Online Project Management

From the moment you choose to work with us, you'll have your own login to our private, online project management system. Rather than relying on scattered emails or text messages to communicate during the course of your project, our easy to use system becomes the central point for all things relevant to your project from design concepts, to plans, to scheduling to progress payment reminders. You'll appreciate how streamlined it makes even complex projects. Of course, your participation is optional, but if you can send an email, you'll love this system.

Design

Helical Piers

While concrete footings have been the mainstay of the deck building industry, we have found a better way to build the foundation for your deck. Helical piers are simply large metal posts that are "screwed" into the ground to the point at which the soil provides enough bearing capacity to carry the load of structure above them. The depth can be anywhere from 4'-25' depending on the site's soil conditions. Helical piers are ideal for areas with poor soil conditions or high water tables (which is often the case in Bergen County).We prefer helical piers because they are custom engineered for every project, are completely resistant to shifting, and are very low impact to the property during installation. In fact, no dirt is displaced during the installation of a helical pier meaning your yard stays pristine. With helical piers there is no digging, no footing inspection (as they engineered), and can be installed in nearly any weather ready to build on instantly.

Filter Cloth & Gravel (optional)

On decks less than 8 feet off the ground, we recommend adding landscape filter cloth and gravel under the deck area to aid in drainage, drying, prevent weed growth, and critter burrows. It is much easier and less costly to add cloth and gravel prior to the deck being installed. We highly recommend this simple, inexpensive upgrade because it makes using the space under your new deck much more conducive to storing things that people typically store under decks without them becoming covering in mud and dirt from water splashback as they would without filter cloth and gravel.

Steel Framing

It's OK if you've never heard of structural galvanized light gauge steel framing because most contractors haven't either. Light gauge steel framing has been used in commercial and residential construction but you probably never noticed it because you can't see the framing in a building. Steel has numerous advantages over traditional wood framing. We have embraced steel framing as the absolute best method of constructing a lasting outdoor deck project because it will never rot, shrink, warp, bend or settle like wood framed decks. Since wood is a natural product it is impossible to predict how it will move while subjected to years of outdoor exposure. Steel is dimensionally stable and is stronger than wood so it allows longer spans and less support posts which adds to it's efficiency.

When we are done building your deck, only you will know it's underlying structure is steel and not wood. All of the framing is concealed behind the deck surface so it won't look or feel any different than what you're used to. Steel framing is just one of the unique features we include in all of our signature decks.

Framing Lumber

If steel framing cannot be used (perhaps a deck remodel or reskin), we'll use wood. The most common framing lumber for decks in our local area is southern yellow pine (SYP) which has been through a process of injecting the wood fibers with additives under high pressure which make the wood highly resistant to rot, decay and insect damage.

Pressure treated lumber comes in a variety of grades and all lumber is not created equal. We insist on using the highest grade lumber available for our deck remodeling projects sourced from sustainable sources.

Fasteners & Connectors

Pressure treated framing lumber will corrode standard fasteners (ie, joist hangers) in as little as a few months under the damp conditions we experience in New Jersey. At the minimum, all fasteners including nails and screws must be hot dipped galvanized to survive being embedded (or even touching) treated lumber.We use high-quality hot dipped galvanized nails from leading industry-recognized fastener producers such as Senco, Bostitch, and Hitachi.We do not use less-expensive off-brand fasteners because they are not coated as well as the more expensive fasteners. Likewise, our framing connectors such as joist hangers, straps, post bases and beam connectors are specially coated to resist corrosion caused by contact with pressure treated wood.

Currently, the best defense against treated wood-generated corrosion is to use stainless steel fasteners and connectors wherever possible.We offer a full stainless steel fastener/connector upgrade package for all of our decks.Currently, stainless steel is the only accepted method of stopping treated wood corrosion. Unfortunately, this is not widely understood. We highly recommend this upgrade on our decks.

We also use specialty, high-tech fasteners in all sorts of places in the construction of your deck. Building technology has come a long way since the lag screw and carriage bolt, yet many contractors are still using the same products and techniques their grandfathers used to build.

Preventing Water Penetration

During the pressure-treatment, the preservative does not always completely saturate the wood. Fastener holes are also common passageways for water and decay microorganisms. Once subject to water and moisture, framing lumber expands and shrinks, causing more cracks and further exposing untreated areas.Grace Vycor Deck Protector works to preserve pressure-treated wood decks from rot and decay.We use Grace Vycor Deck Protector on all multi-ply girders and beams as a standard practice to prevent water from seeping in between the plys of the girder or beam.We offer additional lumber wrapping of all joists with Grace Vycor Deck Protector as an upgrade for clients desiring additional protection of their deck investment.

Structural Design

We consult a variety of industry-approved sources for specifying the structural components of your deck and are schooled in the best practices of deck design. This provides our clients with a more solid and stable deck structure that is both cost efficient and enduring.

We frame our staircases with at least four stringers (usually a lot more) and use engineered hardware to connect them to your deck. This method takes a bit longer, but it's the right way to do it. Stairs are no place to skimp yet we are called to replace failing staircases installed by less qualified contractors frequently.

Patios and Masonry

Our hardscaping projects are built with the best materials and techniques available. Saving a few dollars by using subpar materials to provide the lowest price is never in your best interest. We want you to know that your projects will be built with the finest material and methods available to us.

• Sub-base and base material: It's a part of the project you never see, so it's easy for a contractor to skimp and not install enough material to ensure long term stability and a smooth surface.
  
• Aggregate: We always use heavy aggregate such as as stone dust and quarry process (QP). Mason sand or even beach sand is used widely to save the contractor a few dollars. Fine aggregates, like sand, erode prematurely and will cause your hardscape surfaces to shift and become uneven.
  
• Polymeric Sand: You've probably seen a neglected patio with weeds and grass growing from the joints. This is as a result of the installer skimping and using regular sand or stone dust in the joints. We always use polymeric sand (much like tile grout) in our projects to prevent water penetration to the sub-base and the growth of weeds and moss in the joints. Sure, it costs a little more, but it's worth it!
  
• Premium Polymer Edging: All paver edging is not equal. We insist on using the highest quality polymer edging that is designed to prevent frost heaving and paver uplift.