As a young man working in his family’s hardware store, Dave Lyons discovered that he had an interest in—and a talent for—designing and building backyard decks. Starting with his own house, he finished a handful of jobs in his spare time, eventually working up to complete outdoor living spaces that included a deck, a patio and additional amenities.

While it didn’t occur to him right away that he should turn his hobby into a career, the proud feeling he had never went away.

“It was gratifying to go from nothing, do the drawing, get the permit and build the deck—basically to do the whole thing from soup to nuts,” Lyons says. “To me it felt like a big accomplishment to get that done, considering it wasn’t even my profession at that point.”

Of course, Lyons was no stranger to the industry, having grown up around the business as the son of a general contractor. From a young age he helped his father remodel rooms, build additions and yes, work on decks. Years later, he was employed by another company as the lead project manager responsible for $20 million worth of residential construction when he finally decided to go out on his own.

It was no surprise that his first inclination was to focus his new company on decks. He had previously researched Archadeck and was intrigued by its reputation as one of the leading manufacturers of outdoor living spaces in the country since 1980. Lyons was inspired to become the franchise owner of Archadeck of Delaware, combining his own experience in the field with the support of a national brand and bringing that knowledge to residents in his home state.

“The nice part about it for the customer is I feel you get the best of both worlds,” he says. “You get a small, local owner who is easily accessible and available to help with any issues. At the same time, you always get the advantages of being backed by a large company. Because of the relationship with Archadeck, I have buying advantages, I have an engineering department and I have a lot of resources that most small, local companies are not going to have. It’s a big help to me and the customer.”

Archadeck has franchises throughout the United States and Canada and has built over 100,000 projects worldwide. Lyons recently attended a conference for the company where he was able to participate in seminars, learn about new products coming to the market and discuss best practices with other owners. “It’s very beneficial and it’s nice to know you’re not the only one dealing with a particular problem,” he says.

For the third year in a row, Archadeck of Delaware won a national service award at the conference, as it was recognized for ranking in the top 10% of the company based on reviews. The achievement speaks to Lyons’ commitment to providing a positive experience for his customers, starting with the initial meeting.

He aims to get to know the customers on a personal basis and find out exactly how they will be using the outdoor space, which enables him to fulfill their wishes. He asks questions about their lifestyle, the size of their families, their cooking habits, etc. “We can build whatever deck you want, but if it doesn’t fit your functionality, a couple of months in you’re not going to be happy with it,” he says. “My job is to be able to design you something that you’re going to love, fits your functionality and fits your budget.”

Lyons has seen a trend toward deck/patio combinations or even a deck that complements a covered porch. Most of his designs feature a shade element and may include an outdoor kitchen and fire pit. “I get the more complicated, custom projects that your everyday carpenter is not necessarily going to want to handle.”

He is always researching the latest products available and soon hopes to offer steel framing to his customers. Because of the rising costs of wood, the price tag will only be slightly higher but the end result will be a better, more durable deck.

Lyons advises potential customers to meet with multiple contractors if they wish, and encourages them to speak to former clients of his to learn about their experience. No matter who they choose, the decision must come soon if they hope to have their new deck by the end of this summer.

“It’s almost getting too late,” he says. “If I come out to talk to you tomorrow, it’s probably going to be July or August before we can start building. A lot of people have already signed contracts, but also permitting is getting to be a bigger problem and materials are becoming a bigger problem. You’ll still get some use out of it in late summer and fall, but sooner than later you need to make the decision.”

Those who do end up selecting Archadeck of Delaware will surely be pleased with a company that provides the finest craftsmanship with an honest approach.

“One of the things I strive for is to put the customer first,” Lyons says. “I need the customer to be happy—that’s what is most important to me. Profit is nice, but I really want the customer to be satisfied with their project.”

Archadeck of Delaware
7465 Lancaster Pike | Suite B | Hockessin, Del.
(302) 240-9225
Archadeck.com/Delaware

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 22, Issue 4 (January/February 2022). 
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