Archadeck of Columbus Warranties – Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus

Those are estimates, not bids (and they are not the same thing)

I visit with potential clients nearly every week of the year offering a free consultation on plans to create new outdoor living spaces. On Monday it may be a fixer-upper redecking project. On Wednesday I could be discussing options for a 3-season room with attached Columbus paver patio and pergola. The range of projects is nearly endless. With all of this experience, you might wonder why I can’t give you a “bid” that you can easily compare with bids from other builders.

The answer is that most homeowners don’t have the plans and specifications for the custom project that they want to build. Without the details included in those documents, it’s virtually impossible to give a reliable bid for a job. Anyone who tries has to make dozens of assumptions about the project and its unlikely that any two builders will make all the same ones. It’s the classic problem of trying to compare apples to oranges.

What kind of assumptions do these jobs demand? Here are a few, just to give you an idea.

You want a wood deck made of pressure-treated pine. Is that premium clear pine or normal, builder-grade pine? Will you use nails or screws? What metal are they made from? Polymer coating or ceramic? How long are they? How thick? Is the thread type standard or coarse? How do you want to orient the boards? How much space will be between the joists? What shape will the deck be? How high off the ground? Those are just a few of the questions at the top of a very long list for a simple wood deck. They sound ridiculous and nit-picky when you list them out, but each answer has an impact on the cost and results of the project.

If you are considering a Columbus composite deck, paver patio or screened porch, the number of factors to consider really goes through the roof (so to speak). And those are just the tangible materials expenses for the project. When you hire someone to custom design and build an outdoor living space for your home, you also must look at factors like the builder’s track record in the local area, certifications and references. Do they build to minimum code requirements or do they exceed them? How happy are their past customers? Will you feel comfortable around this contractor and his crew at 7:30 in the morning when you are wearing your bathrobe? Where does he get his carpenters? How long have they worked with his company? If there is a problem or a delay, will he return your calls promptly and work with you to solve the issues that arise? Does the builder offer a warranty?

Archadeck of Columbus is committed to creating outdoor living spaces that are beautiful, durable, safe, and appropriate for how the clients want to use them. It’s about value. I won’t attempt to compete on price, but I stand behind the quality to price ratio on every job I do. Look at photos. Ask for references and go visit those jobs in person. Talk to past customers– both ours and our competitions. A few extra bucks in your wallet are thin comfort when your major home project doesn’t turn out like you planned.

Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to see how we can make creating your dream backyard an enjoyable experience, start to finish. The consultation is completely free. (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Archadeck of Columbus named Unilock Authorized Contractor for the second consecutive year!

We are proud to announce that Archadeck of Columbus has been awarded the Unilock Authorized Contractor award for the second consecutive year!

Each year, Unilock awards a few select contractors the esteemed Authorized Contractor status. Here in Ohio and Western PA, only 125 contractors were chosen from a list of 3,000 Unilock dealers in the region. We are proud to announce that Archadeck of Columbus has been named an Authorized Contractor for the second consecutive year!

As part of being named an Authorized Contractor, we were also able to visit their plant that services the Ohio region. The visit was a very rewarding experience and we were able to see first-hand how their pavers are made. We were able to take a look at some of the new product line introductions and we are excited about working with their new products in 2014! Among the highlights of the visit was learning more about their Enduracolor line of pavers.

Enduracolor pavers are made from high-quality aggregate including quartz and granite. The process involves making a standard paver first where the top layer is high-quality cement then adding a pigmenting layer containing minimal aggregate. The result is a paver that has a compression strength that is 10 times stronger than poured concrete and looks fantastic. The Enduracolor line is definitely the “beauty and the beast” of pavers, as they provide strength and the aesthetics homeowners are looking for to use in their hardscape and patio designs.

Avante Ashlar interlocking has random appearance Archadeck Cols — The Avante Ashlar paver features a random, interlocking appearance.

Unilock started selling the Enduracolor line last year with a couple of products. They have introduced even more products to the line this year. The Enduracolor Plus line of products takes the concept a step further with the addition of natural stone like quartz and granite. The Enduracolor Plus colors in their ultra-high-end “select” line and include Richcliff, Umbriano and Copthorne. These pavers come with a guarantee from Unilock that their color will never fade.

Unilock EnduraColor Il Campo — This walkway was built using EnduraColor in Il Campo — beautiful!

In the Enduracolor line, the new color additions include from a khaki color all the way to darker brown which can be seen in their sycamore color paver. The trend to add darker pavers this year comes from the trend towards the use of darker colors within the market. The Enduracolor line includes Beacon Hill flagstone, Avante Ashlar, Il Campo and Thornbury.

Here at Archadeck of Columbus, we use a lot of the Beacon Hill series in our hardscape designs. Beacon Hill is popular with our clients and comes in three beautiful colors, River, Sierra and the new introduction of Sycamore. As an authorized contractor, Unilock backs up our warranty for two years in addition to the strong warranties we already have in place for our customers!

We are very proud, once again to be awarded as an authorized contractor. We will continue to provide the highest quality products to homeowners in building the patio, retaining wall or other hardscape structure of their dreams! Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to learn more. (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

See our beautiful hardscape and patio designs by visiting our hardscape and patio photo gallery located on our website.

With outdoor building in Columbus, are there any guarantees? Archadeck of Columbus says yes!

Archadeck of Columbus discusses their unmatched warranties which include a one year craftsmanship warranty and a five year structural warranty.

Open porch and hardscape patio — Let Archadeck of Columbus open the door to your outdoor living imagination and build you the highest quality outdoor space imaginable.

When you decide to find a builder to build your dream deck or porch addition, most reputable contractors will provide some type of warranty on their work. These warranties are typically placed on a structure once it is completed. These can include structural warranties, and warranties on the products and materials used in completing your outdoor space. Remember, in all building endeavors, a warranty is only as good as the company providing it and the degree in which they stand behind that warranty. With this in mind, it is important to make sure the builder warranties their work and stands behind the guarantee to ensure you receive a quality built structure to reduce or eliminate facing problems and heartaches in the future. This is where the old cliché, a guarantee is sometimes only as good as the paper it is written on comes into play.

When you choose Archadeck of Columbus to build your backyard dream, we offer our customers a very detailed 3-part warranty – structural, craftsmanship, and manufacturer warranty support. Our first warranty given upon completion includes a one year craftsmanship warranty and a five year structural warranty. This warranty is designed to ensure all the details of your structure are done properly such as cuts, sanding, fasteners, positioning and other pertinent details. The second warranty covers all aspects of supportive structures such as decks or porches, connections to your home, railings, stairs, walls and patio foundations.

It is possible that a branded component (one of the materials) has problems. Many manufacturers of the component materials offer warranties that typically cover only the product and not the labor for replacement. Archadeck negotiates with our vendors and in most cases we can negotiate for the vendor to pay us to replace the component if there is a problem.

We like to give homeowners several methods to communicate any craftsmanship warranty issues. We urge our clients to frequent the job site regularly so that we may discuss any issues and answer any questions they may have. Once a project is deemed completed, we ask the customer to do a walk-through prior to our departure so we make sure to fix anything that needs to be.

Columbus paver patio and pergola with retaining wall surround — Our outdoor designs are backed by two distinct warranties.

Following completion and departure from your project we always schedule an additional walk-through one week to 10 days after to verify with the customer they are completely happy with the installation. This is something that is protocol for us at Archadeck of Columbus; it’s just how we operate. Our ultimate goal is the happiness of our customers and their ultimate satisfaction with our work. We feel very fortunate that we have rarely ever had structural issues with our work which is based on the quality level in which we build.

If you are ready to experience what true quality, professionalism and dedication is in an outdoor structure builder, contact Archadeck of Columbus. We strive to deliver the ultimate in outdoor living spaces from start to finish and beyond. Call us today for a free consultation (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

See more examples of our expert outdoor living designs that are built with integrity and quality in every inch by visiting our decks photo gallery and our porches photo gallery located on our website.

Archadeck of Columbus guarantees a whole than more other companies. And, it’s at no charge to you.

Archadeck of Columbus explains the importance and value associated with the National Guarantee Corportation (NGC).

Rustic exposed rafter porch — Your outdoor living project is covered from every angle, start to finish.

In addition to providing our project warranty, Archadeck of Columbus offers another way to pass value to our customers. About 10 years ago, Archadeck, in conjunction with the local franchise owners, started a company called the National Guarantee Corporation. I myself am a current board member and shareholder with this corporation. The National Guarantee Corporation (NGC) is responsible for giving Archadeck the ability to extend unsurpassed warranties on to our customers. However, this is not one those warranties that the customer opts to pay for, this warranty comes automatically with the purchase of our services. The cost to our customers? None!

Being backed by The National Guarantee Corporation means the Archadeck office you signed your contract with will complete your project to fruition as outlined in your contract. In this day and age, if something happens where your local office cannot complete your job, the Archadeck corporate office in conjunction with the National Guarantee Corporation will then step in and see that your project is completed. For example, if a current owner were to fall gravely ill, gets hit by a bus, or becomes insolvent, then the National Guarantee Corporation will step in and see that your project is completed per the contract. This type of warranty is similar to a bond or insurance. Upon completion, the NGC will then cover any warranties therein for up to two years after completion of your structure. They will also carry the other Archadeck warranties if the office is no longer able to provide that service to its customers due to catastrophic circumstances.

Our contract checklist outlines all the value you are getting at no extra cost to you.

As a board member for the last five years, I am proud to say that we have only had small claims come before us but, we are a healthy business nationally that takes this very seriously. Even during the last economic downturn we proved to be a strong organization as is evident through the absence of any significant claims during the rough times. I always ask potential customers if being protected is important to them. I also go into detail about what our protection includes. Many times homeowners don’t think warranties such as these are available and would never imagine receiving them at no charge. But this is what we call “The Archadeck Difference”.

If you are thinking of adding an outdoor living space to your backyard, ask yourself if you value the peace of mind in knowing your dreams are protected. If the answer is yes, contact Archadeck of Columbus today for a free consultation(740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

You can see more inspirational images of past outdoor living projects by visiting our patio and hardscapes photo gallery and our outdoor living photo galleries located on our website. One look and you will realize our commitment to quality and service we strive to achieve.