If you ask Mike Jerminski what kind of person is best suited to build decks, he'll say "a perfectionist."

"When building a deck, all of the craftsmanship and details are always visible. You cannot hide anything on a deck," he says.

Mike has been building decks and only decks since 1985, initially building decks on townhomes for a builder before branching out on his own and founding Get Decked with his wife Connie. The company now includes sons Michael Jr. and Jerry.

Their decks can be found in countless backyards across the state of Delaware. While other companies offer decks as just one of their various services, decks are the only service offered by Get Decked. "In order to be a leader in this industry, it takes year-round repetition, constantly honing your skill," says Mike. "We build decks year round—nothing else. We hone our craft by not being a jack of all trades, rather a master of one."

A valuable key to their commitment to excellence is the reputation of a strong work ethic. "Our customers do not choose the cheapest option, they want value and they expect their deck to be an investment that lasts forever," he says. "Our goal at Get Decked is to be the best deck builder available. In order to do that, we have to follow a certain criteria of excellence."

One of the most unique factors contributing to this reputation is that Get Decked employs no salespeople. "When contacting us for a free estimate, the owner/installer will be the one who visits the homeowner, and helps with the design, selection of materials and costs. ... This ensures no middleman, no guessing as to whether the project is built exactly as discussed."

To maintain control of the job from beginning to end, nothing is contracted out. "We employ no subcontractors. All work is done by one crew—a crew educated solely in deck construction, a crew that has spent decades together, constructing some of Delaware's most breathtaking projects," he says.

Mike's depth of knowledge in the industry has been another advantage for customers in recent years. While some companies may see this as an opportunity to price gouge, Get Decked puts honesty first. "The biggest challenge we face today in the decking industry is the constant fluctuation in the material pricing. In order to give fair and honest pricing on our projects, we only estimate within 30 days of installations. It is impossible to quote projects months in advance as there is no way to honestly estimate when prices fluctuate so drastically," he says.

Mike offers a few key points homeowners should follow for the most successful deck project:
● hire the most qualified builder, one who has vast experience in the trade
● set forth a design that best fits the house and landscape
● be comfortable with the budget for the project
● don't pay any money down as this takes away any risk of satisfaction
● check on the references needed to back the contractor's proclaimed skill set
● make sure they are properly insured and all permits are included
● set a start/completion date
● obtain a lifetime warranty to cover any future issues

"Our philosophy is all of the above, and we feel it offers our customers the best possible deck that money can buy—no headaches, no risks," he says. "The best compliment we can get from our customers is when they say 'This is so much nicer than I ever could have imagined.' We have heard it a thousand times over and it still makes me proud."

This reputation is continuing into the next generation of Get Decked. "My two sons both have the same mindset. The three of us work together now but they are the future and it makes me so proud to know that our company will be just as strong in the next 40 years as it was in the past 40," Mike says.

Get Decked
Serving Pa. and Del. | (302) 897-0302 | GetDeckedInc.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 22, Issue 6 (March 2022). 
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