What to Expect Working With Deck Giant, Each Step of the Way — From Start to Finish.
Every project — deck, pergola, carport, or pavilion — follows roughly the same process, from your first call through the final walkthrough. Here's a rough idea of what to expect, step by step.
Reach Out
Call, text, or send us a message with a basic idea of what you're looking for. A few things that help us move fast:
- Roughly how big a space you're picturing (even a rough size estimate helps)
- Which service you're interested in — deck, pergola, carport, or pavilion (or a combination)
- A few photos of styles you like, from our gallery or anywhere else
- A photo of your home or yard where you're picturing the new build — it helps us start visualizing the project against your actual space
- Whether you're interested in upgrades like a railing style, polycarbonate roof, metal roof, privacy wall, tongue-and-groove ceiling, or stain
Preliminary Quote
Based on the information you send us, we can often put together a rough preliminary quote over email — no site visit required yet. If that rough number sounds good and fits your budget, we move to Step 3 and schedule your free on-site estimate.
Free On-Site Estimate
We come out and walk the space in person — this matters even more on mountainous properties, where slope, soil, and existing structures all affect what's possible. We'll talk through your goals, take measurements, and firm up the numbers from your preliminary quote.
Design & Renderings
This is where we work closely with you. Because in-house design and 3D visualization are one of our core strengths, we can put together detailed drawings — and often realistic renderings — so you can see the finished space and work out layout, materials, and upgrade details before anything gets built. We treat this as a real back-and-forth, not a one-and-done sketch.
A note on renderings: Detailed drawings or 3D renderings may involve a design fee if started before the deposit is paid. In most cases that fee is credited back to you in full if you move forward with the build — you're only paying for the design work itself if you decide not to proceed. Either way, the drawings are yours to keep.
Written Proposal & Deposit
Once the design is locked in, you get a detailed written proposal with the total price — broken out by line item if you've added any upgrades. Once the proposal is approved and the contract is signed by all parties, we collect a deposit and you're on our install schedule.
A note on changes: If any changes are needed or requested after the deposit has been paid, we'll do our best to accommodate them if at all possible. Those changes will be agreed to in writing and reflected as an adjustment to your final invoice.
Permitting & Materials
We handle local permitting and engineering sign-off so you don't have to coordinate it yourself. Materials get ordered around this time too — some items, like custom metal roofing, are made to order and need extra lead time, which we'll flag up front so there are no surprises.
Installation
Timelines vary by project size, season, and terrain — a straightforward deck goes up faster than a large pavilion on a steep mountain lot. You don't need to be home for the entire build, but it helps to be there on day one to confirm layout, post placement, and any final details before the crew gets started.
Final Walkthrough
Once the build is complete, we walk the finished project with you to make sure everything matches what was designed and agreed on. Final payment is collected once you're satisfied — not before.