What to Expect Working With Deck Giant, Each Step of the Way — From Start to Finish.
Every project — deck, pergola, carport, pavilion, or greenhouse — follows roughly the same process, from your first call through the final walkthrough. Here's a rough idea of what to expect, step by step.
Reach Out
Call, text, or send us a message with a basic idea of what you're looking for. A few things that help us move fast:
- Roughly how big a space you're picturing (even a rough size estimate helps)
- Which service you're interested in — deck, pergola, carport, pavilion, or greenhouse (or a combination)
- A few photos of styles you like, from our gallery or anywhere else
- A photo of your home or yard where you're picturing the new build — it helps us start visualizing the project against your actual space
- Whether you're interested in upgrades like a railing style, polycarbonate roof, metal roof, privacy wall, tongue-and-groove ceiling, or stain
Preliminary Quote
Based on the information you send us, we can often put together a rough preliminary price range over phone or email — no site visit required yet. If that number fits your budget, we move to Step 3 and schedule your free on-site consultation.
Free On-Site Consultation & Written Proposal
We come out and walk the space in person — this matters even more on mountainous properties, where slope, soil, and existing structures all affect what's possible. We'll talk through your goals, take measurements, and work out the design together. Afterward, you get a written proposal with an estimated price, broken out by line item if you've added any upgrades.
Why it's an estimate: Your proposal is based on our design before engineering and city review. If the engineer or the city requires changes that affect the price, we'll send you a revised proposal in writing before any work happens. Your price and scope become final in the signed Final Contract (Step 6).
Have an HOA? If your neighborhood has an HOA, HOA approval is the homeowner's responsibility. Let us know at the consultation and we'll give you the drawings and details you need, so it doesn't hold up your permit.
A note on renderings: Detailed 3D renderings are available if you'd like to see the finished space before it's built. They're not needed for most projects and may involve a separate design fee — just ask.
Pre-Construction Agreement
For projects that require city permits and engineering, once you're ready to move forward, you sign a short pre-construction agreement and pay two things up front: a fixed-price Engineering & Permit Package (quoted in your proposal) and a $500 coordination fee. This is what gets your project into engineering and permitting.
About these fees: They cover real engineering and permitting work, so they're non-refundable whether or not you move forward with the build. The good news: the $500 coordination fee is credited back toward your build if you sign the Final Contract within 30 days of permit approval.
Engineering & Permitting
Once your pre-construction payment clears, we take it from there. We hire the engineer, get stamped drawings, submit to the city or county, and answer any plan review comments — so you don't have to coordinate any of it yourself. Permit timelines depend on the city and the time of year.
If the city requires revisions: The Engineering & Permit Package covers the standard process. If the city requires design revisions beyond that, any added cost is invoiced separately, and we'll tell you before it happens.
Final Contract & Deposit
With approved plans in hand, we send you a final proposal based on what the engineer and city signed off on. You sign the Final Contract and pay a 50% deposit at the same time, with your $500 coordination credit applied if you're within 30 days of permit approval. Material pricing is confirmed here too, so your price is locked in. Once the deposit is paid, you're officially on our build schedule.
A note on changes: If any changes are needed or requested after the deposit has been paid, we'll do our best to accommodate them if at all possible. Those changes will be agreed to in writing and reflected as an adjustment to your final invoice.
Materials & Build
We order materials — some items, like custom metal roofing, are made to order and need extra lead time, which we'll flag up front so there are no surprises. Timelines vary by project size, season, and terrain — a straightforward deck goes up faster than a large pavilion on a steep mountain lot. You don't need to be home for the entire build, but it helps to be there on day one to confirm layout, post placement, and any final details before the crew gets started.
Inspections & Final Walkthrough
We schedule and pass the required city inspections. Once the build is complete, we walk the finished project with you to make sure everything matches what was designed and agreed on. The remaining 50% is invoiced once you're satisfied — not before.
Payments at a glance: nothing for the preliminary quote, consultation, or proposal → Engineering & Permit Package + $500 coordination fee at the pre-construction agreement (permitted projects) → 50% deposit when you sign the Final Contract → final 50% after the walkthrough.