We chose Archadeck of Central Maine based on their high ratings, but unfortunately, our experience fell far short of expectations. This company subcontracts work to builders without conducting adequate vetting, which caused significant issues during our project.
Our project was a 210-square-foot deck, costing $31,000. We were willing to pay extra because we believed we were hiring a reputable company. However, we encountered several major problems:
- Water Protection Issues: The deck was installed without any water protection behind the ledger board. It was placed directly against 40-year-old siding, leaving the rim joist of the house exposed. When I raised concerns, the owner, TJ, and his assistant, Jesse, insisted it was done correctly, despite clear issues. There was no oversight during the framing stage, and we had to call them back out.
- Code Compliance Failures: I had four contractors inspect the work—one related to me and three well-known local builders. All of them identified the lack of a water membrane behind the ledger board as a critical issue that would lead to rot. They advised pausing the project and contacting code enforcement. When code enforcement arrived, their first observation was, “This is wrong.” The project failed inspection due to the lack of a barrier to protect the ledger board and the house from elements like wind-driven rain and ice.
- Fixing the Problems: To address the issue, they had to remove and reinstall the ledger board with proper water barriers, which should have been done initially. However, Jesse made it clear he was irritated to fix these mistakes, which was unprofessional and frustrating.
- Door Installation Problems: As part of the project, they replaced a 3-foot window with a 6-foot sliding glass door on an exterior wall. Initially, they weren’t going to install a proper header or pan flashing, placing the door directly on wood. After I insisted on a header, the one they installed was improperly supported, with one side blocked by a too-short jack stud and the other side floating.
- Helical Post Installation: The holes for the helical posts were misaligned, cutting into our garage door path and requiring additional blacktop removal to correct.
The root of these issues seemed to be a complete lack of oversight and quality control. Either the company failed to recognize these serious errors, or they knowingly ignored them. Neither scenario inspires confidence.
Ultimately, this was a disappointing and frustrating experience. Proper oversight and adherence to building standards are critical for projects like these, and this company failed to deliver on both counts.
