Dilemma. Need your advice! - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Atticus808 · 03-27-2016, 04:16 PM

so I'm getting a deck built. I've narrowed it down to 2 contractors

1. Guy is a carpenter by trade and has a lot of experience. He does very nice work but more expensive. I know his quality of work would be amazing.

2. Guy is a paramedic but wanting to start a deck building business. Doesn't have a huge portfolio yet but is working towards it. Willing to work closer to our budget. He would be about $800 cheaper or more.

dvasqu01 · 03-27-2016, 04:19 PM

I can do it for you

Yes I'll give you the rice noodle😘

gramicci101 · 03-27-2016, 05:25 PM

How much experience does #2 have?

Atticus808 · 03-27-2016, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramicci101

How much experience does #2 have?

he's done some decks and is in the process of building a website. haven't seen many pics though. he really wants my business probably to get more pictures

#1 guy I've seen his work on Facebook and they look very good

babydriver · 03-27-2016, 06:32 PM

Don't look at the initial price tag, but rather the cost per year for the number of years that it will be in use. Have you considered the quality of wood, type of finish, screws v. nails, etc that each contractor says that he will use? It may be that the more experienced carpenter is more expensive partly because he is using better materials. If the more expensive deck lasts much longer, then the per year cost is actually lower.

What sort of warranties are they offering?

babydriver · 03-27-2016, 06:35 PM

One other thing to consider: How long do you plan to remain in this house? If you are moving in less than five years, say, then the initial cost becomes more important. If longer than that, then the warranty and the long-term durability increase in importance.

finch1750 · 03-27-2016, 11:21 PM

Use somelicensed? I have seen so many issues arise and going after someone licensed is usually easier if they try to screw you

super-86 · 03-27-2016, 11:38 PM

I understand that's he's starting up his business. I gave those guys chances in the past because I was once in their shoes. It's really hard to start up and prove yourself when you're an entrepreneur.

BUT

Do it right the first time. I've had instances where I've used both #1 and #2. #2 ended up costing me much more in the end and I haven't gone back to #2. Make sure they are fully licensed and insured! Good luck!

TRAKRAVN · 03-27-2016, 11:46 PM

I work as an electrician and from my personal experiences when starting out, if I were you I would go with number #1. Youth and enthusiasm is no match for age and experience. I made a lot of mistakes business wise starting out because I "thought" I had things covered with labour, material and permits. I have also had experienced expensive contractors do work at my own home and they weren't living up to their price or their experience. In the end it's a bit of a crap shoot.

Atticus808 · 03-28-2016, 12:33 AM

thanks everyone. looks like #1 is the route I'll be going with.

View Poll Results: Which contractor should I go with?
Experienced. More expensive	14	93.33%
Startup. Less experienced	1	6.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

03-27-2016, 06:32 PM	#5
babydriver Hit the road and I'm gone Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2015 FR-S Burnt Orange (Hot Lava) Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,844 Thanks: 733 Thanked 1,786 Times in 973 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Don't look at the initial price tag, but rather the cost per year for the number of years that it will be in use. Have you considered the quality of wood, type of finish, screws v. nails, etc that each contractor says that he will use? It may be that the more experienced carpenter is more expensive partly because he is using better materials. If the more expensive deck lasts much longer, then the per year cost is actually lower. What sort of warranties are they offering? __________________ Slip, slidin' away.

03-27-2016, 06:35 PM	#6
babydriver Hit the road and I'm gone Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2015 FR-S Burnt Orange (Hot Lava) Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,844 Thanks: 733 Thanked 1,786 Times in 973 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	One other thing to consider: How long do you plan to remain in this house? If you are moving in less than five years, say, then the initial cost becomes more important. If longer than that, then the warranty and the long-term durability increase in importance. __________________ Slip, slidin' away.

03-27-2016, 11:21 PM	#7
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,593 Thanks: 9,403 Thanked 9,411 Times in 5,270 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s) Tagged: 33 Thread(s)	Use somelicensed? I have seen so many issues arise and going after someone licensed is usually easier if they try to screw you __________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

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03-27-2016, 04:16 PM	#1
Atticus808 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Splash Mountain Location: Disneyland Posts: 1,057 Thanks: 940 Thanked 2,337 Times in 918 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Dilemma. Need your advice! so I'm getting a deck built. I've narrowed it down to 2 contractors 1. Guy is a carpenter by trade and has a lot of experience. He does very nice work but more expensive. I know his quality of work would be amazing. 2. Guy is a paramedic but wanting to start a deck building business. Doesn't have a huge portfolio yet but is working towards it. Willing to work closer to our budget. He would be about $800 cheaper or more.

03-27-2016, 04:19 PM	#2
dvasqu01 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Drives: Scion FRS Whiteout Location: Gardena,Ca Posts: 949 Thanks: 272 Thanked 546 Times in 368 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I can do it for you Yes I'll give you the rice noodle😘

03-27-2016, 05:25 PM	#3
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	How much experience does #2 have?

03-27-2016, 11:38 PM	#8
super-86 Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: 2013 FRS Location: Winter Wonderland Posts: 46 Thanks: 38 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I understand that's he's starting up his business. I gave those guys chances in the past because I was once in their shoes. It's really hard to start up and prove yourself when you're an entrepreneur. BUT Do it right the first time. I've had instances where I've used both #1 and #2. #2 ended up costing me much more in the end and I haven't gone back to #2. Make sure they are fully licensed and insured! Good luck!

03-27-2016, 11:46 PM	#9
TRAKRAVN Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Drives: 2015 Scion FRS - Raven Location: Brampton Posts: 141 Thanks: 107 Thanked 76 Times in 48 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I work as an electrician and from my personal experiences when starting out, if I were you I would go with number #1. Youth and enthusiasm is no match for age and experience. I made a lot of mistakes business wise starting out because I "thought" I had things covered with labour, material and permits. I have also had experienced expensive contractors do work at my own home and they weren't living up to their price or their experience. In the end it's a bit of a crap shoot.

03-28-2016, 12:33 AM	#10
Atticus808 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: Splash Mountain Location: Disneyland Posts: 1,057 Thanks: 940 Thanked 2,337 Times in 918 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	thanks everyone. looks like #1 is the route I'll be going with.

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