Deck Building As A Career?

fishscaper

Hey everybody, I've been reading this forum for a while and finally decided to stop in and say hello.In advance sorry for such a long post. My story is that I'm graduating from college in May with a degree in Landscape Development and need some career advice. In one of my landscape construction classes we covered deck building and that sparked an interest for me. Since then I've bought a number of books and have done a great deal or reserach into deck builing. I guees my question would be; Is building decks a viable full time career option? If it is what is the best way to get involved in the industry? I should note that I do have some construction experience working for my step dad who builds homes but I am not by any mean's a master craftsmen. However I do have alot of ambititon and find the outdoor living concept fascinating. I'd really appreciate some responses on deck building as a career. Thanks so much!

John Hyatt

Fish my Man,,,I am thinking if you want to get into the Trade,go to work for an established Contractor. Do everything he tells you to do,tell him you want to start your own business down the road, show up 30 min before and coil up the cords and clean up on your own time and pack up the truck as if it was your own.

OutDoor areas are on a major roll, have been for 10 years or so. If you think you can get in without a lot of blood sweat and tears, go sell shoes in the sand. John

RobertCDF

It is very much a viable career... In fact it can be a lot of fun. I love what I do every day and that makes it the best thing for me.

Where abouts do you live? If you live near me I would give you a job and teach you everything I know about the business. I would love to find someone like you that wanted to learn it all.

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Bone Saw

I'd say you're poised for a very rewarding career in decks with your credentials and "limited" construction backround. I envision the perfect deck and or outdoor living company to encompass well designed decks, hardscapes and lighting, If you can bring that together than you're on to something big. I would get as familiar with deck and floor framing, span, spacing, cantilever and footer loading as possible most deck books have joist and beam span tables, heres an excelent refference. Get familiar with all the products out there, study pictures, websites, and spend lots of time designing stuff on your own to prepare yourself in doing this, only in front of a prospective client, start off small and push yourself with each new customer both in design and execution. Like I said, with your credentials and the right sales and marketing approach and the right execution coming together, things should look bright for you in deckbuilding

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CheckmateOhio

Decks can be very rewarding profit wise. Unfortunately many of us can't put them in year round and have to do other things to keep the $$ coming in.

RYANINMICHIGAN

You have the right idea. Providing total solutions is the way to go it is a license to print money. Every a$$hole builds decks few can design and understand how their fits into the total backyard experience.

Bob Kovacs

Fish-

More important than the actual "building" of the decks is the business aspects of running a company. If you want to make good $$, you've got to build a company- not just a job- and that takes business and management skills, which you've probably gotten a great jumpstart on in school.

I've found that most construction companies fail not from a lack of understanding of how to "build" the jobs (though that's important), but rather from a lack of understanding of proper estimating, sales, accounting and management. Too many guys come up from the trades with an "I'm tired of working for the man making $10/hour. I'll show him- I'll go out on my own and charge $15/hour and give myself a 50% raise". Those are the guys who end up failing (and unfortunately are often your "competition" by the way.....).

As an aside, get a subscription to Professional Deck Builder magazine if you haven't already. There's an article in the March/April issue on "Estimating Like a Pro" which is pretty good- I hear the author is a pretty sharp guy

Bob

RobertCDF

Yeah I guess he knows a few things

I have been working on that before I even got the magazine but it has sure helped me keep on it as well as bring up some things I overlooked.
Thanks for writing that article.

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dougchips

I hear the guy is an asss! I've seen his name around somewhere

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Bob Kovacs

Yeah, he can be an ass sometimes- especially when he's responding to the multiple "duh....how much should I charge per SF for ***" posts that seem to inundate this site.....lol.

Bob

fishscaper

Thanks everybody that replied. This site is so helpful.

Robert: I live in the Albany, Ny area so any mentoring will have to be done from afar. Thanks

Bonesaw: I think you are right about outdoor builders. They should be able to provide the total outdoor living experience. Decks,patios,lighting,kitchens etc.. That is just the kind of company I hope to build. That looks like a great website, thanks.

Bob: From the research I have done and from talking to other contractors it seems like to many compaines fail b/c tradesmen don't want to be business people. Pro Deck Builder is a great resource. I'm so psyched when it show's up in the mail.

Thanks again guys. If anybody else would like to share or help in anyway it is much appreciated.

John Hyatt

I really dont agree that understanding Business is more important than understanding Building, the two are in reverse order. Placing archadeck is a good example.A Person can not just jump into a Trade with no background in the Building Trade thinking as long as I can sell the Job I can figure out the rest later, no amount of software,reading trade mags,going to class on how to run a business things like that are going to even get close to the real world of being a Contractor.

This is not to bum out the Fish, But...... First things First...learn foundation, framing,span, trim,how to deal with the premit store, workers comp,insurance, things like that.

I my very own self came up thru the Trades,diging footings,framing new houses,triming out a little later then building new houses all of this kind on expousure is needed for a Man to get the feel of being a Contractor. With the given not all Folks need all of this, They all need a part of it.

Far as the Guy starting out because the $ wasent right working for someone else,I got a good feeling for that Guy. I was one of them. John Michael

hrscammisa

John Hyett you are on the money you hit the nail on the head you do need the traid in you to you can have all the brains in the world but if you cant lay out a deck and sq it up your in for a long day go work for some one good or hire some one realy good to work with you and show you the ropes and dont for get to pay him well may be split the first ones with him but yes it is a lot of fun and the money part depends where you live I charge 10-15.00 a ft just for labor and that might be cheap to some guys dont know?

Stone Mountain

Buy one of my franchises. I'll make you a good deal!

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