How-To & Buyer GuidesApril 9, 2026Updated June 4, 2026

5 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Deck Contract

Most deck-build problems are scoping problems — issues the contractor should have identified at the walkthrough but didn't. These five questions surface scoping shortfalls before you sign. The right answers are specific; vague answers are warning signs.

Written by

Israel Acquino — Founder & General Contractor · CSLB #964664

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Q1: 'Who's doing the structural engineering?'

Decks over 30 inches off grade require permits and structural engineering in LA. The right answer: 'A licensed PE we've worked with for years; their stamp is included in the contract.' The wrong answer: 'We use generic span tables.' Generic span tables work for ground-level decks; they don't work for cantilevers, rooftop builds, or hillside lots. If your deck has any of those conditions and the contractor doesn't have a PE in the chain, the deck is a code violation waiting to happen.

Q2: 'What hardwood grade are you specifying?'

Hardwood comes in three rough grades. The right answer: 'Select-and-better, kiln-dried, S4S, with a chain-of-custody from the supplier.' The wrong answer: 'Standard hardwood' or just 'Ipe.' Standard means utility grade — knottier, less color-matched, more dimensional variation. The price delta between utility and select-and-better is roughly $1–$3 per board foot; the visual delta is significant.

Q3: 'How are you fastening the boards?'

The right answer: 'Hidden clip system throughout, end-sealed before installation, oiled after final sanding.' The wrong answer: 'Face-screwed with plugs' (acceptable for budget builds but not premium) or 'we'll figure out the fastening on site' (definitely not acceptable). Hidden fastening is roughly $9–$14 per square foot extra and is what separates premium hardwood decks from contractor-grade work.

Q4: 'What happens if a board fails in year 5?'

The right answer: 'It's covered under our craftsmanship warranty. We replace it on our dime, no diagnostic fee.' The wrong answer: 'That's the manufacturer's warranty.' Hardwood doesn't have a manufacturer warranty in any meaningful sense — the responsibility for selection, installation, and aftercare is the contractor's. If they're punting it to a manufacturer, they're not standing behind the work.

Q5: 'Can I see your build schedule?'

The right answer: 'It's a written PDF — we'll email it before the deposit. Updates every Friday.' The wrong answer: 'About 2-3 weeks.' Vague answers indicate the contractor isn't running structured project management. The schedule should specify: demo day, substructure days, decking days, finish days, walkthrough date. Clients with the schedule in hand get fewer surprises.

Questions homeowners ask

5 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Deck Contract — frequently asked

What if the contractor's answers to these questions are vague?

Walk away. Vague answers on the front end become disputes on the back end. The contractors who run clean projects know exactly how they handle each of these because they've thought about it.

Should I get the answers in writing?

Yes — every answer should be reflected in the contract. If the contractor says 'select-and-better Ipe' verbally but the contract says 'Ipe decking,' you'll get utility grade.

What about questions I've forgotten to ask?

A good contractor will surface things you haven't thought about. If the conversation is 100% you asking and them answering, the contractor isn't bringing expertise to the scoping. Look for the contractor who says 'have you thought about X' more often than they answer your questions.