Why Your Decking Contractor’s Portfolio Should Be Large, and Other Portfolio Considerations

When choosing a doctor, lawyer, or therapist, you are able to look to their license, education, and certifications as proof of their expertise. Even electricians and plumbers are required to undergo extensive training and experience before they become licensed to work. However, deck building is a unique industry in that there is no governing body that decides who is and who isn’t qualified to work as a decking contractor.

You’ve decided to hire a decking contractor. Congratulations! Enlisting a seasoned professional is the first step towards finding someone who you can partner with to help bring your dream deck into fruition.

Things get get messy however when you're deciding on who to actually employ. After all, not only will this person be charged with creating an important addition to your home, they’ll be spending a lot of time on your property and working with you to give updates and receive feedback as needed.

Why it is important to hire a decking contractor with strong design capabilities

You know you want a deck. You’ve been dreaming of one for years now. Having barbecues with friends and family members. Inviting people over for the big game or to watch fireworks on the 4^th.

And while you have a vague picture of what you want, you still expect the deck contractor you hire to come with suggestions and design ideas of their own. If there is something specific you want that cannot be fulfilled for example, you want someone who can offer a viable alternative. In short, you don’t just want someone to help you build your deck; you want a partner to help you design it.

Synthetic decking materials offer an efficient alternative to traditional wood decks

You want something that’s going to add to your usable outdoor space, but you also want to ensure it’s a good investment for the long haul. You want your deck to stand the test of time, continue looking great even after years of use, and net you a nice little return when you decide to sell one day.

ASA Decking Material - One of the Best Synthetic Decking Materials on the Market

If you’re thinking about building a deck and want to go with a synthetic material, you need to understand your options. Besides real wood, there are a number of synthetic materials on the market, including PVC, capstock, and composite.

Composite, a combination of plastic, wood fibers, and wood flour, is the least expensive option and has several benefits over wood, but also requires regular maintenance and is prone to dry rot, staining, and mold and mildew. Capstock is essentially composite decking with a layer of PVC on the outside. It’s resistant to all kinds of issues that plague wood and composite, but can still suffer from mildew or mold if the material can’t breathe. PVC decks are comprised of plastic resin. This makes them easy to maintain and resistant to things like stains, splinters, scratches, and mold, but they still fade over time and are not particularly environmentally friendly.