Deck Services Fort Collins
Your home is your haven. It’s a place you feel safe, secure, and relaxed. A part of that home is your backyard. Most homeowners stick with their standard concrete patio and patchy lawn. But you don’t have to be like most of your neighbors. At JJ Fencing and Decks, we offer comprehensive decking services in Fort Collins to homeowners who want to do more with their backyard. When you choose to install a deck, not only do you gain a new feature, but you also increase the value of your home.
Why Install A New Deck
At JJ Fencing and Decks, we understand what your home in Fort Collins means to you. It’s a special place where you can escape from the world and invite those you care and love over to create memories that will last a lifetime. There’s a lot of sentiment surrounding your home. That’s why installing a deck is a great opportunity to increase the value of your home, create more special memories, and facilitate a space for you to recharge after a long week.
What’s The Deck Installation Process?
Whether you want a small, single-level deck, or a large, multi-level deck, JJ Fencing and Decks can help. We’re your Top Rated Local® deck contractors in Fort Collins, and we’re here to share what the process of installing a new deck actually looks like. This way you can know exactly what to expect no matter which local deck installer you work with. Here is the process:
Deck Research
It’s important you take the time and do your research. What kind of deck do you want? Which deck style do you want? How will you be using your deck? How large or small do you want your deck? There are hundreds of questions, but make sure and know as much as you can before contacting your local decking contractor to speed up the process. Nonetheless, get online and research decks. Check out JJ Fencing and Decks’ gallery of projects. Browse around Pinterest for some ideas. If you can figure out size, style, and function, we can help you with the rest.
Deck Bids
Now that you know what you want, it’s time to get estimates for your decking project. Depending on size, style, and function, your bid will vary in price. However, you should get at least three bids for your project to better understand the market price. In fact, JJ Fencing and Decks in Fort Collins welcomes competitor bids. We’re always willing to work with you and beat competitor prices. Of course, if we can’t beat the competitors numbers, we are confident we can win in the areas of customer service and quality of workmanship.
Deck Contract
It’s time to sign a contract. This stage of the process is tedious. You want to make sure the contract looks good to you. Check for total price, what the price includes, whether or not you will handle permits, and the expected timeline of the project. Also, consider the labor costs of the project. Are the labor costs included or separate and paid hourly? Know what you’re paying for before you sign. Remember, this is your project and your money. Make sure the contract reflects exactly what you want out of your new deck installation before signing.
Deck Permits
Do you need a permit to build your deck? Will your decking contractor take care of this for you? In Fort Collins, a permit is required with the following literature included:
- Permit application
- Fee for plan review
- Plan showing home location and deck location (two sets)
- Plans to scale (two sets)
Deck Installation
Based on your contract, your deck project will start on a specific date, and it will be complete on a specific date. If it’s finished early, that’s great! In most cases, a decking contractor will give you a timeline for the project with each stage laid out on paper. This allows you to keep track of whether or not the project is behind, on, or ahead of schedule. It’s important to know this in the case of labor costs. A project that takes too long may cost you more.
Deck Inspections
In Fort Collins, you will need deck inspections. According to the city of Fort Collins, they have a general guideline on what you will need inspected for a deck installation project. Here is the list of general inspections that can apply to your deck:
- Footing Inspection
- Frame Inspection
- Final Inspection
Final Walk-Through
Once your deck is completed, final inspection is passed, and you’re free to use your deck, your decking contractor will complete a final walkthrough of the project. This process includes addressing any questions or concerns you have as a customer. You can ask about how to care for your deck, when should you build a new one, and general questions about the workmanship. Finally, you will pay your final invoice and start utilizing the beautiful new deck you’ve installed.
The Benefits of A New Deck
When you think of a deck for your home, what do you imagine? As a homeowner, you can utilize a deck in a number of ways. It can be used for barbecues, events, baby showers, graduation parties, birthdays, promotion celebrations, and so much more. You can even spend some quality alone time with your favorite beverage, the crisp Colorado air, and the Rocky Mountains on the horizon. What’s more, a deck installation is an inexpensive investment compared to the overall value it adds to your life, those you love, and the value of your home. Here are some of the major benefits to installing a new deck:
A New Deck Is Inexpensive
The cost of a deck design and installation is relatively inexpensive when it comes to home additions. You have the opportunity to control the cost of your deck project through size, shape, style, design, materials, and placement. A deck is 100 percent customizable to fit your life. Compare this process to a kitchen remodel, and you’ll find that a deck is a small to moderate investment for a huge functional and emotional return.
Adds More Space
Have you ever hosted a barbecue or birthday party that you needed more space for? A deck installation offers more space to host a larger event. If you have lots of family and friends, a deck offers those you care and love more room to roam, whether that be inside or outside. Furthermore, you get to decide how much extra space you want!
Decks Are Built Quickly
Without sacrificing quality, deck installations can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. In most cases, decking contractors in Fort Collins can build decks in less than seven to 10 business days, barring contracts, permits, and inspections. However, once the deck is clear to be built, they are added relatively quickly.
Design Your Dream Deck
You have 100 percent control over the style, design, and size of your deck. Want a smaller, single-story deck or a large, multi-level deck? How about something in between? The best deck contractor in Fort Collins can help make your vision a reality. Want some ideas? Visit JJ Fencing and Decks’ gallery, search on Pinterest, or browse through home and garden magazines.
Increase Home Value
A new deck increases the value of your home through function and aesthetic. Thousands of homes in Fort Collins have backyards. But how many have a custom deck? As the Top Rated Local® deck contractor in the area, the answer is not too many. Whether you decide to sell your home or not, a deck installation increases the value of your home monetarily and emotionally. Your home becomes one of the few that have a backyard feature that adds to the experience and use of the backyard space.
Ideal Outdoor Hosting Space
Briefly mentioned in previous points, a deck adds a huge amount of emotional value to your life. Although a deck can cost 10, 15, and upwards of 50 thousand dollars, the memories, moments, and celebrations you experience on it are priceless. Want to host events, celebrate your life, and have intimate conversations with those you love and care for on a regular basis? A deck installation creates the space for that.
Common Deck Features
Once you’ve decided to install a new deck, consider which type of features you will include in the home upgrade. You can go for a more outdoor living space feel with a fire pit, barbecue, and wooden table, or you can choose a modern style that includes a fireplace, outdoor kitchen, and classy dining arrangements. Whatever your style, it’s possible with a new deck.
Seating And Storage
Begin with the seating and storage of the deck. If you plan on spending any amount of time on your deck, consider how you will enjoy the space. Most homeowners choose to sit out on their deck with their family and friends, drinking their favorite beverages, and sharing stories about life. Prefer some alone time outside without making the trip up the mountains? You will probably want to lounge around under the beautiful Colorado sky. Seating can come in many shapes and sizes. You can do chairs, benches, or stools. You can have stationary seating installed or match your mobile seating with the deck design you’re going to install. Need storage? Include storage either in the seating or in separate, easy to access locations. Ultimately, your seating and storage comes down to how you will be using the deck and accommodating for that.
Cover Your Deck
Colorado offers its residents all four seasons. Nonetheless, those who live in Colorado love being outside; it’s a reputation we enjoy maintaining. How do you enjoy the outdoors when it’s raining? What if it’s blistering hot out, but you still want some fresh Rocky Mountain air? A simple solution is to install a deck cover. In most cases, this is a wood overhang or pergola that includes partial or full covering of the deck space. It protects from rain, snow, sunshine, and, in some cases, the wind.
Wrap It With Railings
The style and design of your railings is another upgrade feature you can include in your deck installation. If you’re not keen on the generic wood railings, you can go with a wood-steel, all metal, or a more abstract style that fits your aesthetic desires. Your railings can wrap the entire deck, wrap a part of it, or install a mixture of both.
Create Comfort
With seating, storage, and the general layout, you want you and your guests to feel comfortable. One way to do this is to include seating that has pillows, blankets, and other nice deck accents to foster a relaxed atmosphere. Another way to create a comfortable space is to install a water feature that can be heard from the deck. This will offer tranquility and peace to those who enjoy your deck.
Choose Your Colors
In most cases, you want to choose colors that are natural. Greens, browns, reds, and other colors native to Colorado are great options to make your deck space feel like the outdoors without walking more than a couple yards out your back door. Natural colors also influence moods and offer various health benefits to those experiencing them.
Build An Addition
You have your primary deck, which turned out beautifully, but what if you could add more to the space? A gazebo addition to your deck is a great way to create more space without detaching your feature from the home. Also, the gazebo can be used for smaller hosting events, intimate settings, and a place for the children to hang out after school outside.
Wire For Electronics
Are you a sports fan? Do you want to binge watch your favorite shows but still get your outdoor time? You can wire your deck for sound and video. Most homeowners choose to install speakers for music, but you can go all the way and install wiring for video. Enjoy your favorite teams and shows all from the comfort of your new deck.
Outdoor Kitchen
If you plan on hosting events often, you’ll want to consider adding an outdoor kitchen to your deck. The ability to spend more time outdoors while feeding those you love and care for can be a rewarding experience. What’s more, the outdoor kitchen will offer more opportunities for other events like graduation parties, wedding receptions, or birthday parties without having to cater. All of the food can be taken care of right there on your deck.
Find A Decking Contractor in Fort Collins
When you start your search for a local decking contractor in Fort Collins, you want to do your due diligence. A deck design and installation is a relatively straight forward process, but you still want the best deck builder in the area to take care of your needs. That’s why JJ Fencing and Decks encourages you to give us a call the moment you decide you want a new deck. We have more than a decade of experience designing and installing decks all over Fort Collins. We know what it takes to keep our customers satisfied. Our quality of work is top-tier, and we strive to maintain one of the best reputations through superb and candid communication. Here’s how you can find a Top Rated Local® decking contractor in Fort Collins:
Plan Your Deck Project
What kind of deck do you want? How large of a deck do you want? Which type of features do you want included in the installation? There are hundreds of questions you want to answer before you contact a local decking contractor in Fort Collins. Nonetheless, here are some common questions you can ask:
- What size do you want your deck?
- What does the deck layout look like?
- How many stories do you want?
- How many and where do you want staircases?
- Which type of quality materials do you want to use?
- What type of deck railings do you want?
- Do you want any other additional features like a fire pit, gazebo, or built-in benches?
The ultimate goal is to have as much information on your deck project as possible, so that when you contact a local decking contractor, you can get an extremely accurate bid on your vision.
Research Reviews And Ratings
You can do most of this online. Check sites like Google, Yelp, Facebook, and more. You can even find a decking contractor and type in “decking contractor Fort Collins reviews.” This will show you a collection of contractors in the area with a number of reviews.
Furthermore, star ratings are great, but dig into the reviews that have been written. You want as much context as possible to understand how the decking company treats their customers.
Contact Deck Builders
Once you’ve found three to five decking contractors in Fort Collins, give them a call. Ask questions that reveal their business, ethics, and mission in the community. Here are some common questions you can ask them to learn more about their company:
- How long have you been in business?
- Which areas do you serve in Northern Colorado?
- How many decks have you built in the last six months?
- Do you have references I can talk to about your services?
- Do you have a general contractor license?
- Are you insured?
- Can I confirm your license and insurance?
- Do you take care of local permitting processes?
- Who will build my deck, you or a subcontractor?
- Can you build my deck with the material I’ve chosen?
Contact Customer References
Now that you have some more information about your local decking contractors, it’s time to give the references they offered a call. You can simply ask general questions about the project the contractor completed for them. Here are some pointed questions that will get answers you need:
- How was the quality of work?
- Did the crew carry themselves professionally?
- How close was estimate to final price paid?
- Did the project get completed on time?
- Would you refer the deck contractor to a family or friend?
Get Estimates
After this process, your decision should come down to two or three contractors. If you’ve found that only one is a good match, then your decision is easy. Choosing between more than one deck builder? Get a bid from each company and compare the numbers. You want a decking contract that includes all aspects of the deck project from consultation to warranties, including materials, labor, consultation, change-orders, permits, inspections, and more. When you choose to work with a decking contractor, you want a turn-key service — or as close to one as possible.
Hire A Deck Builder in Fort Collins
Choose your deck contractor! It’s time to get your deck project started. Once you’ve hired a company, you will then begin working on timelines, scheduling, permits, inspections, installation, and payments. Make sure the contract you sign is accurate to the deal that you wanted from the bid. Otherwise, enjoy the process and remember to be candid with communication. You’re paying for your new deck. Get exactly what you want.
Why JJ Fencing And Decks
As your Top Rated Local® decking contractor in Fort Collins, JJ Fencing and Decks take your projects seriously. We offer premium materials and superb customer service. You deserve the best, and we’re ready to deliver it. With more than 10 years of experience in the industry and Fort Collins, we’re the deck builders you can trust.
