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Deck Warranty

27K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  ohiohomedoctor  
#1 ·
Hi, We're gonna start doing decks this year I'm subbing them out to someone I really trust to do a good job. My question is what does a standard warranty look like that you give a customer for a basic pt deck. What kind of lifespan do you tell the customer to expect? If anyone has an actual copy of their warranty they would be willing to share that would be great. Also any important deck specific language that should go into the contracts. Thanks
 
#4 ·
We're a bit unique.

We give a workmanship warranty for life.
Materials all carry their own warranty, but we'll back how it's built. It's simply written, but neglect & abuse is excluded, as are "acts of God".

Think about it, if a deck you built 20 years ago collapses, you'll still most likely get sued. You might as well have the marketability, if you're going to have the liability.

PS, we only do the lifetime for composite decks, not PT. We sell those "as-is, where-is" on paper & in sales, but still service any complaints out of courtesy.
(SP?)

Feel free to call or email me with further questions, etc.
~Matt
 
#6 ·
In the past I gave a 10 year stucture warrenty using cca material,with the green mafia advent of acq thats cut down to 3 years. Structure is all I warenty, the Frame/foundation only.

I am a big fan of S American lumber using this material there is no need for a warrenty installed corectley. Using pt lumber as decking/rail system far as warping,twisting,splinters go I advise the Wallet I will install this material one time and one time only.

I hate composite all together for a lot of resons, I advise the The Wallet of all the short falls of this in flux material including the trex t=junk total fail nature using them as an example of business normal with these people.

Most of the time when I place ipe,garapa,masenranduba right next to any composite the Wallet makes the choice for one of them their own self. But if they can not be torn away from the hype of composite I glide them on over to TimberTech material. TT is a stand up outfit,first hand site see how they handle things when something goes wrong keeps me with them.

I can only stand good for My Work,DeckMasters can install a Foundation/Frame that will have no natural problems for at least the life of the normal person, same with S American lumber. Composite is going to have to take care of its own problems.

John
 
#7 ·
I warranty the structure for 5 years, all other warranties are from the manufacturer. I've been doing this for 25 years & have yet to be called on that warranty. If built right a deck frame should last 2 lifetimes of a cedar/redwood/composite surface. I'll be dead before any ipe decks I built have issues.

I do not warranty the decking for cracks/splits or shrinkage, that's the nature of wood & beyond my control.
 
#8 ·
Warranty

5 years on workmanship only.

It is all about tempering their expectations. A pt deck will age less than gracefully. A composite deck will grow mold... I say spread that grass seed on it and call it a chia deck.

(Who Gave him the BEER?)

Recycled pop bottles have sugar... pulp lumber rots in days.. sun, warmth, oxygen, lumber and sugar mixed with a little moisture = mold.

Anyhow... get creative and write your own warranty--I'd have to charge you for use of mine.

L
 
#9 ·
5 years on workmanship only.

It is all about tempering their expectations. A pt deck will age less than gracefully. A composite deck will grow mold... I say spread that grass seed on it and call it a chia deck.

(Who Gave him the BEER?)

Recycled pop bottles have sugar... pulp lumber rots in days.. sun, warmth, oxygen, lumber and sugar mixed with a little moisture = mold.

Anyhow... get creative and write your own warranty--I'd have to charge you for use of mine.

L
Thanks :rolleyes:
 
#11 ·
I usually warranty worksmanship and structure for 5 years and give a 1 year warranty on the decking and rails. nail the crap out of the pickets and they usually don't warp, but the ones that do are gonna warp inside of a month. I usually give a courtesy call about a month later if the HO hasn't called and come out and fix the pickets. usually up to 3 of em on a decent sized deck, but it definitely helps with return business... I get a lot of "hey while you're here..." got a number of basement remodels, window/door jobs doing this. I basically chalk it up to marketing cost to replace a few pickets or rail topper or warped decking board. Gets a lot of refferals with the month later check back. most customers will mention that to their friends.

If you could get dry PT lumber you should be able to warranty the complete deck as it's already done what its gonna do... Depot's Lowe's and 84 are all either warped crowned to sh!t, twisted, or soaking wet. I like Johnson Lumber in Annapolis they get a big thumbs up from me.

IF THE HO IS A HOT SINGLE WOMAN SHE GETS WARRANTY/COURTESY CALLS FOR LIFE! :thumbup: (or until she's not hot anymore) :shutup:

Alex
 
#14 ·
Some folks need some luck.



Sure Chris-- 1.2 million unique visits a year broken. Hmm, lets see just under 4000 unique visits today. You find an old link in a search engine and think you are superior... hilarious.

Good luck starting a business competing with my guys... they will definitely eat your lunch.

I'll be at breaktime. Too many small minds around here.

Good Luck with your futures.

L
 
#17 ·
Patrick, ya whore :laughing:, how many decks have ya built since your OP? seriously though, I wouldn't warrenty anything but the frame and workmanship on a PT deck. In fact, if I were you I wouldn't build a P.T. deck period. A wise man once told me, "I won't even do a P.T. deck anymore. You send a customer to look at it a couple of years later and it looks like sht." Not because of you, it's just the way of the wood.
Hope this helps ( a year later :rolleyes:) By the way that was the all knowing Dougchips that told me that. I haven't looked back since. :thumbsup: thanks doug.
 
#18 ·
Doug gave me the heads up and answered my question LAST YEAR lol. But yeah, We are doing mostly composite decks, and rails to go along with our siding. However we have done a few PT decks, they are 1 year on decking and rails, 5 years material and labor on the frame, and 10 years just material on the frame if and only if they opt for all stainless fasteners.
 
#21 ·
al10fred1081 said:
I usually warranty worksmanship and structure for 5 years and give a 1 year warranty on the decking and rails. nail the crap out of the pickets and they usually don't warp, but the ones that do are gonna warp inside of a month. I usually give a courtesy call about a month later if the HO hasn't called and come out and fix the pickets. usually up to 3 of em on a decent sized deck, but it definitely helps with return business... I get a lot of "hey while you're here..." got a number of basement remodels, window/door jobs doing this. I basically chalk it up to marketing cost to replace a few pickets or rail topper or warped decking board. Gets a lot of refferals with the month later check back. most customers will mention that to their friends.

If you could get dry PT lumber you should be able to warranty the complete deck as it's already done what its gonna do... Depot's Lowe's and 84 are all either warped crowned to sh!t, twisted, or soaking wet. I like Johnson Lumber in Annapolis they get a big thumbs up from me.

IF THE HO IS A HOT SINGLE WOMAN SHE GETS WARRANTY/COURTESY CALLS FOR LIFE! :thumbup: (or until she's not hot anymore) :shutup:

Alex


Wow! That will look good on Google!