Nothing is getting done — help!

We contacted a builder to make a deck for our home. In May. He referred us to an architect who would draw up the plan and file it, We had a blueprint by end of August and over the summer we found a concrete firm and ironworks to make the foundation. The architect was very slow in getting around to filing the plans. But now wenhave signed proposals and contracts and paid a few deposits.
It is getting late in October and we have not had so much as a shovelful of earth dig into the yard. We get promises when we email everyone but no one acts on them. Even if they begin next week won’t they need a month to complete the work? Will I be serving them turkey dinner on Thanksgiving?i don’t want a mess here during the holidays or worse a half finished deck rusting in my yard all winter.
The expiation we get — when we email or call then — is that they are backed up on account of all the rain and the unusually hot summer.
Although I obviously need to vent some , isomet hing has to be done. Is it realistic to build a deck in November? It is a very average sized deck of ipe wood over steel. Should I forget about it till next spring?

bklynbabe

in Exteriors 6 years and 6 months ago

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anotherposter | 6 years and 6 months ago

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If you are only emailing them (I get it, I am a mess on the phone), you need to start calling them and being pushier-squeaky wheel. As for the time to do it, we had a pretty big deck project and I don’t think the actual work too very long once they started–maybe a week, but they were doing other things at the same time as well. It was a steel frame deck with pavers as the flooring with a substantial staircase to the yard.

urbanexteriors | 6 years and 6 months ago

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You should have called Urban Exteriors…you would have had your deck long time. Steve

bklynbabe | 6 years and 6 months ago

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Thank you for the encouragement. It could be some personal problem perhaps. They have promised to start in 2st week of November. I guess I will buy an extra turkey 🙂

bklynbabe | 6 years and 6 months ago

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They had the plans in August. They got the permit, etc. really took their time. I paid deposits because I felt that would speed things up. All well respected people who are in business many years.

resident2 | 6 years and 6 months ago

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Are the plans approved at this point? Have they pulled any permits yet?
If you have a set of approved plans and the contractor builder is too busy to get started on your job, then get another one.
Do not give any contractor deposits without a start & projected completion date in the contract.
Since May?! You should have a deck by now; you might be waiting for final sign offs from the City. But it should have been at least 95% complete by now, even by NYC slow pace.
If you have approved plans, but they have not pulled permits, then fire them get another. If they have pulled permits, but not started you need a serious sit down to work out what their problem is.

ntljoylspohn | 6 years and 6 months ago

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Our steel deck was built December-January last year. Not ideal, given that bad weather slows progress, but it worked out ok. The deck will not rust if they are installing pre-primed components. The plus side is that your deck will be ready for use before the spring weather arrives.

slopefarm | 6 years and 6 months ago

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The concrete work may have specific issues in terms of the temperature (air and ground) that might limit the time you can have that work done, though you are not there yet. The rest of the work just needs decent weather (not rainy, not freezing). I would push to get the concrete and framing done soon.

RobertGMarvin

in Exteriors 6 years and 6 months ago

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Well, it’s not as if you’ll be using the deck much in the winter and. at least, your house is closed to the elements and habitable. Things could always be worse 🙁

bklynbabe | 6 years and 6 months ago

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Thanks for the sympathy. Bob. Its been like herding cats. We had a taste of that kind of thing with the bathroom reno and the front door. But Im concerned that it won’t be possible to finish in November. A shorter workday isn’t good, let alone the cold and the many holidays etc. I am really afraid the deck will not be completed and I will be stuck with a back door that opens to a 10 foot deep air space.

RobertGMarvin

in Exteriors 6 years and 6 months ago

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Sadly things are different in NYC from HGTV never-never land. Most EVERYTHING takes forever