From Hazardous to Safe Sioux Falls Deck: A Guide to Finding the Best Deck Builder or Deck Contractor in Sioux Falls, SD
First let’s start off with the back story of a Sioux Falls deck here in SD
Early in 2022 we were called to help a beautiful young family who were just purchasing a house and were looking for a contractor. The only problem was the existing deck on their new home had substantial damage from a storm that passed through a few years prior and it had never been fixed. Now it was to the point where completing any deck repair would have been pointless and they needed to hire someone who was experienced in deck building. As we evaluated what needed to be done for the home improvement project, we provided them a free estimate on what it would take for us to complete it.
The old deck was 15 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and about 10 feet in the air with steps that couldn’t really support anyone stepping on them. The steps also had a landing 1/2 down that turned and terminated on their back patio. In the deck design, we decided to build them a new deck the same size, but without steps. A large consideration for them was that they had little children at home, just learning to crawl/walk, and didn’t want to worry about them falling down the stairs. Of course, we were happy to accommodate the family’s needs.
As we started cutting into the deck and removing it, we discovered a high number of carpenter ants. Note: When you find carpenter ants in wood, that’s usually a good indicator of rot if you live in the Sioux Falls area. We encouraged the home owner to call a pest service to spray for ants and other critters that would damage the house.
Within two hours, we had the deck safely removed from the house and spent another two hours safely disposing the rotted wood in the city landfill. Once the work site was cleared from all debris, we were able to proceed.
Next, the process we took to building a deck with composite decking
The first step in our construction process is working with the deck material. We start by putting up posts and set the beam level with with ledger board (the main deck board the joists attach to, which is secured to the house with lag screws). Once everything is double and triple checked, we move forward with setting joists and flashing them with a self sealing tape made specifically for decks. This is an important process we add on all of our composite decks so the main structure lasts as long as the composite deck boards.
From there, we call in footing and framing inspections. We are able to do both at the same time in our city if we use DiamondPiers for our footing system. About 95% of our decks use this or the existing footings IF they’re above the ground, keeping the posts out of the dirt. We will still pour new footings if the deck above needs additional support for a three or four season room.
Once we passed both inspections, we moved forward on adding Trex composite deck boards and setting the railing. Our city code says the space in between any part of the railing cannot be greater than four inches. We typically set the spacing at 3 1/2” just to be safe.
Lastly, we install a diagonal board on the underside of our joists, when the deck is above a certain height. This ensures any rocking (back and forth movement of the deck, parallel to the house) is eliminated.
All told, this project took about three days from start to completion. More importantly, we were able to build a safe and secure deck for this family with little children at home.
Lessons learned when working with a deck builder or contractor to address rotten and/or hazardous decks.
If you've recently noticed that your deck has become rotted or hazardous, it's important to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent any accidents or further damage to your home. A rotten or hazardous deck can be a major liability, and it's important to find a reputable and reliable contractor in the Sioux Falls area to complete the deck installation, turning it into a safe and secure oasis.
But with so many deck contractors to choose from, how do you know who to trust? Here are a few tips to help you find the nosy qualified Sioux Falls deck builder
Check their credentials: It's important to make sure the contractor you choose is licensed, insured, and has all the necessary credentials to do the job. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you're working with professionals who are qualified, able to handle any issues that may arise, and one of the best deck contractors available.
Read their online reviews (or ask for references): Before making your decision, be sure to read reviews from previous customers and ask the contractor for reviews and/or references. This will give you an idea of the quality of their work and whether or not they have a reputation for meeting their customers' needs.
Get a easy to understand estimate: Once you've narrowed down your choices, be sure to get an easy to understand estimate from each contractor you're considering. The breakdown we always give is how much the materials budget should be and how much construction costs should be. This will help you compare the cost of the project and make sure you're getting the best value for your money.
Don't be afraid to ask questions: It's important to feel comfortable with the deck builder you choose, so don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have. This will help ensure that you fully understand the scope of the project and what to expect from the process.
Look for LOCAL experience and expertise: When it comes to something as important as your deck, you want to make sure you're working with a team that has the following skill sets:
Builder with experience: Make sure the contractor you choose has the necessary or relevant track record to address your needs.
Builder with expertise: Look for a contractor that has been in business for a while and has a strong track record of satisfied customers and building custom decks.
Builder that’s near you: This one get’s overlooked a lot, but many times there are crews that come in from out of town during certain parts of the year to complete projects. You’ll want to make sure they literally fall into the category of “deck builders near you”. These out of town crews may save you money, but often they’re not knowledgeable enough in the following areas:
Their carpentry meets what local zoning and building code requires. If this is the case, the city will often hold off on approving inspections until they are correct, costing you additional (and in some cases more) money to fix it correctly.
They won’t stand behind any “we’re committed to you” slogans since they don’t live in the same area you do.
They don’t always know what wood will and won’t rot or stand up against our South Dakota winters.
Finding and using deck installers or deck contractors in Sioux Falls will help make sure your new wood deck withstands the test of time (and good ole South Dakota weather).
By following these tips, you can find a builder in the Sioux Falls area to help you transform your rotten and hazardous deck into a safe and secure oasis. With the right team on your side, you can have confidence that your deck will be in good hands and that you'll be able to enjoy it for years to come.
