The Eugene Homeowner’s Deck Planning Checklist

The Deck Planning Checklist

1. Budget — before you call anyone

• Decide the range you are comfortable with, not a single number. Decks move with size, height off the ground, railing and substructure condition.
• Ask whether the quote includes demo and haul-away of an existing deck. On a teardown that is real money.
• Budget for the railing separately in your head. Cable and wire-panel railing costs more than standard composite railing and it is usually where a quote grows.
• Beware of any price given over the phone. See how we price work for why we will not do it.

2. Materials — composite or wood

• Wood costs less up front and more over ten years, once you count stain, sealer and board replacement.
• Composite costs more up front and needs washing, not refinishing. In the Willamette Valley’s wet winters that difference matters more than it does in a dry climate.
• Ask which composite line is being quoted — capped or uncapped, and the warranty length. They are not interchangeable.
• Full comparison: composite vs. wood decking in Oregon.

3. Permits in Eugene and Lane County

• A deck over 30 inches above grade, or attached to the house, generally needs a permit. Freestanding and low to the ground often does not.
• Confirm who is pulling the permit — you or the contractor. It should be the contractor.
• Check your setbacks and any HOA rules before design, not after.
• Ask whether the permit fee is inside the quoted price or added later.

4. The 10 questions to ask any contractor before you sign

1. What is your CCB number, and are you bonded and insured? (Ours is CCB #247589 — verify it at the Oregon CCB site.)
2. Is this a fixed price or an estimate that can move?
3. What exactly is specified — brand, line, colour, fastener and railing?
4. What happens if you find rot or a footing problem once demo starts?
5. Who is actually on site, and will the same crew finish the job?
6. What is the schedule, and what happens if weather moves it?
7. What does your workmanship guarantee cover, and for how long?
8. Is the manufacturer’s material warranty registered in my name?
9. What is the payment schedule? A large deposit up front is a warning sign.
10. Can I see three local projects like mine? (Ours are here.)

Planning a deck this season? Request a free consultation and we will measure the site and send a written fixed-price quote — every material specified, no ballparks. Still comparing materials? Read composite vs. wood decking in Oregon.