Building a rooftop deck in the Washington, DC, area is a great way to add style, sophistication, and value to your home, but the permit process can be challenging and, at times, frustrating. So, how long should a DC homeowner anticipate waiting for permits on a new rooftop deck construction, and what factors affect that wait time?

Before embarking on any kind of home improvement project, homeowners often ask us whether they will need to obtain a permit. The short answer? Most likely.

Most major projects - including low-maintenance decks, custom garages, screened-in porches, and home additions - require proper permitting. The specifics vary from county to county, but most jurisdictions will slam you with a big fine if you fail to obtain a proper permit, and may even force you to tear the structure down.

Cost factors for estimates by experienced contractors versus discount builders in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

In a previous post, we discussed the how contractors determine the prices they charge for home improvement jobs. They generally break their estimate figures into thirds between (1) materials, (2) labor, and (3) overheads and profit. Why, then, do so-called design build firms and other higher quality contractors oftentimes offer higher initial estimates than their discount competitors? Are they simply charging more money for comparable work?

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 Your Decking Contractor Needs to be Licensed in Virginia

Before hiring a contractor to work on your decking project in Virginia, you’ll need to make sure that they’re licensed in the state. If you hire someone who isn’t properly licensed, you’ll likely hit a road block when attempting to get a permit, since a contractor needs to varify their license as part of the permitting process.