Eighteen answers,
straight from the founder.

The questions Alex hears most on the first phone call. If yours isn’t here, he’ll answer it himself — (952) 767-5550.

01 · Section

Process + schedule

6 questions

How long does it take from first call to finished deck?: Two to three weeks for design. Six weeks for a typical build once permits clear. Multi-level lakefront and rooftop projects run longer — we'll tell you the timeline before you sign.
Will the same crew finish the build that started it?: Yes. The eight men who break ground on day one are the same eight who walk you through it on the last day. We don't sub out the framing, the rail, or the finish carpentry.
What happens if the weather pushes the schedule?: We bake a weather buffer into every estimate — Minnesota will do what Minnesota does. If we lose a day to rain or a week to ice, the schedule we hand you on day one is the schedule we'll still hit.
Can we change the design after we've signed?: Yes, within reason. Material swaps and rail changes are easy. Geometry and footprint changes require a re-render and a change order — we'd rather slow down for a day than build something you'll regret.
Do I need to be home during the build?: No. We handle access through whatever arrangement works for you. Most homeowners check in on weekends and let the crew run on weekdays.
Do you build in winter?: Sometimes. Frame work in cold weather is fine; finish carpentry below freezing isn't. We schedule winter starts strategically — most full builds we still hold for spring.

02 · Section

4 questions

What does a custom deck typically run?: Most of our full builds land between $80,000 and $300,000 depending on size, material, levels, and integrated features (kitchens, fire, fieldstone). Rooftop work runs higher. We send a fixed-price estimate after the design is approved — no surprises later.
Do you offer financing?: Yes. Synchrony and GreenSky both run through us. We can also work with home-equity disbursements on a project schedule if that's cleaner.
How does payment work — deposits and milestones?: Twenty percent at design approval. Forty percent at framing. Thirty percent at decking install. Final ten percent at walkthrough — and we don't take that until you walk it with us.
What's the warranty?: Twenty-five years on the galvanized steel substructure. Manufacturer warranties on the composite (Trex Transcend, TimberTech AZEK) — twenty-five-year residential. One-year workmanship on everything else. Most calls back are courtesy adjustments, not failures.

03 · Section

3 questions

Do I need a permit?: Yes, for any deck over 200 sq ft. We pull every permit, schedule every inspection, and handle the entire municipality side of the build. The homeowner doesn't make a single phone call.
How do you handle HOA architectural review?: We've worked with most of the metro associations. We pull the architectural standards in advance, render to the requirement, and submit the package on your behalf. If your HOA needs revisions, we run them.
What if the inspector flags something we didn't expect?: We fix it on our dime. If the issue is structural, we'll re-engineer; if it's code-language, we'll provide the documentation. We don't pass surprise costs back to the homeowner unless the surprise is on your side of the property line.

04 · Section

5 questions

Trex Transcend vs. TimberTech AZEK — which do you recommend?: Both are excellent. Trex has the longer track record; TimberTech AZEK has the cooler-touch surface in summer. We spec to the home, the orientation, and the color you want — neither is a default.
Do you take down the existing deck?: Yes, including the substructure. Demo is in our quote. We haul off everything to the metal and lumber recyclers we use; nothing goes in your city dumpster.
Do you also do landscaping, lighting, or retaining walls?: Lighting and integrated features (low-voltage rail lights, post caps, step lights, gas lines for fire features), yes. Major landscaping and freestanding retaining walls — we partner with two MN-based landscape architects we've worked with for ten years.
Do you do deck repairs, or only new builds?: Only new builds and full rebuilds. The economics of a one-day repair don't fit how we run a crew, and we'd rather refer you to a great repair shop than do it half-right.
What about lighting, outlets, and gas lines?: Low-voltage rail and step lighting we run ourselves. 120V outlets and gas runs we coordinate with our partner electrician and plumber on the project schedule. You sign one contract; we manage the trades.

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He answers his own phone, his own email, and the question you’re sure no other contractor will. Two-minute calls are fine.

18 of the questions we hear most · Updated 2026