Archadeck of Suburban Boston

They did a great job. The carpenters were top notch and cared about their work. What makes this company different than others is that they work with you from start of deck design to finished construction. They have a showroom where you can see all the deck materials and finishes which made it easy for us to find the right design. I am very pleased with the work they did.

We chose Archadeck of Suburban Boston for several reasons. They completed work for us in 2013 on a front of the house stair and landing with which we are extremely satisfied. They have detailed knowledge and on the job experience with architecture, construction, design, and materials they recommended to fit our requirements for sustainability, functionality, structural integrity, ease of maintenance, aesthetic fit with a 100 year old house, existing colors, and existing multilevel landscape. They conducted a thorough analysis of our situation which competing construction bidders did not provide. The members of Archadeck of Suburban Boston team provided a professional approach to the work from initial on-site visits, drawings, materials specifications, communication, excellence in construction, to working with the city building inspector. The team was amazingly detail-oriented, I highly recommend Archadeck of Suburban Boston for the services they offer. Their prices are competitive, their design and work are first-class, they hold high standards for their results, and they know how to satisfy their customer. We are over-the-top satisfied with our deck and bridge.

We knew going in that this would be expensive, but we wanted the best and I would say we got it. I called the office and left a message. Mary returned my call a day later. Mark came out to take measurements. We then met to discuss options and materials. It took 2 visits to the office to confirm the details and put down a deposit. We put the project off for months because we needed other work done around the house. We had a meeting at the house to discuss the project a couple weeks before it started and to go over the original plans. We made some changes and the cost of changes was always laid out. The project started and went smoothly from the start. Weather created some delays but nothing that was unrealistic. Jim was very responsive throughout the project. Jim also took his time to explain what would be happening and why something would be done a certain way. The deck and patio look fantastic and this is an investment in a house we plan to live for a few decades so that made the pricetag easier to swallow but we do feel we are getting what we paid for. This is a high quality deck and very well built.

Larry was great with the design work. Very thorough and communicative and we greatly appreciated all that he did for us to make us feel comfortable and to provide us with as much detail as possible. Once things got started in early April, Jim took over managing the project and Andy was the lead contractor doing the work. After work started, they quickly found out that although the original deck was very well built, the original builder (@2012) had used douglas fir,unttreated, for the structural support elements as well as some elements that went directly into the ground. Explaining that this put us at risk of rot, not to mention not being to code, we agreed on the extra $4K of work for them to replace the structural components. Jim explained everything and helped us document what was wrong. Work progressed fairly quickly, with some delays due to us having to wait for inspections and electrical work to get done. Over all, we generally had three guys on the job on any given day, and they always cleaned up after themselves and were extremely professional. They even worked through some pretty spotty weather days in May. Overall, deck was started the last week in April and finished tidying up the first week of June, with about 1.5 weeks off due to scheduling. I thought this was reasonable. When it came time for the final walkthrough, Jim was very thorough and listened to all our concerns. There was a minor miscommunication with regards to the replacement of the original deck rails which was quickly worked out. When the project was finished, all of the minor issues were buttoned up and the porch looks pretty flawless! They have excellent screening system that keeps the screens tightly in place while also making them easy to replace. They also took care of the permits, dumpster, and port-o-john required for the project without us having to do anything. Overall we are very satisfied with the finished project and are eager to enjoy it for the rest of the summer and beyond. It was our first time dealing with contract work on this scale so there was a bit of a learning curve for us with regards to pricing. I do think they're on the high end but you're getting quality work, no doubt about it. I would recommend Archadeck to anyone looking to have a quality deck or porch built.

We love the new deck! We got other offers for a new deck and the quotes were all within range of each other. (We gave an 'A' for price for that reason.) For us the one thing that set Archadeck apart from the others was the design service. Working with Mark was easy (he was very accomodating to our schedule) and we were able to come up with a design that worked within our budget. Jim and Rick were equally easy to work with...Jim went over all the details and answered our many questions...Rick had the deck completed within a week and a half as quoted. The weather had turned rather cold but Rick showed up every morning on time to complete the deck!

The work was meticulously planned and expertly carried out. I could not have been more pleased.

On average. Don the carpenter was an A+. He was meticulous and cleaned up every day. His quality of work was excellent. Stefano's, who did the hardscaping, were less meticulous during the process, but the quality of work was excellent. They were very professional and responsive during the process, just weren't as tidy along the way. We would give them an A minus. On average, a solid A. The design service that they provide is very helpful. Larry has a really good eye. They are definitely not the lowest bidder, but you do get great value.

The project ran smoothly in the amount of time projected. The only problem was that we did not get the materials we requested.

Jim was quick to correct any small issues that arose (stabilizing a few boards and post caps that came loose). We were very happy with the final construction. We just wish that it was finished sooner, expecting completion in 2-3 weeks rather than a month and a half, so that we could have a chance to enjoy it longer. But there's always next spring and summer!

Fantastic results! We found Archadeck due to their website which illustrates their depth of knowledge and experience with hardwoods. Archadeck designer and estimator Larry, project manager Jim, and carpenter Eric did not miss a single beat from initial visit, choice of materials, work flow throughout the installation, completion of work that went beyond our expectations, and all interactions... all leading to our satisfaction. These guys are true craftsmen, know how to work with the customer, and we are enjoying the fruits of their work on our behalf every day. The choice of materials, skilled installation, advice on treating the woods used, have resulted in a beautiful entry to our home. I have invited them to submit a proposal in 2014 for a rear of the house deck with railings and a bridge.

We are as devoted as we were ten years ago with Jim Finlay and all his remarkable crew. The rather minor replacement of handrails and posts brought us as much tender care and interest as they must give to their biggest assignments. When planning the original classic New England farmhouse front porch, they made drawings and provided plans and consultation with the same interest and professionalism as though we were putting on a full sized addition. We cannot speak too highly of Archadeck in Burlington MA and will happily show off our little front porch, where we read the paper, entertain guests and spend much of our leisure time, ignoring the huge deck just around the corner that has none of the cozy charm of our porch. Thank you Archadeck. You were prompt, efficient and meticulous with your old fashioned tact and craftsmanship. We love you. Emily Lovering and Graham Walker 177 Bedford Road Lincoln MA

We called Archadeck and they came out to look at our property and we thought to give us an estimate. We told them what we wanted and they told us that our job would probably cost between $9,000 to $20,000. The higher number would be for the most expensive materials they offer. We were happy to hear that since we knew we would not be using the most expensive materials so we were expecting maybe around $15,000. They took lots of measurements and told us they would be providing computer pictures to show us a couple of options based on the materials we pick. They asked us to come by their showroom to look at and pick out the materials we would like to have our deck built with. We did go to the showroom and picked out the materials. At that time we still had not been given an estimate. We were told at that they would have to go over the numbers with the materials we picked. They asked us if we were going to be hiring them to install our deck and if we were they wanted us to sign a form and give them a $400.00 check to secure them to do the work. Only then would they provide us with the computer pictures and the $400.00 would be applied to the final cost of our job. They also told us this was non-refundable. Given the ballpark estimate they gave us on the first day and knowing we didn't pick out the most expensive materials, we were pretty sure we would be hiring them, so we signed the form and gave them a check for $400.00. About a week later, a salesperson came by to show us the computer pictures of our job and finally give us an estimate. We were completely shocked at the estimates. Their estimate for the materials we picked was over $8,000.00 over their highest ballpark estimate they quoted us on their first visit. There were several levels of higher grade materials that we had not picked. We kind of went middle of the road with our building material choices. We were stunned at the final cost of our deck. We told them we would not be able to work with them at this time due to the huge cost jump. They tried to talk us into using just plain pressure treated building materials to bring the cost down to the $20,000 dollar number. This was not acceptable to us. We felt we were seriously misled and now realize why they would not give us an estimate until we agreed to hire them and sign a form and give them a $400.00 dollar check. Be careful if you call this company to give you an estimate for any work you may be wanting them to do. It basically will cost you $400.00 for an estimate and they will not even give you the computer pictures of your home, even though we paid for them. They come into your home all professional like and show you beautiful pictures of their work and you think that you have found a great place to get your project done. I'm sure they will do a great job, their prices are enormous , and they are NOT upfront about that. It's definitely a bait and switch routine. Very deceiving.

I called Archadeck one evening to request that someone come out to speak with me about a deck we wanted built. I got a call back the next day from a woman at Archadeck who told me a representative would follow up in the next day to schedule a visit. After 5 days of no communication I called back. The next day Larry Cohen called and apologized saying he had been on vacation, but could meet me at my house the next day. Archadeck was the fourth company I had out to give me an estimate, so I was surprised when Larry asked for 90 minutes. The other three took on average 20 minutes each. Larry was very methodical in his approach: 15 minutes: He walked around the property and asked me about my ideas 30 minutes: He got his toolbox of samples and discussed the pros and cons of each decking option, and showed me many pictures of past projects, which gave me some new ideas, like using aluminum balusters instead of wood. 15 minutes: Larry explained some of the unique things about Archadeck's approach, such as using steel footings with minimal disturbance. Larry showed me a CAD (computer aided design) drawing of another deck design he did and explained that if we decided to go with Archadeck, it would be a $450 fee for a similar CAD drawing, which would be applied to the cost of the deck. I asked if Larry would provide an estimate and he hesitated a bit then said normally he doesn't, but because this deck was straightforward, he would send over numbers within a few days. I found this approach unusual. Without an estimate, how could I decide if I wanted to proceed with Archadeck and then pay the $450 design fee? And, if this was such a straightforward project, why would we need a CAD drawing? Other contractors sketched it on paper using protractors and rulers and either mailed it to me or put it into PDF and emailed it. Anyway, a few days later, Larry sent the estimate and the prices were a bit higher than others. For ipe decking with red dedar rails, the cost was $24.5K. For another hardwood, Cumaru, that Larry educated me about, the cost was $22.1K. I strongly considered Archadeck because of Larry's attention to detail and his knowledge of the materials, and also because of the great Angies List reviews, but we went in a different direction. The contractor we went with, Coppolletti Construction, wasn't the cheapest either, but they had redone our kitchen on time and on budget a few years ago and we trust the owner, Chris Coppolletti.

They appear to be very busy which I assume to be indicative of a successful company. The spring season is especially busy for them and their pricing seemed to reflect this situation. Their pricing put them out of completion. I had calculated the material requirement (validated by home depot as a reference), estimated the retail margin, labor costs, and commissions to get my "ballpark" price. They were 150% of that price. I did not negotiate with them

They were GREAT. The deck is fantastic--sturdy and beautiful. They solved a technical problem that arose because the deck was originally poorly designed. First rate job. The only small downside: There were a lot of delays before work was started.

I contacted this company via e-mail about a month ago, and got a call from Mary Finley a few minutes after I sent it. That was a very nice touch, and I was optimistic at the beginning. I have had a good experience with most of the services from Angie's List. Mary said I would get a call from Jim in a few days. When Jim called, he said he didn't have time to come for an estimate that week and he'd call next week to make an appointment for an estimate. He didn't call next week, and that was a first indication that this company was either not looking for new business, or just thought it was OK not to keep their appointments. But I wasn't ready to give up on this company: they had excellent reviews and both Jim and Mary sounded nice on the phone. So, I called the office back, and told Mary that Jim didn't call us when he promised, and I wondered what happened. She put Jim on the phone (said he was right there in the office). Jim never apologized for that mishap, never explained, just made an appointment to come the following Wednesday at 6:30 PM. He promised to be there, and said I could count on it. Well, that Wednesday night was tonight, and my husband and I rushed home from work, to make it home by 6:30. Unfortunately, Jim never came, and he never even had a courtesy to call and apologize. We felt like two fools, for giving Jim another chance...

The project was perfect from start to finish. It was a large deck with much detail and it was finished before the "finish date." I would hire this company again tomorrow. An absolute pleasure to do business with. Refreshing to have Jim Finlay who is genuine,smart, creative and his staff is just as caring and professional.

Great experience, start to finish

They did excellent work and were very detail oriented. Furthermore, they were professional and answered any questions that we had.

I met with Larry several times to discuss a porch patio project. Initially, I met with him in May of 2012 with a price in my hgead of what I thought this project would cost. Archadeck's price was well above this. After getting several estimate I learned that it was my initial esitmate that was too low, but with that said, Archadeck was still significantly above the where other quotes were coming in. I received 5 quotes in total and Archadeck was the highest by far and didn't even include the electrical. My prices ranged from $48,000 to $75,000 with Archadeck at the high end of this range for a very comparable scope of work and materials. Archadeck tried to differentiate itself with their experience and quality and while I have not doubt they do would do great work, for something like a porch and patio which isn't difficult construction, there is only so much you can differentiate yourself. If you don't mind paying the extra money, they are a class act and very professional, but if your like me and just want simple no frill construction of a porch or deck, I would choose someone else.

We could not recommend Mr.Finlay and his whole team more. They designed and constructed a deck that ideally suits the style of our 1840 house in Sudbury. They were professional from beginning to end. You may pay a fraction more, but the extra money is well worth it!!

We hired Archadeck to help us design and build a new deck, within our budget. They fully understood our vision and our budget limitations, and came up with a deck design that would meet all of our needs. They obtained all of the necessary building permits, constructed the deck, and cleaned up the area. The design and the workmanship are excellent, and their communications, advice, knowledge, and responsiveness made the process very easy! We chose to work with Archadeck for this project because after our initial communications with them, we believed that while we would be paying more for their services than, say, a general contractor's, their design ideas, their knowledge and experience with a wide variety of deck construction methods and materials, and their high level of responsiveness would all make it worth the extra cost. Now that the project is complete, we definitely believe that we made the right decision.

Overall, the experience was great! They had an in-house designer that really helped us figure out what we wanted in a design. He provided CAD drawings (computer-aided drawings) to help us visualize what it could look like. They provided great design guidance, which distinguished this company from some of the others we had talked to. From start to finish, they were great. The carpenter that they contracted to complete most of the work was a very fine craftsman.

Jim was very thorough and attentive to detail from start to finish. He provided us with a detailed estimate and clear plan of the project, itemizing costs so that we could customize the project and prioritize add-ons. He is very busy so we had to wait until the end of the summer for a deck that we were planning to build in May, but he was up front about the wait time. His estimate was higher than the other professionals we contacted, but that was because he was using better materials and rebuilding the entire deck rather than simply refurbishing the rotted deck. Ultimately, although it cost more, we got what we paid for, and did not have to micromanage the workers or worry about the final product. The same attention to detail that we appreciated in the planning process meant that every detail of the final project was absolutely perfect, and whatever was not perfect was fixed immediately. We love our new deck, and would definitely recommend Archadeck for any project.

I have had the pleasure of working with Archadeck of Suburban Boston on two separate deck construction projects on two properties of mine in the past ten years. In both cases Jim Finlay's team was professional and dependable. I place high importance on the willingness of the contractor to make changes to the draft design of the deck which was a concern with both projects. In Archadeck's case, "flexibility" is its middle name. Through the marvels of CAD/CAM computer technology, numerous iterations were no problem and I appreciated receiving "real time" emails of the changes to the design. All ramp up preparations for the projects were essentially invisible: permits were pulled; materials were ordered; waste receptacles put in place; chief carpenters were ready to go; high-integrity concrete footings were calculated, augmented, and poured; and the work commenced on schedule and with almost no intrusion to my households. Follow up "tune ups" provided by Archadeck have been thoughtful and detailed; often catching things I would never have noticed but which showed Archadeck's pride of craftsmanship to ensure a tip-top deck each time. I recommend Archadeck of Suburban Boston without reservation.