Over the last 18 months, I have been trying (not very hard) to replace the aged, wooden deck in my backyard with a concrete pad. I say “not very hard” because it seems that the situation would get frustrating and I would take months off at a time, diligently doing the planning and preparation to get the project done. All that aside though, I am pleased with the work performed and the contractor that was eventually chosen.

I followed some of the advice that I write about; Do-It-Yourself (DIY). I removed the old wood myself, with the help of a family member whom I bribed with pizza and root beer, and hauled most of the mess and rotted wood away. That proved to be a great help to the contractor, who came by to estimate the cost of the project, because they could see the dirt underneath. The obstacle that each contractor kept focusing on was that the area seemed to slope back to the house. For obvious reasons, you would not want water to pool at the wall of your home as it would cause problems in abundance.

The contractor we wanted to go with did not respond to five calls and three emails within a two week time period; leaving us back at square one. Two additional contractors were called and then we finally agreed on one and everything was set. The hired contractor did a great job and we are happy with the results. It was a long journey but it is now over. Now it is on to the next project, which I’m hoping will take a bit less time to complete, a patio cover.

Here are a few things I learned during this ordeal that may prevent you from following my bad example in hiring a contractor:
1. Get referrals BEFORE you look for a contractor. This will save you a tremendous amount of time.
2. Be ready for the contractor who does nothing but up sell. I was too nice and just nodded and listened to a couple of contractors who wanted to transform my project from basic to "top-of –the-line."
3. Be ready to learn even if you do not want to. An informed buyer will benefit in the long run from knowing exactly what is being discussed.
4. Be open to suggestions. The contractors are the experts, listen to their advice.
5. Ask for pictures or visual references of their work. This will help you decide if what they are showing you is what you really want.

My wife, for one, hopes that it is less than a year before I tell you about the patio cover being completed.

Please feel free to email your questions and/or comments. Your feedback is welcome.