- Do I need a permit to build a deck?
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Deck Masters USA handles all the work to make sure that you comply with city and county permits
before our deck builders start working. If you are having a new deck built, then most likely it will be
required. We handle this whole process for our clients to make the project easy and stress-free for you.
There are some circumstances involving a re-surface project, sometimes referred to as “re-decking”, where the frame of the existing deck is structurally fine, but the deck boards need replacing, that a permit does not require to be pulled.
Almost any time that new posts and/or railings are being installed on an existing deck, it is suggested to pull a permit. Every project is different, so we play it by ear for each individually. At the end of the day, we are always going to do what a local building department expects as a point of compliance. - Can I use my existing framing and install new decking and rails?
- Yes, of course! Our deck builders can remove the old decking and install new decking. Deck Masters USA does not recommend this if your deck structure is over 8 years old. We do not warranty the existing deck framing structure if you do choose to replace the decking and rails. We recommend having our deck builder do a deck inspection prior to the build if you are going with this option. Deck Masters USA can make the recommendations and show you the options of building new or building using existing framing to give you a comparison. It will be your final decision. The framing of a deck is the most important part, so you have to make sure your structure will be able to support the new materials for as long as they will last.
- Is there a perfect decking material out there?
- No there is not. There are pros and cons to every material. Our deck-building experts can go over the pros and cons, but we highly recommend weighing all of your options to fit your specific needs. Decking material technology is always getting better. Typically the newer product lines of decking materials tend to be the best performing. PVC decking tends to be the best for keeping cool to the feet, especially near pool areas but does tend to contract and expand quite a bit more. The capped composites tend to be hotter to the feet but give a more natural wood look. Capped composite is the most common decking material we install because of how similar to wood it looks and how long it lasts.
- Do your deck builders use nails or screws to secure the decking?
- Our deck builders actually use hidden fasteners to secure all composite decks and are included for free. This provides a nice clean surface without holes in the deck board. Wood decking is secured with ring shank nails which hold better than screws. The wood structure is built with screws, lags, hangers, and framing nails as appropriate to the application.
- Can I pay cash to get a discount?
- Deck Masters USA does not offer discounts for cash payments. We do accept cash and checks. If you choose to pay with a credit card, we are obligated to tell you that we charge our customers the merchant service fee we must pay to accept credit card payments. That fee has been 3.25% most recently, but that can change.
- How long does it take to get a quote back once you take a look at our project?
- Depending on the complexity of your project, your quote time can vary. Deck Masters USA tries our best to get your quote started right after our consultation, but certain times of the year can cause us to take longer to get a proposal back to you. We typically send our quotes back to you via email within 3-6 business days. Larger projects may take longer due to getting numbers back from our suppliers. As most people realize, supplier cost of materials has been down a volatile road for some time now. Once we establish a quote, that quote is good for a limited and stated amount of time to protect from industry price increases.
- Do I have to pay a deposit?
- Yes, a 50% deposit is required before our deck builders start any project. You should feel comfortable with the contractor before paying your deposit, so make sure to look at their previous work and ask for references of past customers to see how well they have done. We would be happy to share our references with you if you would like to talk to our past clients.
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