Hiring A San Antonio Deck Builder

Choosing your Deck Builder San Antonio can be a challenging task. You should look for a rating on each Deck Builder San Antonio. Each contractor has the ability to be rated based on past performance. We suggest you go through this list of recommended questions for your Deck Builder San Antonio interviews.

1. How many years has the company been in business? If the Deck Builder doesn't have at least three years experience building decks he may not be able to perform the job to a professional level. Your contractor may lack the skills to keep the business afloat. What will your warranty be worth if your San Antonio Deck Builder goes out of business? You should feel comfortable with the integrity of the company and not just the sales person or carpenter.

2. Do they have a business license? If your Deck Builder San Antonio doesn't have a business license, then they haven't completed the appropriate paperwork to obtain one. These are companies that you may not want to do business with for liability reasons. A business license is important because it validates the legitimacy of the business.

1. 1.3.Do they have proper insurance? Proper insurance includes general liability and workman's compensation insurance. This is very important for your protection as a homeowner. If the Deck Builder does not hold these insurances, you may be liable for property damage and worker injury on your property. Ask to see a certificate from the insurance company or call the listed agent on the certificate to see if the contractors insurance is paid up to date.
   
   

2. 2.4.Do they have references? You should ask for a list of at least 25 people that the Deck Builder San Antonio has worked for. This will allow you to contact at least 10 references in one reference verification session. Questions to ask: When did they work for you? Would you hire them again? Did they respect your property? Were they persistent with a daily schedule? Was the quality of work good? Could I see the work performed?
   
   

5. Do I get a written quote? This means a solid figure that the San Antonio Deck Builder will commit to in the contract to finishing the work, not an estimate. You would like a detailed quote on the specified work. If the Deck Builder isn't willing to put in the time as a professional up front by providing a detailed quote, then they may not be professional with your project. The quote should contain the following details at a minimum:

Construction details: Grade of materials, size of materials, type or species of materials, joist and beam spans, connectors (screws, nails, bolts), foundation sizes, specified construction for railings, benches and stairs.

Payment schedule: No Deck Builder San Antonio should ask for more than half the amount of the project up front before starting the job. Most ask for a deposit when the work is first started. You should pay your contractor within 2 business days of the contract completion.

A drawing of the project: You should get at least a two dimensional drawing of the proposed deck to scale. You'll want to make sure they are on the same page as you with what you are wanting to have built. You definitely don't want any surprises at the end of the project.

Utility Repairs: Make sure you and your Deck Builder San Antonio knows what utilities run inside the house behind the deck connection to avoid any major problem such as water lines, gas, sewer drain, and electrical damage. Determine who will deal with the utilities if they are damaged during construction. Call the city of San Antonio if you have any utility related questions.

Permits: It is common for the homeowner to be responsible for obtaining all permits from the city. If the job is started without a permit, then the fines are usually doubled and in some rare cases the structure has to be removed. Don't take any chances even though this is a rare occurrence in San Antonio.

Clean Up: Make sure the Deck Builder San Antonio includes the cleanup of all scraps and excess materials when the job is finished to complete the contract.

Both of these sites are 100% free and you’ll get estimates from contractors in your area.  The more estimates you get the more you could save on your new Deck!