Since 2008, Deck Guardian has risen to every challenge to make its clients happy in the years since its doors first opened. The Somerset-based full-service design and building contractor has spent the past 15 years creating not only custom decks but also composite ramps, screen porches, balconies, composite terraces and other outdoor living spaces.

Deck Guardian has gained myriad insights into their industry that help them go above and beyond in delivering jaw-dropping results—even if clients come to them with no clear vision of what they're looking for beyond wanting something new.

"People come to us who don't know where to start," Deck Guardian says. "So we'll ask them about what they want from their deck: Do they want to be able to grill and sit down at the table to eat and have a couple of chairs to lounge on and relax? That's how we determine how much space they need and what kind of job it will be."

\While no two projects are the same, the typical Deck Guardian project runs between $20,000 and $40,000 for a 400- or 500-square-foot composite deck, "depending on the materials used, since you can get a lot more deck for your money if you're using entry-level stuff, but you can get more features and more gadgets on it but less space if you're using high-end materials."

The Deck Guardian team emphasizes that "the only materials worth investing in right now are synthetic materials—that means a composite like pressure-treated wood or cedar PVC. ... The price up front [for other materials] might be a little bit less expensive, but in the long run, it never works out."

Trex and Deckorators are the two brands Deck Guardian exclusively installs, as "with those two brands, you get great warranties, great materials, good costs and, because we work with those companies all the time, we're able to have a quicker turnaround and get an answer when we need it."

Material quality isn't the only factor in ensuring your deck can weather the elements and sustain the wear-and-tear of regular use, though. Deck Guardian's experts note that the actual construction is an important component to consider, which is why hiring proven professionals is so important: "Anybody with a saw can build a deck, but that doesn't mean the outcome is going to be the same as a professional builder's."

"These days, people are looking for more natural, neutral colors, lighter shades that reflect most of the UV light and are more consistent with the exterior of the home. ... They've learned that the dark grays and dark browns are absorbing so much heat that they're harder to clean, they're hotter on your feet, they don't perform as well or hold the color as well over time."

Today's homeowners are most likely to splurge on a common element that allows them to get more use from their outdoor living spaces: "A lot of people are looking for shade structures. People want to use their deck for more than two or three months of the year. When they want to extend that season, they can put a roof over the deck, which we call an open porch, and that's really like an addition to the house but without the walls. You're protected from rain, you're protected from the sun, you can use your deck for eight or nine months of the year but, obviously, it doubles the cost of the project."

\A deck is a significant, long-term investment, so you want to make sure it suits your household's needs, from durability to personalized features. That's why the Deck Guardian team takes great effort to meet with every client, walk them through the process and be in constant communication. Their five-step process—connect, consult, design, install and enjoy—keeps every customer updated about and involved in the project, ensuring there's no nasty surprises along the way and that the final product is perfectly tailored to their taste, vision and lifestyle.

"People come to us with a lot of questions, because they'll see something online that they think is super complicated or they think it will cost them an arm and a leg to put a firepit in their deck," the Deck Guardian team explains. "We have decks where people want nothing but the nicest things, and then we have decks where everything's pretty simple. We just want to know what your long-term goals are so everybody can focus on that."

Deck Guardian
458 Elizabeth Ave., #376, Somerset, NJ
(908) 332-8616
DeckGuardian.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 23, Issue 9 (July 2023).
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