A deck is a five-figure investment bolted to your house — and the difference between a great builder and a bad one won’t show up in the sales pitch. It shows up in year five, when the frame is either rock solid or rotting. These ten questions cut through the pitch. (Yes, we answer all of them below, including the ones that make contractors squirm.)
The 10 Questions
1. “Are you licensed, bonded, and insured — and can I see proof?”
Any hesitation here ends the conversation. You want general liability and workers’ comp certificates sent to you directly, not promised verbally.
2. “Who actually builds my deck — your crew or subs?”
Neither answer is wrong, but you deserve to know who’s in your yard and who supervises them daily.
3. “Will you pull the permit, and will it be inspected?”
The right answer is “yes, always, and we handle it.” A builder who suggests skipping the permit is asking you to hold the risk — it can bite you at resale and voids many insurance claims. Our permit guide covers why this matters.
4. “What do you use for footings, and why?”
Listen for a real engineering answer. We use helical piers on most builds because they’re driven below Ohio’s frost line with verified load capacity — no frost heave, no waiting on concrete, no surprises.
5. “How do you attach and flash the ledger?”
The most important 30 seconds of the interview. Ledger failure is the leading cause of deck collapse, and correct bolting plus layered flashing is what prevents it. A pro will happily geek out on this; a hack will change the subject.
6. “Which decking brands are you certified to install?”
Manufacturer certifications (we hold them from TimberTech, Trex, and Deckorators) mean trained installation — and they’re what unlock the longest warranties on your boards.
7. “What exactly does my warranty cover — labor or just materials?”
Board warranties come from the manufacturer. The workmanship warranty comes from your builder. Get both in writing and note who you call when something moves.
8. “Can I see projects like mine that are 3+ years old?”
Anyone can show last month’s glamour shots. Decks tell the truth after a few Ohio winters — ask for addresses or photos of older work, and read the reviews.
9. “What’s the payment schedule?”
Reasonable deposits tied to milestones are normal. Large cash up front with a vague timeline is how homeowners get burned.
10. “What could make the price change mid-project?”
An honest builder names the real variables (hidden rot on a resurface, soil surprises) and how change orders work — before you sign, not after demo day.
Interview Us
We mean it — bring this list to your DreamDecks consultation and work through all ten. We’ve built our reputation across Cleveland, Akron, and Medina on the answers.
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