Hiring the wrong contractor is the most expensive mistake you can make. Here is what to look for and what to walk away from.

Start with Experience That Matches Your Project

There are plenty of contractors who will build a deck. There are far fewer who specialize in custom outdoor living spaces and have years of doing it the right way. Ask how long the company has been building decks specifically. Ask how many they build a year. Ask to see photos of recent projects similar to what you want.

We started building decks in 2007. Outdoor living spaces are not a sideline for us. They are the entire business.

Ask About Insurance and Licensing

Any deck builder you hire should carry general liability insurance and workers compensation. If they cannot show you proof, walk away. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor is uninsured, the liability can land on you.

Ask for a current insurance certificate before you sign anything. Reputable builders provide it without hesitation.

Look at Real References, Not Just Reviews

Online reviews are useful but they only tell part of the story. Ask for the names and numbers of three recent customers, ideally with projects similar to yours. Call those people. Ask about communication, schedule, and what happened when something did not go perfectly.

How a builder handles problems tells you more than how they handle the easy parts.

Get a Detailed Written Estimate

A real estimate breaks down materials, labor, permits, demolition, and any features like railings, stairs, or lighting. A one-line price for a deck is a red flag. You should know exactly what you are paying for and what is not included.

Be cautious of estimates that are dramatically lower than the others. Cheap deck builds usually mean undersized framing, lower-grade fasteners, or shortcuts you cannot see until they fail.

Ask About Permits and Inspections

Most decks in North Georgia require permits. A good builder pulls them, schedules the inspections, and stands behind the work. A bad builder asks if you would like to skip the permit to save money.

Skipping permits can hurt you when you sell the home, when an inspector flags it later, or when an insurance claim depends on the deck being permitted.

Make Sure They Stand Behind the Work

Find out what kind of warranty the builder offers on their workmanship. A real custom deck builder will guarantee their construction in writing. The decking material itself usually carries its own manufacturer warranty, which is separate.

When something is not right, you want to know the company will be there to fix it.

Trust Your Gut on Communication

If a builder is hard to reach, vague with answers, or pushes you to sign quickly, those patterns will not improve once construction starts. The estimating phase is the best behavior you will see. Hire someone you actually want to work with.

We try to make the process simple, honest, and easy to follow. That has been our approach since day one.

Pro Tips From Our Crews

• Get at least three written estimates before you decide. Anything less and you lack a real comparison.

• Ask each builder what makes their estimate different from the others. The good ones can explain it clearly.

• Watch for big differences in framing details, fasteners, and footing depths. These are where shortcuts hide.

• Visit a recent project in progress if a builder will let you. The job site tells you a lot about how they work.

• Confirm in writing that the price includes permits, debris removal, and final cleanup.

The cheapest bid almost always becomes the most expensive deck in the long run. Repairs, callbacks, and premature replacements cost far more than building it right the first time. Pick a builder you trust to do the work the way you would do it yourself if you had the experience.

Common Questions From North Georgia Homeowners

What questions should I ask references?

Ask whether the project finished on time and on budget, how the builder handled changes or surprises, and what they would do differently if hiring again. The answers to those three questions tell you most of what you need to know.

Is the lowest bid ever the right choice?

Sometimes, but rarely. A lower bid can reflect efficiency, lower overhead, or genuine competitive pricing. It can also reflect undersized framing, lower-grade materials, or skipped permits. Ask the lower bidder to explain the difference. If they cannot, that is your answer.

Serving North Georgia

We design and build custom decks, screened porches, covered decks, pergolas, and outdoor living spaces across North Georgia. That includes Pickens, Cherokee, Gilmer, Fannin, Dawson, Forsyth, Bartow, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, Union, and Gordon counties. If you are anywhere in our service area, we would love the chance to come walk your property and talk through what we can build for you.