So what’s next? Two things…

First (if you are starting from scratch) you need to determine how large a deck, front porch, screen porch or four season sunroom combination you want and can afford. You and I can do all of that price comparing together on the phone with my copyrighted and accurate Excel Price Worksheet which I use when folks call me.  [Call my office line at 540 786-3534 and listen for my cell phone number.]  Give me the dimensions of what you want, approximate height off the ground and what you want the flooring and rails made of and I will work up very good numbers for you.  I promise you will be surprised and delighted by our visionary business model: 

1. Turnkey (labor + estimated materials + overhead + profit) which is how every deck company charges.  This is the most expensive option.  Maybe 5% of my clients do this.
2. You act as General Contractor (saves about 25% because we let you buy materials directly from our suppliers and obtain a Homeowner Permit thereby saving most of my overhead and all of my profit that we normally charge)
3. #2 above plus "We Frame - U Finish" which means you save another 25% by installing decking and railings and trim after we dig the footings and call for the footing inspection and after we install all the framing and call for the framing inspection.  Frankly, this is the easy part.  But it does give you bragging rights.  "Look what I built!"  Just please do not try this if you are "carpentry challenged" which is a nice way of saying "you cannot be serious!"

Then (or if you are just wanting to replace funky decking and/or railings) you need to email or fax or mail me a Client Worksheet. (I prefer it emailed). I am usually a few days deep in the Design Que and my network of Deck Builders are anywhere from 3-5 weeks from contract to job start.

So… like you better get going.  Do not put it off.  Prices are not going down in this economic climate... know what I mean?