10 Questions to Ask Yourself & Deck Construction Companies
These 10 questions can help make the process of designing and building a deck less daunting. Answering these questions will also help better equip you to communicate with potential deck contractors.
1. WHY DO I WANT A DECK?
There are many different reasons as to why a homeowner would want a deck. Whether the deck is being built for the purpose of a grill out, to place a hot tub, or even to plant herb or container gardens, your contractor should be aware of your intentions. Having a clearer picture in mind will help your contractors give a more clearer picture of the estimated cost and which materials should be considered.
The easiest way to start planning the layout of your deck is to determine how you will access the deck.
2. DOES MY CURRENT DECK NEED TO BE REPLACED?
If you have an existing deck and are debating whether or not you would like to fully replace it, repair it, or add on to it, consult with your contractor. During Elite estimates, our field representative will look for and point out signs of wood rot, peeling paint, and other signs of wear and tear. If your deck has seen better days, it may make more sense to tear it down and fully replace it because it may not only be time efficient, but also more cost effective.
Before scheduling an estimate, if you are able to provide details about the condition of your existing deck, it will help the field representative give you a more accurate idea of your options.
3. DO I NEED A BUILDING PERMIT TO BUILD A DECK?
Before moving forward with a project, check with your local municipality first. Requirements for permits depend on your specific location. Some areas are more stricter than others and homeowners associations typically limit your ability to build a deck.
Elite Construction and Remodel has been building decks for over 10 years and in our experience, when refinishing a deck or building a new deck like-for-like, permits are typically not required. However, completely new deck projects almost always require a permit. Our clients have the option of pulling permits themselves or requesting us to do it. find out more about your permitting options by giving your local municipality a call! Above the image on the right, you can find the phone numbers of building departments in common areas that our clients reside in.
Sacramento County: (916) 875-5296
Placer County: (530) 745-3010
Rocklin: (916) 625-5120
Folsom: (916) 351-3555
Citrus Heights: (916) 727-4750
Lincoln: (916) 434-2470
Loomis: (916) 652-1840
West Sacramento: (916) 617-4683
4. WHAT MATERIAL SHOULD I USE FOR MY DECK?
With over 10 years of decking experience, we have found that the two most common deck materials are treated wood and low maintenance composites. The deck below is made up of trex deck boards which are made up of composite decking material that is designed to “outperform” wood. However, there are pros and cons to each type of material, as such, its important to know what you prioritize in this deck, whether it is longevity, endurance, or aesthetics.
If properly maintained, treated wood decks can last your family a long time. Additionally, wood comes in a lot of color and staining options which gives customers a variety of options and can fit any aesthetic.
If you are willing to pay more, Vinyl, or any other low-maintenance composites, may be a good option to consider. This material comes pre-finished, meaning it doesn’t need to be stained or painted and it requires very little maintenance. This can save you money in advance when taking into account the time it would take the crew to paint or stain the wood. It’s also a more environmentally friendly option, as up to 95% of the materials are from recycled sources. Additionally, this material is proven to be more durable and have a higher longevity period than wood, and you won’t have to worry about it rotting over time.
5. WHAT IS MY STYLE?
We suggest you start considering which styles and color scheme you would like to have for your deck. Keep in mind, most customers prefer to choose styles and colors that will complement their home and not stick out. However, whatever you choose, Elite Construction is here to satisfy your desires.
There are many style options that you can choose for your deck. It all depends on the purpose of your deck. These styles are the most common that we have worked on: free standing deck, above ground pool decks, front porch decks, event decks, and multilevel decks. Each style of deck serves its own purpose.
6. WHAT IS MY BUDGET?
Depending on which material you choose, how big you want your deck, and the design, your budget will reflect your choices. We suggest for all of our potential clients to be upfront with our field representative of your budget range. This will allow us to be honest with you with the options available to you. If you are set on a material but want a budget decrease, the field representative may come up with compromises like decreasing the size of the deck.
7. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BUILDING DECKS?
Elite Construction & Remodel has over 11 years of experience in building decks. We are an established company that is well-versed in building beautiful decks in the Sacramento area and surrounding regions
8. CAN YOU SHOW PROOF OF YOUR INSURANCE?
We suggest that before you go with a company, make sure they have liability insurance. All reputable home improvement companies would be happy to provide you with proof of insurance if requested. Feel free to contact us at (916) 469-4660 if you would like us to email you our proof!
9. DO YOU HAVE ANY REFERENCES THAT I CAN CONTACT?
Additionally, all reputable companies will have a few references that indicate an honest overview of their experience. Reference both the good and bad reviews and determine whether or not you would like this company to complete your deck job. Elite has multiple avenues in which you can reference real honest reviews such as the testimonial page, Yelp reviews, and Google reviews.
10. CAN I SEE YOUR PORTFOLIO
If you would like to quickly take a look at the variety of deck projects Elite Construction has done, please reference the pictures below. You will notice a difference in material, size, design, and scope of each project. Contact us at (916) 469-4660 if you would like to schedule an estimate for your deck.Most of these questions are important to consider in order to get a better fit for the ideal lifestyle of many homeowners. Elite Construction & Remodel is more than happy to take your call at (916) 469-4660 and help answer these questions. Call us now to get started on your dream deck.
