How to Find a Contractor to Build Deck Stairs

Building stair decks for your patio is a very important task, and therefore knowing how to hire a contractor becomes the first vital step. Most people choose wood for their outdoor stairs, which means you want and need a builder that knows how to work with the best wood for outdoor use that will last many years.

1. Find a referral from someone you know if possible. This is often the best place to begin because if you know someone that has used a contractor to build their deck or stairs, you will be more pleased than just pulling one out of the yellow pages.


2. Hire the contractor based on their specialties. For instance, you want to hire a contractor that is skilled with building decks and stairs for residential or commercial properties. Hiring a contractor that is skilled in plumbing is not going to serve your purposes if they have never built a deck.


3. Check their credentials. Find out what licenses they have and ensure they are in compliance with your state. Check for reviews online if you do not have a personal referral, because often this can give you a bird’s eye view into the opinions of previous customers the contractor has worked with.


4. Ask for references. You should have two to three references from previous customers. The contractor will give you the names of clients that were happy, but make sure you ask them specific questions such as how long the job took and how skilled he or she appeared when they were working.


5. Get an estimate from the contractor in writing. This is vital, because if they refuse to give you an estimate in writing, you may want to look elsewhere. While a written estimate may not be what you end up paying, it will be close; never accept a verbal estimate because the contractor will not be liable to the amount and can deny they ever gave you an estimate at all.