Monday, September 12, 2011

What to Look For in a Decking Contractor


When considering a new deck or fence you face a lot of different decisions, including the style, materials, size, and budget of the project. In addition, a large decision in the process is deciding on which fencing anddeck contractor to hire for your project. Hiring a contractor will impact the outcome of the other decision, including the pricing, style, and quality of your deck. Before you sign a contract with a builder, pay attention to the following things:

Licensing and Insurance

Make sure the contractor is officially licensed in your state before hiring them. Building a deck requires obtaining the correct permit materials and without a licensed contractor, you may run into legal trouble. Also ask for proof of insurance before a builder begins construction. They should always carry general liability, as well as workers compensation insurance. Without both of these, the home owner may be held responsible for on-site injury.

Work Portfolio

Look for aportfolio of work that your contractor has done before. Seeing their portfolio will give you a peek into their validity, quality, experience and style. The more examples they can provide the better.

Customer Testimonials + Reviews

Always check for customer reviews andtestimonials about their work to see if it is a reputable company or just a scam. Check with the better business bureau, first. If they have had any official complaints you will be able to find a record of it, there, and if they aren't listed in the BBB, look elsewhere. Next, perform a Google search for reviews about their work. This will help you find both positive and negative feedback, if it's out there. Finally, read the testimonials they feature on their website. This will reinforce the positive feedback you may have found on the web, with solid recommendations from their previous clients. If they don't list testimonials on their website, don't be shy about asking for references directly.

Project Proposal, and Rendering

Make sure you get a project proposal about your construction project prior to signing a contract or hiring a company. Any legitimate contractor should provide afree consultation with a proposal, which would estimate the time, materials and cost associated with your new construction. Once you have approved the proposal, ask for a detailed sketch or rendering of your future deck or fence, before construction begins.You should have a clear vision of what the end product will look like, the materials it will be made of, how long it will take, and how much it will cost, before the project hits the ground.

Standard Payments and Policies

Areputable contractor will provide you with their detailed standard payment policies and construction guidelines before requesting a signed contract. Avoid any contractors who aren't clear about their process. The typical standard for the decking industry is a 30% deposit prior to construction. If any contractor asks for more than this, be wary.


Special Thanks to

Reliatex Construction
817.231.0423
Reliatex Construction -Fort Worth's Top General Contractor and Deck Builder - Custom Decks and much more.

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