A home with a deck is one that offers ample outdoor space for relaxation, family bonding time and entertaining of guests. It therefore is a structural element that adds great value to a property. If you live in San Diego and have decided to add such a space to your home or you already own one that needs some renovation, one of the greatest challenges you are likely to face is how to choose the right contractor.
As simple as this may sound, it can actually be a stressful process, especially given the fact that you’d have a lot of options to choose from. Given how important it is that you choose the right contract, as you can see in this article, we will provide you with simple and actionable tips to help you choose the deck contractor that is right for your San Diego home’s deck project.
Let’s take the process step by step:
Determine Your Needs
The first thing you will need to do before you even begin to look for a deck contractor is to determine exactly what your deck needs are. To help you with this decision, consider the following:
New Construction or Renovation/Remodeling?
Are you looking to build a brand new deck or do you want to remodel or renovate an existing one? This is the first question you will need to ask and answer. If you want to renovate, then you will need to know why you need to renovate. Are you simply looking to freshen things up or are there structural defects that you want to fix? By knowing exactly what job you want the contractor to do, you make the selection process a little easier.
Type of Deck
If you want to have a new deck built, you should have an idea of the type of deck you want. Doing a little research will help you here. You can simple look at design magazines or existing decks around you that you will want to model. You can also check for some examples here: https://www.thespruce.com/. Once you determine the type of deck you want, your job becomes even easier.
Size
The contractor will not be the one to tell you what size your deck should be. Based on your lifestyle needs and preferences, you should know the size that you think will work best for you. Of course, any contractor you choose will have the opportunity to give you a professional opinion on your choice should there be a need for it.
Budget
Most contractors will ask you if what your budget it. If you have a budget, your contractor can more easily determine the best material to use, design modifications, timeline considerations, labor requirements and other factors that will adjusted to ensure that the project fits your budget.
Begin the Search
Armed with the information discussed above, it’s now time to begin to actively search for a contractor to work with. The simple steps below are great for starters:
Ask for Referrals
Talk to your friends, family and colleagues to see if any of them knows any deck contractor that they can recommend. This is one of the most effective ways of getting trusted and reputable services providers. If you get a referral, then your search may just have ended here.
Search Online
If you were unable to get a suitable referral, then your next course of action will be to search online. A simple online search for deck contractors in San Diego will reveal a host of options that you can begin to interrogate. It is important that you keep your search local so that you can be sure that the contractor you choose understands everything they need to know about building decks in San Diego.
Check for Reviews and Ratings
Your aim here is to see what people who have previously worked with them have to say about the service they offer. While some reviews can be vindictive and malicious, you should be able to draw a reasonably correct conclusion from the sum of the reviews and ratings you find.
Look for Certifications and Memberships
To further narrow your list to the most suitable, look for contractors that are certified members of local business bodies, like the San Diego Chamber of Commerce. You can also look for their rating on independent sites like Better Business Bureau. A reputable contractor will likely have good standings with such bodies.
If you follow the steps outlined above, you significantly increase your chances of getting a great contractor that will handle your deck job to your satisfaction.
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