An interview with A-Affordable Decks owner, Frank. Frank who started A-Affordable Decks in 1992, takes on some tough questions and answers them with his usual candor.
We received a couple of prices on a deck and pretty much know what we want. Will you beat the other estimates? My pricing is very competitive! It is not however, my goal to beat everybody's estimate! I am out to build a solid, good looking deck that will be problem free for twenty years, that meets or exceeds the national building codes, and to have you pass my business card along to your friends and associates with confidence.
Are you listed with the Better Business Bureau or any of these type of organizations? You will find me on Angie's List. I am also listed on Service Magic's website. Here are my thoughts: Angie's List didn't ask me to be listed on their website. They gave me a report card based on one of my customer's (whom is a member) recommendations. They followed up with a phone call to my office telling me that I received such and such grades from work I did. Next, they explained that I was qualified to be listed on their site with a super-duper listing that would cost in excess of six hundred dollars. All of these companies that make themselves out to be unbiased, third party referral generators are out to make a big profit. Service Magic's (that is not a construction contractor) main purpose is to sell qualified deck leads for $37.00 each. They actually can drive up the price to the consumer. The Better Business Bureau is another one. If you do nine hundred jobs without a complaint, that, will not be listed. They only list the complaint of one disgruntled customer. That is a fact! Needless to say I don't put much stock in any of them. If you do, rest assured, I receive high marks from those companies.
We know this carpenter across the street who said that he would build the deck for us but, we're not sure. What do you think? All I can tell you is that I have torn out many decks that had been built by supposed good carpenters. They can generally build a sturdy deck, but often make mistakes in the overall design that make for problems or premature failure. I am a specialist, when I hire carpenters from time to time, they marvel had my methods. Not just about the efficient techniques but also at the solutions to standard design flaws that my designs incorporate.
This is a stressful process and we don't particularlly like nor trust contractors. Neither do I! Many, I think, should live in a zoo. Talk about feeble minded, I don't want to get into it here.
What's better cedar or treated lumber? Treated is stronger, and cheaper. Cedar holds stain better and is more stable (less warpage). Cedar is more prone to insect infestation: carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and woodpecker attacks. Pressure treated is going to split and crack as long as it is in a sunny location. (nothing you can really do to prevent it). So, it's your call as to what's better.
Are you on the job supervising your crew every minute of the day? No, If they needed supervision to that extreme, they wouldn't be working for me! I go to the jobsite everyday and communicate with my lead carpenter as needed.
Is it o.k. for us to pull your carpenter to the side and ask him to do some extra remodeling work for us, for cash? Sure, if it wouldn't be on your conscience that he would be fired if caught. Greed can be a bad thing. Some hundred dollar bills dangled in the face of a worker in tough economic times can defintely present him with a moral dilemma. People that do this are low-lifes in my opinion. If that thought even enters your mind then, look elsewhere for your contractor. I won't want any part of you! Needless to say, I have had this happen to me over the years. One memorable experience was when I received a call from a gentleman that I had built a deck for in Palatine in the Summer of 1996. A very good carpenter was working side by side with me that year. He chewed tobacco and spit what seemed like every 30 seconds. My customer underhandedly approached this slob about doing a hardwood floor in their dining room. At some point later he started the job, mangled it and left without finishing the job (of course because of my sterling reputation and quality of work that I did on the deck, this carpenter was paid a majority of the money). Low and behold I received a call from the customer several months later asking if I knew where this carpenter had gone. I had actually let him go probably because I couldn't stand getting my hands full of tobacco colored saliva when I would roll up my cords at the end of the day. Grotesque? Yes, but that's the business. Tough luck mister customer! If he would have come to me initially, I would have steered him to an excellent hardwood floor installer.
We contacted your company three months ago and we never received a return phone call. That is a red flag. Maybe you're just like the rest of the contractors out there? I think not. I will be the first to admit that some phone calls get by me. It usually isn't intentional, it's just that at times I am so loaded down with calls for estimates and now have a baby girl that, a few calls are bound to not be returned. If that happened to you, I apologize and I would ask you to give me another chance. It is most likely worth your while.
We have had 8 or 9 contractors out to give us bids on a project that we would like to have completed this Fall. Only two have gotten back to us with quotes. Will you come out and give us a bid? 8 or 9 contractors? Wow, you have an awful lot of time to spend on your "big" project. I can tell you this, guy's don't like to have their precious time wasted. Endless estimating doesn't pay the bills. For most, estimating your project was most likely not worth spending the time and effort on. With little chance of being awarded the job I'll also pass on your job. You have spoken to too many people. Unless you tell me different.
Is your company affiliated with the carpenters or any other union? No, I was a member of the carpenter's union in the early 90's but they didn't do anything for me. I didn't have enough hours to receive health insurance and I didn't want to dirty my bumper with their "Proud to be Union" bumpersticker. I find it ridiculous that with all the Americans out of and looking for work, that union guys are paid to sit on the side of the road with a big inflatable rats protesting some company's choice to utilize non union workers.
We've heard that the building department in our village is a tough one. Have you had that experience here? The building departments that come to mind at this moment 9-22-10 are Glen Ellyn (ridiculous), of course unincorporated DuPage County (red tape, homeowner signatures), Elmhurst and Westchester (just because of the pier depth requirement of 48"). That's it right now, the rest are fine.
Can you recommend another contractor for other unrelated projects. Such as a plumber, heating and air guy etc...? Sure, I know some very good contractors that like us, are very reasonably priced.