deck builder

Chances are if you played any part in designing your current or previous home, there were countless questions not only on your end, but also from the deck contractors to make sure the finished product would be just what you had in mind. Any legitimate contractor should be just as open to his customers’ demands as he is to his own visions of the final product. It is after all, your home. And when it comes to hiring a deck contractors toronto to bring to life your dream deck, you want to make sure they are also asking the right questions to ensure that your Toronto deck design The perfect fit for you.

 6 key questions deck builders should ask you before taking on your project.

1. What Purpose Will Your Deck Serve?

This is one of the most fundamental questions a deck builders should always ask before starting. Every person has their own unique purpose for their deck, and it is vital that the builder knows this right from the very beginning. Perhaps you desire a massive deck with lots of room for cooking, lounging and the occasional water gun fight. Others might want a smaller and simpler design with a more romantic vibe. The closer your ideas match those of the deck builders, the best chance you will have for success.

2. What is Your Budget?

If your deck builders fails to cover this vital question with you, do proceed with caution. Unless your house is shaded with rows of money trees, chances are you will have a budget in mind and will not want to stray too far from it. Once you and your deck builders are on the same page as far as costs, you can both have a realistic idea of what to expect with regards to the finished product and not be surprised by either a lack of vibrancy or a very expensive bill. Communication is absolutely vital, especially when dealing with dollars and cents.

3. What Colour Suits You?

It is a fact that the colours that surround you alter your mood, and this is true indoors as well as outdoors. An experienced deck builders will have many suggestions as to what colour will look best on your deck, but you should be the one making the final decision. Perhaps you want a natural stained deck to give a more rustic appeal, or a modern colour that pops and will be seen for miles. Choosing the best colour to match your taste and the environment is something every good deck builders will want to get straight right from the get go.

4. Maintenance, Is That a Problem?

Decks are either built to last, or built to last a season only to need replacement soon thereafter. What determines which one your deck will be is no luck of the draw, rather a very integrative part of the planning process. When purchasing the building materials, a good deck builders will know if your deck will be built to last or built to maintain. For obvious reasons, this question should be at the top of their list before beginning the job.

5. What Will the Layout Be?

The layout of your deck will determine not only how it is used by you and your guests, but the overall vibe that it gives off. With a wide single layer deck, you will have no trouble manoeuvring around, even mingling with a handful of people without anyone needing to fight for space, although this design may be a bit dull for your taste. If your deck has multiple levels and little nooks and crannies it will certainly encourage more private seating amongst friends and family, and offer a very different experience.

6. Open or Closed Deck?

If you opt for an open deck, chances are you imagine yourself sitting out and watching the sunset as night falls over the land, or something of the sort. Bottom line is that an open deck gives you a front row seat to whatever view your house is already equipped with. And if your house is literally scrunched right up next to your neighbour, perhaps a closed deck is the right choice. This style of deck can extend the peace and privacy of indoors to your outdoor oasis. Any questions deck builder who has their head on straight will surely want to know which of these style decks you have in mind.

This  6 key questions deck builders you should definitely ask before the project begin.

And there you have it, getting these questions out of the way in the beginning will ensure you the best chance of having that dreamy Toronto deck that will bring many great memories for years to come. Communication between you and your deck builders is paramount, so be sure to be open and always speak your mind.

Questions Deck Builders unless you feel comfortable, because it’s your money and Time. Feel Free to Contact Toronto Custom Deck for any question.

Once a backyard deck is finished and being enjoyed by family and friends many homeowners don’t give it a second thought. They lose sight of the fact that a deck is susceptible to the same forces the house is (wind, rain, snow, settling etc) and figure the deck will just take care of itself. A new posting on the American Society of Home Inspectors website reminds us that this is not the case. They recommend you have your deck inspected at least once a year.

Mike Beaudry, executive vice president of the Bucks County-based North American Deck and Railing Association, said deck inspections are simple to do, but often are ignored by homeowners who think decks last forever.

About 50 million decks in the United States have been built with a municipal permit, Beaudry said, and about half are older than 20 years old.

The age of those decks could point to a fairly broad possibility of trouble. More frightening, he said, is the untold number of decks that were built without permits — and often without attention to code.

Of course what applies to our friends south of the border also applies to the many decks currently gracing homes in the GTA. Especially, as the article points out, those constructed by deck builders without proper permits which were therefore never inspected during their construction. And in case you think this is little more than alarmist tongue-wagging consider these recent incidents:

• In May of this year a deck in an Indiana suburb collapsed injuring a dozen people. The deck pulled away from the house while crowded with party goers and collapsed to the ground. Later reports indicated poor construction was the likely cause.
• The following month an apartment balcony collapsed in Berkeley, California killing 6 young people and injuring 7 more. The balcony pulled away from the building and collapsed to the street below. City inspectors say the balcony, if built to code, should have had no problem handling the weight of the people; meaning someone cut corners somewhere.
• In Sept 2013 a deck in Dartmouth NS collapsed during a party injuring 15 people. Neighbours reported hearing a “loud crack” before the deck plunged to the ground. Local building inspectors were called in to investigate.

We could go on but you get the picture. While even the best built deck will eventually succumb to the effects of age, most deck accidents result from shady deck builders circumventing the rules in order to increase profits. So if you have a deck that was constructed without permits you really need to bring in a qualified inspector to look it over, top to bottom. The alternative is to let problems fester and wait for them to turn into a newsworthy accident.

Choose the Right Deck Builders and Say Goodbye to Safety Concerns

Deck inspections are a smart way to head off potential problems with your deck regardless of the circumstances of its construction. An inspector can identify issues that may not be obvious to you but which could lead to an accident and/or injuries to you, your loved ones and friends down the road.

The best way to head off potential problems however, remains making sure your deck is built by fully licensed and insured deck builders with verifiable references and a history of success like the professional deck builders at Toronto Custom Decks. We’ve been creating beautiful, durable and safe backyard decks for our clients in the GTA for more than a decade and have a long list of satisfied customers to show for it. We never take chances with your home and make sure every aspect of your deck is built to meet or exceed local building standards. With Toronto Custom Decks on the job you’ll never need to worry about the safety and security of your loved ones on one of our backyard decks.

Dreaming of a Having a Deck? Get in Touch Today!

Call us today on 647-878-8780 for a free consultation. We’ll help you determine what type of deck will be right for your home and then set up an appointment for you to come in and discuss the matter in further detail.

Building a deck yourself, or contracting with a deck builder to get the job done, can be one of the most rewarding projects many homeowners will ever undertake. A source of immense pride, a well planned and built deck can also increase the value of a home and expand usable space in a backyard for years to come.

As the Greater Toronto Area’s premier deck design company, Toronto custom decks has built hundreds of decks and patios over the years, and strives to exceed all expectations with outstanding designs, professional installation, and outstanding customer service.

Part of the reason we’ve been so successful for more than 20 years is because of the relationship we have with our customers, and the effort we take to educate them about what qualities to look for in a landscaping company.

Here are the top five questions we recommend consumers ask when they’re thinking of hiring a deck builder:

• How long have you been in the business? The hallmark of a reputable, successful business is a long history in its chosen profession, whether it’s cleaning windows, plowing snow, or deck building. At ME Contracting, our designers and installers have been working as a team since 1992.
• Do you require a deposit to begin work? This is especially important. An established deck builder will always have the financial resources to purchase the necessary building materials, pull construction or other permits, and pay designers and installers until a project is finished. A homeowner should never have to pay up front for work to begin in earnest.
• Do you have insurance and licenses? Hiring a “handyman” to build a deck may cost less in the long run, but the homeowner is assuming a fair amount of risk in return. If someone is injured on the job, the customer’s homeowner policy will pay the cost of treatment, lost wages, and so forth. If the deck is built without a building, electrical, or other license from the local municipality, the homeowner will be responsible for not only inspection fees if someone “official” finds out about the project, but the permit fee and the cost of possibly tearing the deck down and starting from scratch. A professional deck builder like ME Contracting will always carry proper insurance and the appropriate local business licenses.
• Are there extra charges? At ME Contracting, we always provide customers a written estimate for the project that includes the plans, a materials list, estimated date of completion, and information about warranty and ongoing maintenance. That way, there is never a “gotcha” moment with unexpected charges for other building materials, fees, or anything else left off the original estimate.

Finally, many customers ask: Do you provide a warranty? The answer is yes. A reputable deck builder should offer a warranty on the workmanship of the finished project. A warranty on materials, if applicable, should also be transferable to the homeowner and will vary in length and terms. Ideally, a warranty should also cover labour for a minimum of two years to allow for exposure to all four seasons a few times – potentially exposing any workmanship issues that would need correction.

Call Toronto custom deck today and find out why we’re considered the top deck builders in Toronto

Each year, thousands of people are injured as a result of falls from decks or from broken deck boards or handrails, including more than 30 fatalities reported between 2000 and 2008 in all of North America.

The last thing any home or business owner wants to experience is someone getting seriously injured because their deck wasn’t constructed properly or subject to routine maintenance to keep it safe. At Toronto custom Decks Company, we’re the number one deck builder throughout the Greater Toronto Area and have designed and constructed decks for hundreds of customers over the last decade. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and satisfaction of each outdoor product we build.
As the area’s leading deck builder, we use only the finest building materials, follow all regulations specified by the National Building Code of Canada for workmanship, installation and safety, and partner with customers to achieve a deck plan that meets their objectives and budget.
Once a deck has been installed and meets all customer expectations, the role of the deck builder usually subsides unless questions arise about warranty work or ongoing maintenance. At Toronto custom Decks Company, we’ve grown our business by building relationships with customers and helping educate them on ways to keep their decks safe for themselves, family, and friends.

Start with the items on the checklist below.

• Inspect your deck for split or decaying wood. Canadian winters and the change of seasons can be brutal, so it’s not unusual for decks to take the brunt of what Mother Nature produces. There are many areas of the deck that could exhibit signs of decay after several years: The ledger board (connecting the deck to the house), the underside of the deck, especially support posts and joists, and deck boards, railings, and stairs.
• Look for any areas of the deck that are wet or have standing water. Even the best deck sealers will break down over time, allowing water and moisture to penetrate the surface into cracks or other imperfections in the wood. To evaluate how strong the wood is, use a screw driver to gently poke at an area that has gotten wet. If the wood is soft or spongy, or you’re able to break off splinters or penetrate the surface by a quarter inch or more, then the board or railing may have to be replaced.
• Fasteners including nails, screws, or other anchors are notorious for coming lose, popping up, or becoming corroded over time. These can be dangerous to people walking on the deck, whether wearing shoes or bare footed, and present a tripping or injury hazard. If possible, remove the fastener and replace it.
• Finally, railings and stairs should be secure at all times, and free of signs of wear or decay. Railings made of wood will degrade faster than ones built from metal, plastic, or wood composites, and may come loose from the deck. If you push on the railing and it gives, check to make sure it’s secured properly; the same goes for stairs.

Toronto custom decks is THE deck builder in Toronto and your safety is paramount! call today to see why.