WHAT OUR NETWORX CONTRACTOR DID FOR US: Stained my new cedar deck.
WHY WE CHOSE HIM: Professional presentation, excellent communication, and fair pricing.
Recently, I had my old backyard deck torn up and removed. Its replacement is a brand new deck, built of pressure-treated wood (cedar, I think). Because the deck construction company does not do staining, I had to look for another contractor to take care of that part of the job. I found someone online who was listed as a specialist in deck painting … exactly what I needed.
Altogether, I got 4 estimates and I went with Gino of D Gee Interiors based on his presentation and pricing.
The way I ended up with the reddish-brown color you’ll notice in the photos was very simple: my contractor highly recommended a special kind of stain, as opposed to just regular paint. So I went with his recommendation and since there were only 3 colors available, I chose this one.
Gino followed through exactly as he said he would. It took him one whole day to complete the job. He came at 8:00 in the morning and he was here until 4:00. The stain had to dry for about 24 hours and then it was good to go.
I like the way the finished deck looks. Gino did a very nice job; I’d definitely recommend him to friends or neighbors. In fact, I asked him what else he does, in case I need him for other work. Apparently, he specializes in outside and inside contracting.
I wasn’t here while he was doing the actual painting, because I had to be at work. In terms of communication, though, he was exceptional. I’ve dealt with many, many contractors over the years and to me, communication is by far the Number One quality – whether they’re reachable, whether they get back to you when you call. Gino gave me his personal cell phone and we texted many times, even on weekends, before he actually completed the job. The reason I hired him was exactly that -- because he was very, very communicative.
Price is important in choosing a contractor but communication even more so. Also, legitimacy – licensing and insurance – is very big. I’ve had horrible experiences where contractors disappear. They’ll take a deposit and then you won’t see them again for a month. They can’t be reached once they have your money because they’re doing other jobs. Then when it’s convenient for them, they come back.
So one thing that I would advise, when you’re about to hire a contractor, is to try to get everything in writing as specifically as possible. Look for someone who will give you his cell phone number and will get back to you immediately if you call or text. Try to figure that part out before you give them any money.
