Hynes Home Construction and Remodeling – Blogs

Building a deck of your dreams is no easy task. There is a large list of questions that homeowners should have the answers to, but sadly almost always don’t. Before you type, “deck contractors near me” in an online search, you should know that a custom deck needs the hand of a skilled and experienced contractor. One that should be able to share advice. Here’s everything you need to know before you start building a rooftop deck.

Purpose
Like everything in life, you first need to understand and answer the WHY! Are you going through with the roof deck installation to enjoy a drink and meal outside when the weather’s good or are you just looking for a place to chill and relax? Both? Whatever it is, it will likely determine the size and design of your deck. Where would the BBQ go, where would the hot tub go, and many more questions of the sort will be answered once you finalize the purpose of your deck. 

Measurement 
While you might want a huge deck with all the bells and whistles that go with it, it is important to take into consideration the existing factors. For instance, your backyard. It will be the canvas and view from your deck. The proportions of your deck will also determine the kind of furniture that you put out there. And hence measuring the space is of utmost importance. 

When considering the measurement of your deck, please keep in mind the 

• Location (sun or shade)
• Wind 
• Rain/Snow 
• Accessibility to the house

Design 
If you just answered rectangular, you need to do a little more thinking on the matter. While there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the classics, it doesn’t hurt to explore your options. In some cases, a custom deck may be just the ticket! You should also give these things a serious thought:

• Privacy
• Lighting 
• Gas and power 

Once you’ve gotten these things sorted and answered, you need to make sure that you also know the contractor you’ve hired. Here are a few questions you should be sure to ask. 

What are their areas of focus/specialties? 

What are the materials that they use? 

How long would the project take approximately? 

Would they handle the permits? 

Are they covered by the required insurance? 

Do they have any references? 

This should give you an overview of the kind of contractor you’ve hired and their past work. If you wish to take the vetting process to the next level, simply get in touch with the references and ask them if they’d be open to sharing their feedback. Some of the questions you could ask them are: 

Would you hire the roof deck contractor again? 

Did they have any difficulties during the project? If so, how were they handled? 

Did they sense that their feedback was heard and applied? 

Was the project completed on time and within budget? 

And that’s it! As long as you know the answers to these questions, you should be ready to set out and get the project started. Happy deck building! 

Michelle Hynes

 (President, Hynes Roofing and Siding)

With over 35 years experience in the roofing and siding industry, Michelle Hynes has built a business from 2 people into over 45 people and 19 trucks!