Tips for Hiring a Deck Contractor
Building a deck can be a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. But how do you find the right contractor for the job? That’s the million-dollar question, Read on to find all the answers in this article!
Deck Guardian
Tip 1
Read All The References & Reviews When Hiring a Deck Contractor
A little online research is one of the first and easiest things you can do when questioning how to find a contractor to build a deck. You don’t have to be a detective to do a bit of digging, there is so much information available online.
First of all, you need to do a web search for “top deck contractors” in the city or state you live in. The search engine will then present you with a list of the most popular contractors out there. Don’t just pick the first one you see. Check out their website. Read through the services they provide and the customer reviews. But don’t stop there.
Make a list of your 3 top NJ deck builders. Now do a search of those particular businesses. What comes up? Are they in good standing with the Better Business Bureau? Do they have positive reviews on 3rd party sites? Read the reviews there too.
What does their website look like? Is it professional and informative? In today’s world, and with the resources available out there, a company without a good website is an indication that they may either be brand new to the industry or not as serious about building decks as a consumer may want. Many scammers will run their businesses without a website. They have hired inexperienced and unskilled workers and are just looking for gullible consumers to take advantage of.
Now it’s unfair to judge a business based on bad reviews as we all know there are people out there who will complain no matter what, and mistakes do happen, even to the best of us. But if the overwhelming majority of their reviews are mediocre or below average, then cross them off your list. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Once you’ve singled out your top pick (hint, hint, Deck Guardian), you will call them up and schedule a consultation. Our NJ deck builders will be more than happy to schedule an appointment to sit with you and go over your ideas and hopes and dreams for your deck. We’ve seen it all. In fact, one customer came in with a deck idea drawn with crayons on a napkin. The expert designers at Deck Guardian have the skills to take whatever idea you have and make it a reality. It pays to do your research when hiring deck builders NJ.
When you’re doing your research for NJ deck builders, you will no doubt come across Deck Guardian. We are at the top for many reasons. But the biggest reason is that we have a great relationship with our customers. A lot of our work comes from word of mouth and referred customers from happy past clients.
So it never hurts to hear about a service from the source. Give us a call and we can give you a list of references to call and talk to firsthand. If you’re serious about how to find a contractor to build a deck, and you only want the best, do your due diligence in reviewing websites and checking out reviews.
The bottom line is if a decking company has a great website and is totally transparent with all their services, customer reviews, and even offers tips and tricks on their site, you can feel safe that they are one of the top NJ deck builders.
Tip 2
When Hiring Deck Contractors, You Need to Know Who Will Be Doing The Labor
One of our tips for hiring a deck contractor is to find out if the company does their work or if they subcontract out their work. Some companies will hire cheap, inexperienced workers to do the hard labor. But not Deck Guardian. We work with only the very best contractors in the decking business and we keep a very high degree of quality control ensuring all our contractors are using our tried and true methods of building a deck.
Hiring a deck contractor means you are paying for these builders’ experience, knowledge, expertise, and work ethic. That’s why we guarantee only the very best workers when you are hiring NJ deck builders to build your deck.
Tip 3
How Experienced are the Affordable Deck Builders You Are Hiring
In your quest to find the top NJ deck builders, you want to know how experienced they are at building decks. Many companies are “jack of all trades.” Meaning they build a lot of things; houses, sheds, gazebos, kitchens, window installations, fences, and even decks. It’s not to say these companies are not experienced in building things; but if you are looking to build the very best deck, you want to hire professional deck builders.
Building a deck is not something that should ever just be slapped together. Doing a proper job requires expertise, design, proper planning, and execution. For the same reason you wouldn’t hire a deck builder to build your house, you shouldn’t hire a general contractor to build your deck.
Look specifically for deck experts if you are looking for the best deck, patio, or porch. Companies like Deck Guardian, which put 100% of their efforts into everything related to decks, are the companies you want to hire.
Our NJ deck builders specialize in building new decks, resurfacing old decks, work with screened-in porches, and patios. Decks are an expensive investment, so you will get the best bang for your buck by hiring a deck contractor who is a true expert in deck building. Finding affordable deck builders with superior workmanship is possible with Deck Guardian.
Tip 4
The Best NJ Deck Builders Will Use the Best Materials
Sure, you could slap together a makeshift deck using the cheapest materials, but where will that get you? In a few years or less, you’ll have a slew of issues that will require fixing, and quite possibly a horrible accident or injury because of a collapsed or rotting deck.
Using cheap materials will cost you more in the long run. That’s the truth. And that is precisely why the experts at Deck Guardian will only deal with the best materials. This is because we want a safe and sturdy deck that will give our customers enjoyment for years to come. We even have a 25-50 year warranty to back up that claim.
All of our decks are built on galvanized steel helical pier footing that supports more than 3 times the weight of basic concrete posts. We don’t take shortcuts. The decks we build are built to last.
All of our bases are built on pressure-treated yellow pine which is ground contact grade # 1 lumber. Not only that, but we only use lumber with an EPP certification which stands for Environmentally Preferable Products. Our lumber has a lower environmental impact than other products in the same industry. At Deck Guardian, we like to support green while also extending the life of your deck.
Looking for tips for hiring a deck contractor? Don’t cheap out on materials. Wood has a shelf life. That’s why we prefer to use high-quality mineral-based composite boards. These boards have the industry’s best strength-to-weight ratio and essentially no thermal contraction of expansion. It’s similar to wood but has unmatched strength. Click here to learn more about the materials we use.
Tip 5
NJ Deck Builders Should Be Registered and Insured Plus Have a Great Warranty Policy
Another one of our tips for hiring a deck contractor is to check if their company is registered and insured. This is especially important when you are hiring affordable deck builders who work with subcontractors. Being licensed means that Deck Guardian has all the necessary competencies to conduct business in the state of New Jersey.
Top deck builders NJ should also be insured. This guarantees both the company and the customer are protected if something goes wrong. You can rest assured that hiring a deck contractor like Deck Guardians, is a safe and trusted endeavor. NJ deck builders will always go above and beyond to give you exceptional customer service from the start of the process to the very finish.
One of our last tips for hiring a deck contractor is to check out their warranty policy. Hiring a deck contractor like Deck Guardian should have a clear policy when it comes to how they warranty their products and services. Deck Guardian offers a 25 to 50-year warranty, so you can feel confident working with us knowing your investment is well-constructed and well-protected.
Questions to Ask When Hiring A Deck Contractor
When looking for affordable deck builders, it is easy to draw a blank on what to ask them. Here is a comprehensive list of questions to ask when hiring a deck contractor to build your deck:
- Are you registered and insured? (If they say no, run the other way)
- How many years have you been in business?
- What’s your work philosophy or motto?
- What makes you better than the competition?
- What’s your warranty policy?
- Can I get a list of referrals?
Red Flags to Look Out For When Hiring a NJ Deck Builder
Here are some red flags to watch for when hiring a deck contractor:
- Hiring deck builders NJ without a website is strongly advised against. This may imply they are not serious about the business of deck building.
- Don’t hire affordable deck builders who are not licensed and don’t have insurance.
- Hiring a deck contractor that asks for cash upfront is questionable, do further investigation before giving this contractor your business.
- While there are affordable deck builders out there, be careful if they offer a “too good to be true” price. Quality materials and service cost money and you have to wonder why and how a deck builder could afford to do work for so cheap.
- Look out for unclear or vague contracts. You should know exactly what you are paying for when you are hiring deck builders NJ.
- Be wary when hiring a deck contractor who can’t give you references. NJ deck builders should be proud to share a list of referrals for you to call.
Finding Your Perfect Match for a Perfect Deck
Hiring a deck contractor is a big decision and it’s worth it to put in the work to find the right match for you and your deck project. If you read this article about the tips for hiring a deck contractor you should have a clearer idea of the things you should look for when hiring deck builders NJ to build your perfect deck.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our service team at Deck Guardians, we’d love to connect with you and start your free estimate today!