"A happy customer is a well informed customer"

Contractors should inspect area and the location of your house where the deck is desired to inform you of everything possible to optimize your area. Most professional contractors have TONS of ideas to come up with a project you will love!

Contractors should be able to provide clients many different material options-whether you are looking for composite, PVC or a wood finish. Contractors should provide resources for clients to see materials in person. They can answer questions about maintenance, warranties and give in depth pros and cons of the materials. No two materials are alike!

Apart from the beautiful new decking and railing you pick to enjoy for years to come, remember that your decks framing is the most important part! Every builder is different, however this is where your home's and family's safety come into play. Make sure your contractor informs you on his design and material choices before you sign up! With lumber prices, some less than stellar contractors will reduce lumber costs by under sizing and over spanning material. Methods of connecting to your home and keeping water out is critical and should be discussed also (see the deck above) Remember if the price is too good to be true ask why! Feel free to reach out to us at Jerzy Decks for advice with ZERO obligations, that is why we are here!  

The last part of the pre-construction is all the paperwork fun! At this point when you are sure about your contractor, it is time for the contract and payment discussion. A contract is there to not only protect the homeowner, but the contractor as well, to say its a necessity is an understatement. NEVER GIVE A CONTRACTOR MONEY WITHOUT A CONTRACT! Before signing anything make sure to sit down with your contractor and go through the details of your project, it should explain not only what is expected of your contractor in detail but also what is expected from you as the homeowner as well. Make sure you have an exact idea of when and who will be getting the building permit for the project, when and who will be calling utility locators before ground breaking begins, when you will have finalized blueprints of the project in detail that will be approved by your city, a copy of your contractors liability insurance and the exact agreed upon payment schedule. It is common practice to give a down payment to secure your spot on the schedule and to cover permit and blueprint costs, don't let that scare you away!

Before ANY work begins make sure you post your building permit in your front window.! When your project begins the first step will most likely be the footings/piers for your deck. Before ANY digging begins underground utilities must be located by a 3rd party (in Illinois its JULIE) although their methods are not 100% accurate its required by law and gives your contractor a good start at avoiding underground obstructions. Post holes in Illinois are required to be a minimum of 42". At this point your town will most likely require their first of 3 on-site inspections, this one will be to check pier depths, Clients are always encouraged to be present for inspections should their schedule allow, however most towns do give a physical signature when passed that could always be provided to the client as well.

After the piers are dug and concrete poured the next step is the framing. First and foremost the posts have to be connected to the piers with a metal connector. Some contractors will set the posts directly into the wet cement, this is an outdated method. Some towns still allow it and its up the the inspector despite the fact it will eventually rot your post over time. Local building codes are not updated yearly like national standards, this is one of many examples. Check with your contractor for their methods!

     Once the posts are in the beams are next, the beams are what distributes the weight load from your deck down to your posts, and ultimately the piers. Beams should be resting on top of posts with metal brackets providing a positive connection to the posts according to national standards. Some builders sandwich the beams onto the side of the posts and bolt them through, this is also an outdated method that should not be used. Don't worry, pictures of proper practices will be provided at the end of this so you may conduct your own inspections!

     If you are having a deck that is installed attached to your home, the ledger board is next. This is an extremely crucial part of your project. The majority of decks that fail, do so because of an improperly installed ledger. The ledger board is fastened to your homes rim joist, it will carry all of your decks weight on that end (it replaces the need for posts and piers on that side). To do so your siding has to be removed in that area to insure positive connection.

*ASK YOUR CONTRACTOR HIS METHOD FOR WATERPROOFING THE AREA AFTER!

*ILLINOIS NO LONGER ALLOWS DECKS ATTATCHED TO BRICK SIDED HOMES

     Now that all of those tasks are completed joists go in last. Ensure joist hangers are used on both ends of joist. Joist spacing may vary depending on what decking material as well as any design elements you went with. Joist spacing can vary anywhere from 12-16", ask your contractor what the manufacturer of your product recommends or search online to verify. Joist sizing is variable as well depending on design however 2x6 is the minimum that should be used. If you would like the technical info feel free to reach out to us for joist span charts via national building code. Another thing to think about is getting your joists sealed with joist tape to help protect your framing from rain and snow. This is common practice for all of our builds, however not all contractors practice this yet. Here at Jerzy Decks we do not see the point in giving you a 25-50 year decking product on top of framing that will only last 10-20 years without protection. At this point its time for your second inspection with your city, this inspection will be looking over the above mentioned items.

*please note this is a simplified overview of common framing areas, there are tons of variables depending on size and design.

At this point your project is ALMOST ready to enjoy! There is not too much technical info here to go over, the majority of this side is just visual appearances! Every manufacturer has slightly different installation practices however it depends on if you are using hidden fasteners or using a face screw and perhaps plugs to hide them. Look over your project carefully to ensure you are satisfied with the gaps and alignment of your decking. Check your railings and make sure they appear to be in line. Our goal is always to get as close to perfection as possible. If you notice anything wrong, the earlier you tell your contractor the better! At this point it is time for your third and final city inspection, primary focus on this one will be stairs and railing, once that is over enjoy your new escape!