If you have ever looked for a contractor, there are many contractors out there that say they can do your job for you. How do you know which one is best? What makes this decision more challenging is each builder’s understanding of what you want for your space and their understanding of how you want to use your space. Ultimately you want to go with the builder that best understands your needs and who does the best job within your budget. If you’ve looked around on contractor sites, you will find the whole gamut of options from new or seasoned contractors to professional builders. There are many reasons to work with a professional deck builder. Here are our top 6.

AZEK Brownstone deck and screen porch Overland Park

1)      A professional designer/builder will ask you questions about how you plan to use your space. Not every family uses their outdoor space the same nor does every family have the same number of people, same amount of furniture or same activities. Good design starts with a space that works for you and your family.

2)      Many design features picture in magazines and on the internet look good in photos but don’t necessarily work as practical deck space. A good designer should be able to explain to you the difference between something that looks good and works well in your backyard. For example, a Ferrari looks great but you don’t want to take your family out to the game in it. A practical deck isn’t ugly but each and every design feature has its limitations.

3)      Different types of design features have entirely different costs. Certain design features have a much higher cost depending on a number of factors.  A good designer should be able to discuss the elements contributing to costs. One example is a round deck. While it is feasible to build a round deck, it requires lots of extra labor, requires materials that can be bent, and it might not fit your furniture.

AZEK Morado Deck with AZEK railing

4)     A good builder will help you understand how to get the best space/dollar and what the trade offs are in doing that. For example, a multi-level deck looks great but gives less space/dollar. A large flat deck may not be as attractive but will provide the most space/dollar.

5)      Every design feature has some advantages and disadvantages. If your designer can’t tell you what those are, he or she may not be sufficiently experienced. If you think there is a design feature that has no disadvantages, then you haven’t thought hard enough. Your designer needs to understand your individual requirements in order to do a good design.

6)      An amateur builder will convince you about constraints that experienced builders can work around. For example, amateur builders will convince you that the size of your deck needs to be constrained by the length of standard deck boards. This should not drive the design. A professional builder does not allow such a constraint to determine design.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you are considering adding a deck, porch, patio or other outdoor structure to your Kansas City area home, give us a call for a free consultation.