Building a deck is a big project, and most homeowners only do it once or twice. Knowing what happens and when makes it a lot less stressful. Here’s how a composite deck project works with TC Decks, from the first phone call to the final walkthrough.
1. Free estimate over the phone
It starts with a call. Tell us about your house, the size and shape of deck you have in mind, how high off the ground it will be, and what features you want: stairs, railing type, a covered roof, lighting, a hot tub. If you have photos of your backyard or an existing deck, those help.
From that conversation, we can usually give you a free estimate over the phone. It’s a quick way to find out whether the project fits your budget before anyone spends time on a site visit. If it doesn’t, we can talk through what to change, such as the decking line, railing or size.
2. Site visit to measure
If the phone estimate works for you and the job is prequalified, we come out to measure. We look at:
- The house wall where a ledger would attach, including siding, doors, windows and the condition of the rim.
- The ground, including slope, soil and access for equipment.
- Sun exposure, which affects decking color and whether a pergola or roof makes sense.
- Existing decks or patios that need to come out.
- Setbacks, easements and HOA rules that affect placement.
3. Booking
Once the details and scope are settled, you book the job. If you’d like to spread out the cost, financing through Wisetack offers loans up to $65,000. See our financing page.
4. 3D rendering
After the job is booked, we create a 3D rendering of your deck on your house. You’ll see the layout, stairs, railing and colors before anything is built. This is the time to adjust a stair location, change a border color, add lighting or move a privacy screen. It’s much easier to change a drawing than a finished deck.
If you have an HOA, the rendering is also handy for getting their approval.
5. The build
Here’s what construction usually looks like:
- Demolition of any old deck, if needed.
- Footings. We often use American Ground Screw footings, which go in quickly with less mess than digging and pouring concrete. Concrete is still used where the site calls for it.
- Framing. Either Fortress Evolution steel framing or wood framing with G-Tape joist tape on top to protect it from water. If you want a dry space below, Trex RainEscape drainage goes in at this stage.
- Decking. We install TimberTech decking, or Trex or Deckorators if that’s your choice, following the manufacturer’s gapping and fastening rules. We use Cortex plugs or hidden fasteners for a clean surface.
- Stairs, railing and lighting. Fortress FE26 railing, glass, cable or privacy screens, plus in-lite low-voltage lights in risers, posts and boards.
Utah weather can affect the schedule, especially in winter, but ground screw footings help us keep working in colder months.
6. Final walkthrough
When the deck is done, we walk it with you. We’ll show you how to care for the boards, what to use for snow removal and cleaning, and anything specific to your lighting or drainage. If something isn’t right, we fix it.
7. Warranty
Every deck we build carries our 7-year workmanship warranty. On top of that, because we’re a certified Pro Installer for TimberTech, Trex, Deckorators and Fortress Railing, we can offer manufacturer-backed labor and material warranty coverage on qualifying projects. Check the manufacturer’s warranty for the specific products on your deck.
Who you’ll work with
TC Decks is Tippetts Construction, owned by Levi Tippetts. We’ve been building since 2005, we’re licensed and insured (Utah license #5899795-5501), and we’re a TimberTech Platinum Pro. We serve Utah County and Salt Lake County.
Ready to start? See our composite deck options or browse the project showcase, then contact us for a free estimate over the phone.