Diane started her quest for a deck in March 2021. The first contractors she contacted told her they were booked until October 2021. Another contractor promised to give her an estimate, but then disappeared. Anther contract gave Diane an estimate, then called the next day to say, “We can’t do your deck this year, because we just accepted a $98,000 job.” Our neighbor recommended his contractor, Eric, and he was able to find the materials (not an easy task in these days of shortages) and completed the entire job in two weeks!
Oh, and here’s some deer who arrived to check out Diane’s Deck!
Nice job! Really nice deck. Jackie would be out there barbecuing every day. Looks like you found the right guy to do the work.
Jeff, we found the right guy–Eric–and he had the contacts to get the materials to build the deck. There are shortages of building materials so a lot of projects are stalled…or postponed.
Very nice! And consider yourself fortunate to have gotten someone and gotten it done. We’ve been trying all summer to get our bathrooms remodeled. It took a while to get estimates, then the company we chose has been having staffing issues (a friend whose husband works in construction says employee retention is a big issue throughout the industry right now). There’s also the problem of getting materials and their prices when they do get them. Lumber is very expensive right now and other items (tiles, light fixtures, sinks, faucets, etc.) are also higher than they were. Add to that disruptions in the supply chain, and I daresay I’ll be back at work (school reopens August 6) before any work has even been started.
Deb, you are not alone in waiting for a home improvement project to get started. We have friends who hired a contractor THREE MONTHS AGO to renovate their porch. But the shortage of lumber and other materials delayed the project. The contractor is supposed to begin next week…but I’ll believe it when I see it!
And what a great job in making it look like an original part of the house. Build it and they will come.
Patti, the contractor Diane got to build the deck, Eric, has built over 50 decks since he started in this business. He gave Diane a lot of choices and told her the pluses and minuses of each building decision. I was very impressed with his attention to detail. And, his construction crew were all family members who have been doing this kind of work for years. We’re pleased with the result!
So when do you get the jacuzzi installed?
Dan, jacuzzis are back-ordered for SIX MONTHS!
I can picture you, Diane, and Big Orange enjoying that deck this summer. Good times.
Jerry, Diane and her friends will enjoy the deck. I’ll stay in the Florida Room or the A/C.
Very nice. I notice you call it Diane’s Deck, not “our deck”. The railing certainly seems sturdy!
Rick, I have too many allergies to spend time on Diane’s Deck. The railings are rock solid!
Looks handsome, all right. We might well have its smaller cousin in place in the next year.
Clearly the dear are wondering if you have some treats for them…
Todd, the deer eat everything! No plants are safe while they’re around! Good luck with your deck!
Indeed, the dear deer…
Looks really good, George, congratulations!
May I ask:
What kind of lumber/wood was used for it and how is the surface protected?
PS:
If we were younger and no Covid we’d surely surprise you and/or Diane with visit …
Wolf, our contractor used a composite material called TRAX. All the railings are vinyl. This deck is supposed to be maintenance free.
Very nice, Diane.
My deck is still being worked on – year 2 of the project – but my carpenter kid is a gem . He’s precise, conscientious, always cleans up when he’s done, etc. He’s become my go-to handyman. The only thing he doesn’t do is electrical. It’s taking so long because it’s large and high with lots of stairs.
Once it’s finished, I’ll e-mail a photo (or several) to George.