How to Choose the Best Chicago Deck Company
A beautiful deck opens a world of possibilities. Throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods, you can find unlimited inspiration in the number of eye-catching garage and roof decks Unique Builders has built.
Whether you entertain your friends and family with a sumptuous meal outside, or lounge with a glass of wine as the sun sets, a custom deck builder can help you bring those visions to life.
Here are a few tips for finding the perfect deck builder for your outdoor living space.
Are they using quality products for your deck?
The actual products used to build your deck make a huge impact on lasting quality. You want to make sure the company installs the right decking and rails for the Midwest weather.
Many builders cut corners on quality. For example, Unique Deck Builders has been called in to fix problems when other companies used regular deck products on a roof deck. Ninety-nine percent of the composite brands are wood/plastic composite, which expands and contracts and is not a stable decking. Deckorators “SureStone Technology” is a mineral-based decking that lasts forever and performs with the best warranty available: 50-year material, 25-year labor warranty.
Deck issues can completely void the roof warranty, because these products typically need airflow beneath them. That doesn’t happen on a roof deck. So in just a few months, customers are calling us to come replace their ruined roof and incorrectly installed roof deck.
So you want to make sure you can trust the company to use the correct products for the kind of decking environment you have. Don’t just go with the cheapest option. Build things right from the start, and save yourself costs in the future and save months of delays and headaches.
What’s the warranty on manufacturing and labor?
It’s worth considering the warranties a decking company offers. We work with Deckorators decking, and we’re able to give our customers a 50-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 25-year labor warranty. This is almost unheard-of in the deck industry.
We always tell people, you could be driving a BMW and only have a three-year warranty. With Deckorators products, your kids could be having grandkids before the manufacturer’s warranty expires.
Do they have their own teams?
A lot of decking companies don’t have employees to install their decking. They rely on contractors, which gives them less control over the quality of the final product.
Make sure that the company you work with has their own installation crews and knows the character of their workers. We also have workers compensation for our staff and vehicle insurance to cover any issues while at a client’s home.
Are they coming out to meet with you in-person?
A quality decking company visits your home before the project ever starts to check things out and talk to you in person. Just looking at things over Zoom or a video call isn’t enough. You deserve to work with someone who takes the time to personally come out and evaluate your situation. Unique does.
We usually go out and meet with all our clients. We never see anything by Zoom or a phone call. We see every site, every job, in-person and we try to provide the best input and suggestions to fit the needs of the client.
Take the Time to Find the Best
With a little bit of research and a few good questions, you can find a reliable decking company to build the deck of your dreams.
Since 1982, Chicago residents have trusted Unique Builders for lasting quality and maintenance-free outdoor spaces for their friends and families. No shortcuts. No compromises. Backed by a 50-year manufacturer’s warranty and 25-year labor warranty.