the contract will be fulfilled.
Check Reviews and References
Use Yelp and Google to check reviews. Determine if people seem happy overall with the quality of the work, the ability to stick to budget and if the job finishes on time. Also, evaluate the level of communication their customers experience.
Ask for references and follow-up. Send a quick text to the reference and ask if it is a good time to call. When you speak with a reference, it’s not enough to ask if they were happy or unhappy, ask why they feel the way they do.
Contrary to popular belief, membership in the Better Business Bureau (BBB) doesn’t indicate the reliability of a company. Membership only proves the willingness to pay annual fees over $500.
Consider a contractor with great online reviews, a 75-year track record of successful project completion, no complaints, and no membership in the BBB compared to a company with BBB membership, 10 years, in business, and a long stream of unhappy customers.
Who would you hire?
Compare Deck Contractor Quotes
When comparing quotes, make sure you compare apples to apples. One deck contractor might propose composite decking, and another might propose wood.
The composite decking quote comes in higher than wood because the construction material costs more. However, the cost of maintenance for composite materials is much less. If the cost of composite materials exceeds your budget, ask for a quote for wood and then compare.
In other words, make sure all quotes include comparable materials, comparable materials quality, and the same level of service.
Be sure to get a quote from Crank Waterproofing, Roofing, and Decking. You’ll work with a company with a 75-year proven track record, great references, and holds a California general contractor license and insurance.
Request a quote today.
