Does your house cry out for a deck? A deck gives you extra space, a nice area to socialize and relax, and it also makes for a great place for a family to hang out, particularly in Durham or the Triangle, where mild weather makes outdoor living a pleasure.
If you’re ready to add a deck, the first thing you need to ask is if you are capable of doing it yourself.
If not, you should interview several deck builders. Ask for references and make sure each one carries insurance and workers compensation; otherwise you could be liable for worksite accidents in the event of a worker is injured.
Make sure that the builder is willing to get all the permits and licenses that he needs. If he balks, then consider it a major red flag and move on.
Once you select a builder, you’ll start to discuss plans, materials and costs. Make sure you are both clear up front about how he will be paid. If you don’t agree to advances in, well, advance, then stick to that.
Like any home improvement project, circumstances can change and things can come up unexpectedly, so it’s important to have a budget. Then at least you’ll know how far over it you can go if you need to.
Carefully consider what you want to do with this space – is it a place to sleep on weekend afternoons? Are you a passionate about grilling? Do you want to listen to your children play in the yard? Do you plan to have a lot of guests?
After these steps are completed, the installation can begin.
There’s a checklist here you should follow as well. It’s posted here; feel free to print it out and check things off as they are completed.
And you should also feel free to call us if you have questions. We love to build decks for our clients in Durham, and we’d be thrilled to build one for you.
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