General
What cities do you build in?
We service the entire Greater Metro Detroit Area / Southeast Michigan – as far north as Rochester / Sterling Heights, as far west as Brighton / Chelsea, as far south as Monroe and as far East as St Clair Shores.
Do you have minimum size requirements? How big can my deck be? Can I have a fire pit on the deck? What about a curved patio design? A walkway from my driveway to the patio? A 2nd story deck? Built in grill?
If you can dream it, we’ll build it. We’ll help you design the perfect deck or patio to meet your family’s needs, from a simple walkout deck to a dream backyard and everything in between. Roofed pergola to cover you from rain? Lighted staircases? Glass paneled railings? We’ll talk about all of the options during our initial no-cost no-obligation consultation. We also have no required minimum or maximum size – we build everything from a small walkout patio to double decker decks with built-in hot tubs.
How long will my deck or patio last?
Our decks and patios are designed and built to last at least 25 years. Decks and patios are one of the highest value-added home renovations one can add to their home, with homeowners typically seeing an 80% return on their investment with composite decks.
How much will my deck and/or patio cost?
We offer a free, no-obligation design consultation where we’ll take photos and measurements of your backyard space, and collect your ideas and want list. We’ll then create 3D renderings of your new deck and/or patio installed in your own backyard, along with price options. Each project varies in cost depending on size, complexity, and materials chosen. By keeping our overhead low and buying in bulk, we’re able to keep our costs down and offer very competitive pricing.
Is financing available?
Absolutely! Good or bad credit, you’ll receive a response within a few minutes of applying, and you’ll have the funds available immediately to you. There are multiple financing options available, including low to no cost, depending on your credit score. We do not charge additional fees for financing. Finance just a portion of your project or the entire build – completely up to you.
How long will it take to complete?
A typical deck can be installed in 3-10 working days, and a typical patio in 2-4 days. Each project requires up to 3 building inspections by your local municipality (we’ll coordinate them all) which occur between installation days and may delay the project by a couple of days depending on the building inspectors’ workloads. Once your township or city has issued the permit (usually a 2 to 4 week approval process which we coordinate), a typical project can be started and completed within 1 to 2 weeks.
Is there a wait to have my job started?
Our wait list will vary throughout the year, typically ranging between 2-6 weeks. Call us at (734) 931-6700 and we’ll let you know our current estimate. During this time though, we’ll create the detailed blueprints of your project, submit them to your local municipality, secure the permit approval, and order materials so we’re ready for your job asap!
Do you install in the winter?
Absolutely – we install decks year round. We use specialized equipment to be able to dig past the frozen ground (in Michigan that’s at least 42” down), to ensure a safe deck that will not move. Concrete should never be installed directly on top of frozen ground (it cannot cure properly), so the installation of stamped concrete patios is weather dependent.
How are underground utilities (electric/cable/phone/etc) avoided during installation?
We will contact Miss Dig to detect underground utilities prior to starting build. If there are lines, they are marked with paint or flags which tell us where we can and cannot dig. Miss Dig is unable to determine locations of private underground electric or sewer lines, so please let us know if you have any (such as a water sprinkler system) so we can avoid them.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval? What about inspections?
To ensure the ultimate safety of your finished deck, we’ll secure a permit and get your local municipality’s building inspectors to inspect our work multiple times as the job progresses. We’ll work with your city or township to secure the permit for you. We’ll also coordinate the inspections. You do not need to be present for the inspections, but are always welcome to. If you live in a Homeowners Association, we’ll also work with them to secure HOA approval, if applicable. We’ll take care of all of this so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Do you charge sales tax?
No. Since we pay sales tax on the materials from our suppliers, we do not charge another tax to you.
Who will be managing my project?
When investing in a home project like a deck, don’t settle for buying from a salesperson whom you’ll never see again, then to be handed off to a job superintendent, then to a generic company phone number for post-construction issues. Phil, the owner of Custom Deck Creations, will be your single point of contact for any questions you have. Phil’s direct phone number is (734) 931-6700.
How are you different than other builders?
The overarching consensus of contractors is a terrible lack of communication. We’re different. Besides returning phone calls and emails within 1 business day (usually much faster), showing up to appointments on time, and providing you the direct phone number of the owner Phil ((734) 931-6700), we truly take a passion in building a quality product that we’re proud to stamp our name on. Our ultimate goal is for you to love your new deck/patio so much that you’ll tell your friends and family about us. Before and throughout the building process, we’ll also explain to you why and how we build our decks and patios so you’re a more-informed homeowner. We build every deck and patio as if it was our own, not rushing through it, but building it right. Besides meeting the minimum Michigan code requirement, we have our own stringent quality standards, and build in extras the other guys don’t or can’t include: custom railing options, waterproofing flashing tape around beams and cut ends, additional supporting joists to prevent sagging, and free 3D designs so you know what you’re getting before buying it. Call, text or email any questions you have at any time, we’re here to help.
Decks
What decking materials, colors, and railing options can I choose from?
Because we’ve partnered with the best brands and biggest manufacturers and suppliers in the area, we have the largest selection of decking materials, decking colors, patterns, and railing options to choose from. From deep browns to modern grays, realistic colored grains to tiled stone – there is a color and grain pattern to match your home and your style. For railings, we install everything from metal balusters to modern steel wire or full glass panels. We’ll give you a full magazine of all of our options during our initial consultation.
We don’t suggest installing a pressure treated wood deck. Although it may be initially less expensive, it will not only cost you more money in the long term (considering both maintenance expenses and an expected life of less than half that of composite decking), it also requires ongoing maintenance hours every year. Composite decking will look as new as the day it was installed for years to come.
Does composite decking get scratched or dented easily? Does it resist stains? Will it fade in the sun?
Capped composite decking is scratch/dent resistant. Even dragging heavy metal furniture over your deck won’t scratch it easily. The composite decking we install comes with a 25 year manufacturer warranty guaranteeing that your deck won’t fade or stain. Don’t worry about your guests spilling red wine or dropping mustard on your deck – just rinse it off with water within a week of the spill and you won’t notice any stain.
Is composite decking slippery?
Depending on the brand of composite decking, dry composite decking is no more slippery than a wood deck. Certain PVC decking is much more slippery than composite, and for this reason, among others, we generally recommend to stay away from PVC. We’ll talk about material options during our consultation, and provide samples to you as well.
Does composite decking get hot in the summer?
On a hot day in direct sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot. Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards. In extensive studies, it has been found that the color of the decking board, regardless if it’s made of wood-plastic composite or made of wood, is the most significant factor in the “heat retention” of the board. In these studies, pressure-treated wood stained the same color as a composite deck was actually hotter than the composite deck in the same test conditions.
Can I put a fire pit on the deck?
A gas fire pit or fireplace looks and works really well on a composite deck since there are no sparks from burning logs. We can either build a deck with a gas fire pit now, or we can design a deck with the idea of adding a gas fire pit to it later. If you’re looking to install a wood burning fire pit or fireplace, we’d recommend putting this in your yard, or on a patio, away from any combustible materials. We offer a wide variety of fire pits and fireplaces, and can also design a custom one to match your unique backyard.
What is the purpose of a pergola?
Pergolas are a good way to provide shade for your deck or patio, they offer a structure for climbing or hanging plants, and help create the feeling of a separate space from the rest of your deck or patio. If you’d like to utilize your backyard space even in the rain, another option is to add a roof to a pergola, which opens the possibility of adding a covered seating area, really becoming a beautiful outdoor extension of your home.
How do I maintain my deck?
Composite decking is maintenance-free: there is no annual or bi-annual sanding, staining, or painting. There also won’t be nail pops, board cracking, splitting, warping or rotting. In order to keep your deck looking as new as the first day it’s installed, it only requires an occasional rinse or wash using a regular garden hose and maybe a deck scrub brush.
How do you install a deck differently than a DIY project or from another builder?
We take great pride in the work we do. Our ultimate goal is for you to love your deck so much you tell your friends and family about us. We care about the safety, quality, and longevity of your deck more than just our immediate bottom line. And for those reasons we build in the extras that neither the Michigan code requires nor do our competitors add. For example, we use waterproofing tape to seal beams and connections, we seal the ends of cut pressure treated lumber to prevent moisture penetration, we install the boards properly with the right amount of spacing between each board to avoid any cracking or splitting down the road, and we install joists closer together to prevent any warping or rattling as you walk on the deck. If none of this makes sense to you, just ask! We’d be happy to answer any questions and walk you through how we do what we do and why.
Patios
What types of patios do you offer? Is one better than another?
We install both paver patios and stamped concrete patios.
Stamped concrete patios offer an immediate curb appeal and upscale look with multiple textured pattern and color options. Weeds and moss growing in and from underneath your patio isn’t an issue since there are no gaps between any stones or pavers.
Paver stones for patios comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors which provides design flexibility. The choice between which material to use for your patio is primarily a personal preference, and we’ll cover both options with you in great depth. Considering the durability, aesthetic appeal, pattern options, color choices and less needed maintenance, our preference is stamped concrete.
What patterns and color options do I have for a stamped concrete patio?
A ton – at our consultation, we’ll provide full brochures to you highlighting the pattern and color options we have available.
Does stamped concrete look fake?
The mats used to press the shapes of natural stone or wood planking into the wet concrete are actually molded from real stone or wood. Combined with multiple color additive options, stamped concrete can often look better than real stone, eliminating any gaps between stones where weeds and moss could otherwise grow.
Will a stamped concrete patio crack?
Stamped concrete patios, when installed correctly, are one of the more durable and long lasting paving materials available. While concrete does crack minimally due to settlement, heavy loads, and the natural curing and drying process of cement, cracks can be minimized:
- Creating textured patterns in concrete, such as any stamped concrete, will minimize hairline cracks from being visible
- Correctly prepping the subbase (layer under the poured concrete) is a critical step to prevent major cracking
- Installing control joints, also known as expansion joints, will allow the concrete to crack below the visible surface in a controlled manner
Will the color of stamped concrete fade?
The color added during the install does very gradually fade overtime due to the sun, weather, dirt and traffic. Periodically performing a power-wash cleaning and resealing will maintain the color, and often completely restore concrete to its original color even if the color has completely faded. This is the only maintenance needed to be performed on your stamped concrete patio, and only needs to be done as the color starts to fade, or every 3-5+ years.
Will a stamped concrete patio be slippery?
Due to the textured pattern stamped into the concrete, stamped concrete is often less slippery than conventional concrete. As with natural stone, it can become more slippery when wet.
Can I use salt on my stamped concrete patio?
Deicing salts on stamped concrete can be particularly harmful, especially during the first winter after the patio is installed. While rock salt (sodium chloride) is less harmful, it can damage your surrounding grass and vegetation. Using sand for traction can be an efficient alternative.
Call or Email Today for a Free Design & Quote
Let’s talk! Call us at (734) 931-6700 or complete the form below – we’ll get back with you within 1 business day, usually much faster. We’ll give you a free no-obligation price estimate and a 3D design of your deck or patio: