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Mr. Deck

We are in Canada, so unfortunately we can't use your services, but  just wanted to take the time to comment on how gorgeous your work is and just let you know. Nice website for pics.

Thank you
        Erik and Jen Rogers

      


Dear Mister Deck,
 
Thank you for a most amusing read! I thoroughly enjoyed perusing your tales, often nodding in
agreement over some of the sagas you related. As you can imagine, I've experienced plenty of
similar situations (both as a licensed architect and a licensed contractor).
You have done some very fine work, man. Stunning designs, truly outstanding!
 
James Horecka, AIA
 

 

Dear Mr. Deck,

I found your site quite by accident and am glad I did.  Your comments brightened my day and made me laugh until the tears rolled down my face! You have an absolutely "right on" snappy sense of humor.  My favorite is the picture of that deck from Mars, complete with the location on the planet's surface. I'm laughing so hard I can hardly write this.

Please apply for Dave Barry's old job -- Dave Barry is a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist who wrote a humorous column (once a week) for the Orlando Sentinel -- he retired recently and I have not have a good laugh since -- until reading your critiques!

Best regards,
     Jeffrey Wetzel, Orlando Florida

         

Loved it. I was trying to find a way to spruce up my very large deck and came across your site. Really helpful ... and sooo funny.

Thanks.
        Gail from Ontario.

        

Loved the pics.  Was looking for a few "do's" or "don'ts"  before finishing a deck and came across your "Renditions" pages. What a hoot !  Loved the commentary and I am now glad I am doing it myself and keeping it fairly simple. What a riot. Made my day.

Candy (CJ)

     

Hard to believe those arbors you show are for real. Wow! What's the source of your inspiration?

Denise in Michigan.

Reply: Click here for my secret.

       


Came upon your website and admired your decks, and appreciated the descriptions of the fine points. Just wondering; (you call those decks which use solid-plastic for planking and railings, a real revolution) just how popular is this revolution there in California?

Mike Burns, Salt Lake City

Reply: People here were slow to pick up on the benefits of solid-plastic. They were still confusing "composite plastic", which uses 50% wood with 50% plastic, with the newer all-plastic lumber. They didn't understand that solid-plastic doesn't have the stain and fading problem that these composite materials are having. But once they saw how rich the colors were, there was a strong increase in sample orders. The samples are not free, so that's indicative of the strong interest.

Now that we've demonstrated just how beautiful and maintenance free these all-plastic decks can be, by building a number of them locally, they are becoming recognized as current state-of-the-art. It is the homeowners who are dragging their contractors to this website and making them read the PrimoPlank page.

As long as these deck builders can continue to get their lumber on-demand at the local lumber yards, they are content to keep building wooden and composite decks. But now many customers don't want that stuff anymore with all its maintenance, especially when their homes are worth well over a million dollars, and they aren't taking the contractors' word for it anymore either -- they're demanding the solid-plastic and threatening to have Mr. Deck find them a willing contractor if they won't work with me.

So there has been a recent groundswell of interest in this all solid-plastic decking and it's being driven by California's homeowners, not the deck-builders, because its not being stocked by any lumber yards.

In just the last two years Mr. Deck has sent its PrimoPlank outside of California to its designer deck projects in Kensington CT, Chattanooga TN, Maui HI, Smithfield VA, and Cary, Illinois.

     

Hi, Mr. Deck
Was out there on the net looking for deck enclosures and came upon your site, specifically the Stark project. That  continuous concrete cap on the stone wall is extraordinary. Nice work. Any way you could reveal how that was done?

Reply: Thanks for your compliment and appreciation of this feat.

First, a form was made from 1x4's on the straight sections. Then 3/4-inch marine plywood was cut on a bandsaw for the circular arcs and attached to the 1x4's. The forms were attached to the 8-inch wide concrete block wall underlying the cultured stone veneer with angle brackets extending out 3 inches from each side. Wire mesh of 1x2 galvanized screen was laid within the forms. Then, on the curved and vertical sections, the top of the form was covered with 1/8-inch thick mahogany veneer in a manner which could easily be removed later. Concrete was poured with a stiff consistency.

The finishing was done normally on the horizontal portions but was delayed well into setting of the concrete on the curved and vertical sections. The mahogany veneer covers were then removed and the unfinished surfaces exposed.  However take note: every time I ran a finishing trowel over the surface, the concrete would liquefy. If it bulged I would have to wait another 20 minutes for the concrete to reset before retrowelling. I was there from 6PM until 2AM in the morning doing the vertically curved sections. But I eventually got it right and went home for a good night's sleep.

For yet more information, click here.

     

Man that Stark Project has got to be your best‏

Hey Guy, that  Stark Job just knocks me out, it's defiantly one of your best; the entire flow of the work is fine. Working with round stones is hard enough but to get it to do that with the deck blending in and the radius detail, you done good, ol Son!!  

John Hyatt
Oklahoma City, OK
 www.deckmastersllc.com

 

Dear Mr. Deck

While Googling around for inspiration regarding my desire for an arbor structure to support a vigorous bougainvillea plant in my  back yard, I strayed into your awesome site. It's really excellent, in every way, and provided a tremendous education. I was particularly intrigued by your prep methods, info on new materials, and the commitment to hiding all attaching hardware. So I want to say "Thanks" for putting out all that info in such an impressive way.

Nate from Woodland Hills Estates, California.

   


Good morning, Mr. Deck.

I just wanted to say your work is just magnificent. I live in Las Vegas and I know you don’t come here but I just had to contact you and say “Wow.” Thanks for having your website. It gives us insight and ideas. Have a good day.

Lisa from Vegas

    

 

What a site! I've never seen arbors like yours before. I'll venture that they are pretty expensive, no?

Eric Sanders, Florida

Reply: They're not for the budget minded.

    

Hi, Mr. Deck.

"I've enjoyed your work and criticism... bookmarked your site... Good job... I am wondering if you could point me in the right direction to find a plan for a simple arbor in an L shape? I have found several rectangular ones, but none that were built in a 90 degree right angle. Any help is appreciated. Good Day" 
David

Reply: Click on the picture here to go to a site offering plans for this arbor for a mere $9.95. Then consider using brilliant white solid plastic instead of painted wood. See my PrimoPlank plastic lumber by clicking here.

      

Hello, Mr. Deck

Beautiful work.  I wish I could afford to put one of your masterpieces in my backyard.
 
Gary Geller

     

Hello, Mr. Deck


 I’ve been in the deck business for about two years. I wanted to let you know how impressed I am with both your product and your attitude (those cartoons were dead-on, and funny as hell).

There’s nothing I like more than designing and building interesting projects.  Your work is not only inspiring, but also intimidating – especially those amazing arbors. 

Please keep up the good work, and keep giving them hell.   

Wade Short
 Dothan, Alabama

 

Hello, Mr. Deck

I want to say thank you for sharing your designs on your site - they are all truly unique and to me, show the quality of craftsmanship reminiscent of my great-grandfather's carpentry which still graces most of our family's homes in one way or another.  He was a dedicated craftsman in England, and taught us that regardless of what you undertook, it should be done well, not only to the best of your ability but from your heart.  He considered himself not just a cabinetmaker, but an artist - and I see the same qualities in your design and workmanship.  So thank you for your site, and your honesty - it's rare today to find people who are not willing to give up their principles for the almighty dollar!  So I wish you all the best with your incredible work.

Deb Owens in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

 

Mr. Deck,

Thank goodness you have placed these comparisons and critiques on your site.  Maybe there is some room for argument with some of the more subjective/artistic judgments, but your standards for craftsmanship are impeccable, and I salute your nerve for calling a spade a spade in an increasingly politically-correct world where no one is allowed to be critical or judgmental of anything.  Now I and my wife can see the ins and outs of deck design and execution, and get a lot better feel for how good a contractor will be.  I am grateful for the thousands of dollars you just saved me.

Regards,
Chris Overbey
Denver, Colorado
 

  

Mr. Deck

You have a most wonderful site, complete in more detail than anyone could imagine.  I spent hours today surfing every corner.  You are one of a kind.  As a "fine woodworker" myself from a craftsman family going back to 1894, I was very impressed with your work and insight. My hat's off to you, Mr. Deck.

John Kindseth

      

Mr. Deck,
 
Wow!!! Your work is amazing!!!
  
I have met with several contractors that specialize 
in patio covers but nobody has any flair.....
 
Do you have any great Deck or Arbor Specialists in 
the L.A area that you would recommend???
 
 
Regards,
Eliot Bieda 
 
Reply: Everyone in this business says they can make plenty of  money doing lots of plain-Jane stuff, 
especially with the prefabricated deck railing and stair systems and precut arbors, so why bother. 
There are just two considerations for most contractors: time and  money -- and "time is money" --
your money.

        

Just wanted to say that your work is beautiful :) 
Karen Kline

   

Señor Deck,

I was bored and so I began looking over your website in depth. I think it could be an invaluable resource for any home owner wishing to have a deck installed. I have been installing decks and doing window replacement for 2 years now and some of the workmanship I have come across has been simply appalling.

I especially laughed when browsing through your Renditions of the Ridiculous and seeing those two deck stair railings with lattice flowing in different directions. Unforgivable. A lot of the other mistakes can be classified as poorly planned like the winged bottom step, but for the most part I believe it is attributable to the "you can't see it from my house attitude".

Working construction my entire life and now finally having my own business (east coast based), I absolutely resent the American consumers' attitude that someone else can always do it cheaper.  As cliché as it may sound, you really do get what you pay for, and it's incredibly refreshing to see another contractor do it the right way rather than bowing to the low-balling that has struck the building industry.

Kudos to you man.

Benjamin Victorius
 

      

Dear "Mr. Deck",
Just happened onto your website, just looking for different fence styles for a home in Texas. We live in Los Banos, California, but will be moving to Texas next month.
 
Anyway, I just want to tell you, I got such a kick out of your site.  Looked thru the whole thing,  just to read your comments.  Magnificent!   Gave me 30 minutes of great chuckles!
 
You Rule!
Susan Labrucherie
Los Banos CA
P.S.  Your designs are magnificent, too~

 

 

Mr. Deck,
 
If I could, I would move to CA just to have you build my deck.  I have spent hours on the internet looking for ideas, bought books etc.  Your work is without a question the most beautiful!
 
 Susan
Northampton, New York

 

 

          
Hi - I'm building my own backyard deck - nothing fancy - and I happened to stumble across your website.  All I can say is WOW!  The decks and arbors on your website are not just decks and arbors - they are beautiful works of art.  I have never in my life seen anything like them - totally beautiful!
 
It is too bad you have not been able to find an appropriate apprentice - had I found you several years ago I may have thrown my hat in the ring.  My father, who passed away when I was only five, was a cabinet maker and on the weekends he used to build unique furniture for people.  I have always had a 'thing' for that kind of stuff.  While I was only five, I still remember his last project which was a kidney-shaped coffee table for a local doctor.  And the smell of sawdust is like perfume to me. 
 
Anyway, enough of that - just wanted to say your work is unbelievable!
 
Yvonne Fleck
Newark CA

 

Subject: Blown away‏
 
I just wanted to drop a quick note to say that as I was browsing for idea's for a spa-wrap or some arbor ideas (I'm finally moving from an apartment to a house)  I googled "Unique Arbors" and your site came up....
 
If I was richer I would LOVE to be able to have one built by you;  you are very artistic and the detail...
to the "T"! 

Such intense craftsmanship!  I so RARELY see true, skilled craftsmanship anymore even with a new product or things that are prefabricated. 

Your work is REALLY great and I know you are well aware of that, but sometimes when people think "oh they hear it all the time," they stay silent, so I chose to not be silent ;)

 
When I can afford it and I BUY a home, I hope you are still providing your services. Awesome work, really tremendous.

Kathryn Harrold

 
Mr. Deck, I will be very brief..........
 
Your site was extremely educational and absolutely entertaining!  Wish you were in Dallas....
Just a quick "thank you" for all the outrageously poor arbors.... along with the time you took to explain! May you and your business prosper and prosper!
 
Best regards,
Mary Gower
ISD Construction Services
Dallas, Texas
(.....just a tiny little fish in this huge shark invested ocean of construction/renovations! )

           

Mr. Deck
 
Do you know of anyone in the state of Mississippi that can do anything similar to your decks.  Your work is fantastic! There is probably no one on earth that can compare !   ....   Wish you lived in Mississippi.   Come see us and we will  show you some real southern hospitality.

Brenda Creel

 

Hi, Mr. Deck.

Breath taking, beautiful, love your work.

Unfortunately we live in Canada and do say "unfortunately" because we would love to work with or be assisted by you.

Melina @  STN Construction Group
Passion Homes
Ontario Canada
 www.passionhomes.com

        

Hey, Mr. Deck:

I am in Canada looking for pictures to show my contractors things I like.
Didn't know I would be so entertained by your web site.

I particularly love your comment about the fellow who wanted free advice. You are sooooo right.

My husband & I are both self employed. We know how hard it is to develop a skill & then how people think either it's so easy to do, or they want your secret.

After reading your replies to some tactless people, I just love how you set it straight. Nice to see someone speaking their mind with proper judgment and great candor. It was entertaining!

You already know this of course, but your work is outstanding. I am waiting for the TV show.

Sue Moskal
from beautiful, very laid back Victoria in British Columbia

 
Mr. Deck,
 
I don't know if you remember talking a few years back-- time flies.

I just wanted to let you know that I am a fan of your work and your moxy with the critiques. Your spirit and personality have been an inspiration to me. I admire that you have the pills to lay it out there in a straight talking way.

It is funny though... I bet the contractors that criticize you are all insecure and new to the business. (Remark: With this recent downturn, they have interestingly vanished from the deck-building scene so I haven't been getting those snide emails lately.)

It just makes sense that a trailblazer like you is starting to work with plastic... Please make copious notes and get them off to Fine Homebuilding, ok?  There are thousands of folks like us out there that don't          know about you yet... (Remark: I trust you saw our outdoor kitchens page?)

Good luck in your retirement, whenever that comes about. If you end up buying an Airstream and traveling, try to make it up to Ontario and spend a couple of days here -- we'll feed you and take you to the beach. (Remark: With the price of fuel these days, I would surely arrive in a state of some destitution.)

Be well old friend--and keep up the gorgeous work until you retire. (Remark: Actually, I'm planning on getting another career that doesn't involve climbing ladders and crawling over joists.)

Best Regards, Lawrence Winterburn (Reply: Thanks for the kind comments.)
Ontario, Canada
 http://www.gardenstructure.com
 http://www.winterburngroup.on.ca
 http://www.decks-fences.blogspot.com

   

I was searching the web for information on pergolas and came across your amazing website. Not only was it informative but also entertaining. Just had to drop you a line to say, "Thank you, Mr. Deck".

Robert Rosenberg

   

Send me a communiqué and if it's nice, it may just end-up up here.  
And if it's not, it will just end up in here.

Click here to contact me.

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