getting a deck built around my pool....any tips?

[hulkster]

i have an inground pool (came with the house we bought 3 years ago)...and its nice i guess, but around the pool is a slope thats basically just wasted space.  imagine putting a pool in your backyard, putting up a fence around it, and not building a deck or anything around it.  if you cant picture that then...well there you go...

anyway, i thought about trying to build the deck myself, but then thought better of it since im not much of a carpenter (my cab was a big enough deal).  so im going to probably go to Lowes or Home Depot to get an estimate. 

does anyone have any experience/storiees/pros vs cons etc from doing this?  i know i could get a contractor locally to build my deck, but i feel like theres less chance i'll get screwed if i go to a bigger place like Lowes or HD.  is that correct to think that?

[mhermann]

If you could post a pick we could get a better idea. As far as local vs Lowes HD, I remember looking to them to do something before and it was more expensive, enough so that it was not worth it.

I would recommend talking to others in your development who have had decks built and see if they can recommend. There is also something called Angieslist. That site lists local contractors that people have rated.

I had my basement done by the same guy who did next doors. Was happy that I could see his work first hand. And ask and call the references. Some one once listed a reference wh o wasn't all that happy with the work.

I have found with being a home owner, this is one of the hardest things to find, a good contractor that you can trust, unless you are lucky enough to know family.

[Jdurg]

Check and see if you have any co-workers or friends who would be willing to lend a hand.  Building a deck isn't too tough as long as you know what you're doing and what is involved.  This is where research on the internet can be a big help.  Probably the most difficult aspects are ensuring the deck is level and that the footing is secure.  You WILL need to get in touch with your local building inspector before building the deck since the fines you can get for building without a permit can be pretty stiff.

If you live above the so called "frost line" you'll need to dig down 48" before pouring your concrete footings.  Again, this is all something that your building inspector and your research will tell you.  When you build a deck, you are basically just creating a box with support beams in the middle, then wooden planks spaced properly in a perpendicular fashion.

[hulkster]

went to angieslist....you have to pay $10 to join, and then $4.50 a month!  crazy 

ill try the local contractor route to see if that works.  i'll ask some neighbors that have decks before i'll go to the big dogs.  thanks for the tips guys.

as for building one myself....eh....it's just scary.    too much intimidation in there for me to feel comfortable doing it myself.

[ahofle]

anyway, i thought about trying to build the deck myself, but then thought better of it since im not much of a carpenter (my cab was a big enough deal).  so im going to probably go to Lowes or Home Depot to get an estimate. 

does anyone have any experience/storiees/pros vs cons etc from doing this?  i know i could get a contractor locally to build my deck, but i feel like theres less chance i'll get screwed if i go to a bigger place like Lowes or HD.  is that correct to think that?

Don't those large places just use the same local contractors that you would go to directly?  Only with an additional cost? 

[SteveJ34]

Lowes and Home Depot in reality just use local contractors and then take a cut for the jobs they are able to farm out.

From those contractors I have spoken to directly in my local area at least, they have cut into contractors pockets deeper which has reduced those that will even take the work from them and thus, the wait time to get larger projects completed along with the quality of craftsman you will receive is no better than doing your own homework, IMHO.

An alternative to Angieslist is http://www.servicemagic.com/ which is a competitor to angieslist but has no cost to you as the contractors themselves pay for the leads they receive.

You still have to do your own homework in terms of calling references, etc

I sourced a couple of local contractors from servicemagic including one for sheetrock repair and texture that I have been very pleased with. They were happy to perform just the tasks that I wanted without trying to upsell me on paint and other tasks that I am up to completing myself.

Good luck!

[hulkster]

thanks for the servicemagic tip.  i found two contractors in my area and i just got done giving one of them a call.  on a side note, the guy was really nice and totally caught me off guard with our conversation:

me: "hi, i'm looking for someone to come out to my house and give me an estimate on building a deck/fence around my pool and was wanting to know what your schedules were for sending someone out.

him: "we'd be glad to come out and give you an estimate...we pretty much have an open schedule all week, except we don't do estimates on Thursday's and Friday's"  (today is thursday)

me: "......uh.....well...."

him: "that was a joke, i'm just kidding."

ha!  really caught me off guard...didnt expect that first time.  good stuff.

[myntik1]

free potentially useless advice.

Ask the contractor for pictures of RECENT work.  You don't care if he did incredible work back in the day before his substance abuse problem, you want to know the quality of the work he did last week

[xar256]

Ask the contractor for pictures of RECENT work.  You don't care if he did incredible work back in the day before his substance abuse problem, you want to know the quality of the work he did last week

+1  Also ask for references, someone you can call up and see/check out his work, and his work experiences.  Check the BBB for complaints.  Nothing is foolproof though.  If you get a bad vibe at any point...Walk away.

Food for thought too.  If the contractor is a small company, and he's available at the drop of a hat for estimates or beginning work, it means he's not busy.  If well known places are busy/have backlogs, that may be a red flag as well.  imho

Do your research.  Even if you can't do the work yourself, educate yourself so you know if the contracter is cutting corners or screwing you over.

Good luck.  Oh yeah

[hulkster]

well i called the local contractor and he told me that it would cost $14 a square foot.  i did a rough measurement of the area i want decked off and it comes to about 800 sq feet.     yeah, sucks.  thats like 10,000 bucks.  thats JUST for the deck...no fence.  i guess i could get another estimate but crap thats expensive.  at this point im thinking that i might just get like one section built for now...then wait a year and build the next section and stuff.  i dont know...i've kinda lost the will to get a deck now 

[myntik1]

I know I'm going to get lit up for this suggestion, but what about a trade school.  I contemplated having my basement framed by the local voc high school.  It sounds nuts, but after i talked to a couple of the shop teachers it sounded like a good idea.  The said that the top students need real life work experience.  For outside jobs they send out 4-5 students and 2 teachers to supervise everything.  A board doesn't get cut or nailed unless they teacher is standing over them.  I was all for them framing my basement, but the old lady wasn't having it.

[boykster]

You can probably deck it yourself for 1/4 that.....if you have the motivation to do it. 

[mhermann]

went to angieslist....you have to pay $10 to join, and then $4.50 a month!  crazy 

Sorry about that. When I used it I am pretty sure it was free. That was about 2 years ago, but I didn't think that would have changed.

[mccoy178]

I know I'm going to get lit up for this suggestion, but what about a trade school.  I contemplated having my basement framed by the local voc high school.  It sounds nuts, but after i talked to a couple of the shop teachers it sounded like a good idea.  The said that the top students need real life work experience.  For outside jobs they send out 4-5 students and 2 teachers to supervise everything.  A board doesn't get cut or nailed unless they teacher is standing over them.  I was all for them framing my basement, but the old lady wasn't having it.

I think that is a fantastic idea!  Of course, I'm a shop teacher....................................

[BobbyG66]

I would get three estimates.

It also depends on what your are using for material?
It it all pressure treaded or composite decking?

Up her in New England it seems like alot of this work has slowed done.
I guess that may be better for the consumer = lower prices?

Also get everything in writing before making a deal.
I got screwed over last year by a good friends brother.
He was a friend of the family and assumed he was going to do a great job.
We had a few verbal agreements which I thought was good enough.
It all went to hell after we made our first payment.
Just a bad experience. Turns out he is on drugs and got caught stealing.

Sorry, not trying to scare you, there are good contractors out there.

I built my own deck. Me and a buddy actually took a deck building class at HD.
It was 4 classes and the instructor was great.
He also looked at my plans and gave great feedback.

Good luck.

[hulkster]

how much was the class thing at HD?

[Blanka]

Don't know how much rain there is in your area, but if decks tend to get green, consider waste-plastic-bankirai-style-deck-wood. Its looking absolutely the same as regular hard-wood-decks, environment-friendly, and most important, easy to clean and it never wears.
2 options: one as if it greyed by the sun over the years, and one as if it is brand new forever