Archadeck of Suburban Boston

Took longer than expected, but had unexpected necessary work that surfaced. They fully informed me along the way.

From the start Jim kept us informed of the what, who, when of scheduling. He was here very often to let workmen in and to inform them about dealing with our 2 dogs. The contractors he used were professional, respectful and did wonderful work. Jim wanted our input and followed up on things as needed. The experience overall was an excellent one with a most wonderful outcome.

It didn't go over well at all because it didn't go over at all.

I needed a deck estimate and contacted the company by phone and web. They never bothered to call back. They lost me a customer.

Archadeck was pretty intense. They take their jobs very seriously and your new deck means quite a bit to them. They want to make sure that you're aware of everything that they can do for you and they really want to please. You cannot say that about a lot of companies. Their communication was great and told us what they were doing every step of the way. Though some things went awry, Archadeck was all over it, making sure we understood why certain things were taking longer than others and assuring us the entire time. They completed the project today though we'd been able to use most of the deck for the past month or so.

My pressure treated decks were old and in need of replacement. I wanted to go with composite because I'm too old to continue washing and staining such a large area every two years. I contacted Archadeck and met with Larry. He came out to my house and looked at my existing decks and took measurements. We talked extensively about what it was I was looking to do. It was determined that the footings on my front deck were stable and usable and so I would simply be replacing the flooring and the posts and railings. The back decks were a different story. I explained what I wanted and he took notes. I met with him at the Archadeck office and viewed many photos of finished work along with samples of the many materials available. I selected the products I wanted and he got to work on designing the new decks. Feeling unsure of my color choices, I asked to bring my sister with me to our next meeting and Larry readily agreed. He showed us the design (which I really liked) and talked about the scheduling of the work to be done. Based on my sister's advice, I changed the color scheme I had been working with and Larry rolled right with it. He was not one bit aggravated that I had changed my mind. I opted to wait until the fall as I have a pool that I enjoy throughout the summer that one of my decks wraps around. Larry gave me a written estimate of costs and told me Jim Finlay would be in touch as my scheduled start date approached. Sure enough, I heard from Jim when the fall arrived and he came out with lots of questions about my property, pets, plants, etc that Archadeck needed to be aware of before work began. He was very thorough, very personable, very professional. He asked a lot questions and answered many of mine. He outlined very specifically how the building was going to progress and showed me a payment schedule corresponding to the building process. He told me to look at my decks every day and to call with any questions/problems/anything! He always answered my calls and my questions in a timely fashion. He contacted me every 3-4 days to see how things were going and to inform me of what was coming next. He was as meticulous as I am and I really appreciated that! He oversaw the building of the decks as if it were his own decks being built. The carpenter, Rick, is a gem. He worked steadily, meticulously and even through rain. One day, he changed his shirt three times due to soaking from rain before he called it a day. Archadeck did all demolition. They had a dumpster delivered to my house as well as a port-a-potty for the carpenter. No one needed entrance to my home, which I liked. They did all clean-up as well. Rick found rot in a couple of places that needed to be addressed and I heard from Jim each time. He let me know how extensive the damage was and what the extra cost would be in terms of material and labor. My upper deck in the back of the house was level with my back door. Jim and Larry had both suggested that the new deck be built lower so that water/snow would not be gathering at the doorway leading to rot (which was the case with the old deck). This also meant that vinyl siding would have to be added. In addition, there were several places on both the front and upper back decks that the siding had gone around posts and now there were gaps. This siding was replaced as well. There was a spot on my front deck that had warped as a result of intense sun. Not only did they replace that siding, they gave me several options to prevent it from happening again. I also had an end piece on a dormer that I had damaged last winter trying to knock ice down and I asked if they would pick me up a replacement piece when they went to purchase siding. They did that gladly and even replaced it for me even though it had nothing to do with my decks! They also replaced window trim where it was cut around the old post on the old deck rather than try to patch it which would have looked weird. I cannot say enough about this company. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with every step of the way. Even the littlest concern I had was dealt with as if it was as important to them as it was to me. They were always available, always on time, always professional and always personable. I wish that every contractor I have dealt with or will deal with in the future operated on the same principles as Archadeck does. They were just a bit more pricey than other contractors I had dealt with, but then, they were much more meticulous and much more concerned with giving me what I wanted than anyone else. And, I guess, in the end, quality doesn't cost - it pays. And these guys are a quality outfit. I would recommend them without reservation to anyone looking for deck work of any kind. I have been singing their praises to my family and friends from the start of my project to the end result. I only wish it were spring so I could be out on my new decks now!

Jim Finlay from Archadeck of Suburban Boston, along with Jay Hayden the carpenter selected by Jim, are amazing ! You might be wondering how I could detail out all the work done above. It's all part of Jim's attention to detail. He took my contract very seriously, and truly cares about getting the job done right and done the way my wife and I wanted. All the work above was well documented ahead of time and copies of each addendum were given every time. We picked Archadeck because of the many Angie's List awards and glowing reviews by members of the list. We called one day in July 2010 and that quickly started the ball rolling. He came to our house to see the existing deck and porch. We then went to Burlington, to the show room, to review additional details about Archadeck and to review previous jobs, materials and looks. Jim had no problems discussing lower budget options with us along with various other possible options. I never felt that he was trying to "up-sell" me on anything. My wife was continually drawn to a particular previous job that Jim had done, not too far from our home. I was surprised to have Jim offer to take us to the home to actually walk through the deck he built a few years before. When we arrived at this total stranger's house, Jim pulled in right behind us, right on time. It was clear that this previous customer was thoroughly pleased to see Jim and eager to share his experience and satisfaction with us. We were there for about 20 minutes and it was like we were visiting an old friend. We even saw a screen door that we liked so much, we insisted on having the same one for our porch, along with the sliding windows that this deck had, which my wife liked so much. The entire work was done over this past winter (which you may recall included record snow fall and a rainstorm in January or so. The rainstorm caused much concern, because the roof of the house and the porch was not joined at this point and water could have leaked into exposed walls on the interior. But Jay set up tarps and rigged up a proper protection from the heavy rain.) The winter work saved us money, but Jay the carpenter had to deal with a lot of snow in his work area and the bitter cold. They went the extra mile to snow blow out their work area (and our driveway at times) over and over again. Jay and Jim are a fantastic team and work very well together. Jim keeps the focus on what we want and the Code while Jay points out options and alternatives. During the entire project, Jim's communication with us was perfect. He was courteous about his calling times, sensitive to our schedules and totally respectful to our wishes. In addition, I can't express how grateful we are to Jim for helping us with the Town Wetland Committee process and the various permitting and inspections. There really can be a lot of bureaucracy (in my opinion) with local government, and having an advocate for your project to help take care of it while we were both at work was a real blessing. At every turn, Jim and Jay stuck with us. My wife wishes they did kitchens so she could hire them on the spot! And now, I understand how that previous customer was so pleased to show off his deck to strangers and so happy to see Jim. I keep Archadeck fliers on the porch to show anyone who is interested about Jim's work. As you can tell, we are very happy with the work, and his work ethic. 5 months after the work was done, Jim called to say that he wanted to come down and re-torque the main hardware on the structure to make sure it stayed tight. It was like a project reunion as he took pictures and then got into his overalls and under the floor to do the work. He was too busy this summer to join us for a few hours on our wonderful new deck, but he promised me that next summer, he and Jay would be by and I'll set up the grill. My wife and I are looking forward to that. Perhaps some day, my wife and I will be that total stranger who will proudly show you their deck and porch and highly recommend that you hire Jim Finlay, Archadeck of Suburban Boston. =================================== Update April 2012 My wife and I had noticed that the ceiling in the porch had buckeled in a few areas over the winter. I called Jim Finlay at Archadeck and he was quick to come to inspect the ceiling. Upon a detailed review, Jim quickly confirmed that the buckling was covered by the Archadeck Warranty. He speculated that the use of finishing nails, to minimize the look of the nails, may not have enough strength to hold over the temperature change over the winter. But Jim stressed, it didn't matter much to him what the reason was, that he was going to fix it right, and he did so right away. The ceiling was fastened with over 60 screws and then the holes will filled and and then repainted. This all happened in only a couple of days. You can't tell that anything was done from the original installation. We are very pleased with the repairs and we paid nothing !

Working with Jim Finlay of Archadeck of Suburban Boston was a pleasure. Jim and crew installed our deck ten years ago and now, in 2011, have added nighttime illumination and rejuvenated the deck. The deck is in great condition and is nicely improved after this recent work. This deck is at a second-story level supported on posts and is rock solid. Jim and his team worked professionally and paid attention to both the structure and the details—they did the job right and it shows in the results. Our questions were answered prior to initiating the work, contracts were clear, insurance certificate arrived in advance of the work, we were kept informed as the work proceeded, and Jim was flexible in finding times to meet with us.

I am pleased with both the end result as well as the process of working with Archadeck and especially recommend them if you are building a new deck or replacing an existing deck that may need design work. The following is a list of the main reasons I am recommending Archadeck: Based on my specifications, Archadeck created a computer design mock up of how the redesigned decks would look which revealed an undesirable design flaw (e.g. a deck post in an unexpected location) which resulted in a redesign that was much better than what I had originally proposed. I am afraid another contractor would have built the deck to my specifications and I would have been unpleasantly surprised by the location of the deck post. Archadeck has a showroom for customers to examine the various decking materials which sped up making deck materials decisions and reduced some of the uncertainty of making these decisions. Archadeck solved a structural support problem by finding a source for a lightweight but strong steel beam used to support the 20 feet of unsupported span. The work was started on time and completed on time. The managing contractor went into sufficient detail in explaining the construction methods being used and why they added value to the deck. Possibly most important reason to consider Archadeck is that all of the people that worked on the project were pleasant and worked in a professional manner. They took the initiative to keep us informed about all aspects of the project and followed through with their commitments.

The project went well, despite delays due to rain, and suppliers. All work was done to incredible detail, and adjustments were made (at no additional cost) as details were uncovered. Many of our neighbors have commented how nice the new porch is.

A very good experience from start to finish. Jim Finlay's attention to detail and professionalism were outstanding. Excavation for footings was much more challenging than expected and took 2-3 times estimate but Jim maintained price. Rick, who removed old deck, built new deck and installed new sliding door was a pleasure to work with and was great about answering any questions we had throughout project.

Couldn't have been more satisfied with the professionalism and workmanship of this company.They deliver 100 percent every step of the way!.

Communication was superb from beginning to end. Owner Jim Finlay is a complete professional, thorough and thoughtful. He explained the entire process, what my options were, and what his experience had been working with different woods. The workmen were absolutely tireless ... despite the heat and humidity they were enduring on this job. Mary, the office manager (and I suspect the true power behind the throne ...) was delightful. Even their golden retriever is terrific! I have already had one friend admire the new deck and contact Archadeck about doing some work at his house. I would recommend Jim Finlay and his team at Archadeck without any hesitation!

I met Jim Finlay at a home show in Feb., 2010. He was the third vendor I spoke with, but the only person who instinctively knew exactly what I was looking for! I was very pleased with the design process and attention Jim gave to the project, and in explaining every detail to me, giving me several different designs before I chose the design that fit best. He was true to his word in every aspect of this project from first design to the finishing touches on the deck. He has an extensive list of referrals, of which I picked three people to call. But I never called them. Something told me I didn't need to find out how much others thought of this company as I had a hunch I had picked a winner. I was right. Great job, start to finish. Any lingering issues were taken care of on a timely basis. I'd recommend Jim and his crew to anyone looking to have a deck, porch or other structure built or added to their home. Good people, exceptional work ethics. My favorite part (well, besides having a terrific deck), were that my wishes to keep the grounds around the construction area as undisturbed as possible were met! I'll actually have to dig further out for the plants and shrubs I'll be planting around it!

Supervision, cleanup and build to our specifications (we are very fussy) were all excellent. Jim was very careful that our lawn was not damaged with materials that he used, and that he protected our driveway from damage from the dumpster used to haul away debris. Last fall (2009), we noticed that several trim boards only viewable from our lawn had bowed a little. We should have noticed this earlier but didn't. Although this is two years after the project completion and beyond the normal warrantee for workmanship, I contacted Jim and within the week he came over to assess the problem. This problem was really not Archadeck's fault as the manufacturer specified adding shims that actually caused the problem. Although Jim could have done a ?quick job ? to repair the problem, he sent over his carpenter who spent several hours repairing the problem the correct way by carefully removing the problem boards so he could remove the shims. He then reassembled everything and added additional screws so the problem would not reoccur, and then re-bolted the rail posts at no charge. Jim Finlay is a perfectionist!

Please read above story... Do use Jim, Larry and Dennis, Don't go anywhere else...

See above for details. I would add this: If all contractors were as committed as Mr. Jim Finlay is to fairness, quality, and "doing things right", there would be no need for Angie's List. Indeed, if everyone were more like Mr. Finlay, this world would be a much better place. My name is Karl A. Broehm, and you may contact me regarding Mr. Finlay's work at the email address that I have provided to you. I most highly recommend Mr. Jim Finlay for his professionalism, fairness, and commitment to quality. He is the standard by which ALL contractors should be measured against.

I liked all of the salesman. They were very nice. They ere very accomodating. They gave me lots of time.

Met Jim Finlay at a Home Show. Knew about Archadeck from research on line. Liked his manner and the product. He met with us after surveying the property to get our input about what we had envisioned. Then met again with us with 2 specific plans. We choooe one and began picking out options/colors/placement. Jim was with us the whole way, remained patient with our questions/concerns and offered his input as the job went on. We felt we were in very good hands. We were so pleased by how the design turned into the completed work and how it fit into our house/backyard.

I heard great stuff about Archadeck so I used them. I appreciated the way Archadeck worked with me. They were up front with what was going on, drew up the plans, and handled everything. It was a total stress free project. I met with them every week to go over where they were with the project, and any changes that came up. The people working there are really professional. They did a fabulous job. It was totally worth the price. They weren't the cheapest I came across, but the quality of work was very good.

Our experience was great start to finish. Again, the folks at Archadeck listened to us, talked about problems they foresaw, suggested alternatives and worked with us, not against us. The communication from Jim Finlay and his team was outstanding. We knew what was going on every step of the way and felt like we were part of the process. Any problems that came up were brought to our attention and addressed immediately. Our carpenter, Jay Hayden was fabulous. Our electrician, John McCarthy did good quality work, but was a bit slow and we had to call him several times to follow-up on scheduled work. Our painter, Michael Barber did good quality work, on time and on schedule. All things considered, Jim Finlay and his Archadeck team were great to work with and the quality of their work and professionalism was outstanding.

This is the third and largest project at this house by Archadeck. They worked closely with us during the design phase, paying close attention to our ideas and goals for the new space. They were able to build most of the addition without intruding into the original house, keeping dirt and noise to a minimum. Jim Finlay addressed any glitches that came up, and the result was an addition that is well built, beautiful and exactly what we wanted. Jim truly went out of his way to make sure we were completely satisfied with the job and his company, and we were.

Oh, I can absolutely say that we were very pleased with them. They were responsible for everything and I have to say that hey handled it beautifully. I think they were great with clean-up. They are absolutely experts at what they do. They are honest with us, they tell it like they did it, and the quality of the work they did for us was just outstanding. I would give them all high marks.

The owner lives in Weston I think. He takes pride in our town and in the company. They were really good about coming to help. They follow plans too really well and they're just great. They're in good standing with the permit people, too. They were great about going and getting that during the building phases too, so we weren't stuck. The building inspector liked them, too. We totally liked them a lot.

This was a mystery to us. A representative of the company came to our house on two occasions, for almost an hour each time. He took measurements and drew up a detailed plan for a deck. On the second visit, he gave us an oral estimate, and we said we would think about it. He didn't leave anything in writing at that time. After that, we got another bid for comparison sake, and then called Archadeck back a couple of weeks later. We said that we were choosing between them and another company, but it had been a couple of weeks and we weren't sure of his quote, so we wanted the estimate in writing. The representative said he would send or email the estimate, but we never heard anything. We followed up with an email, asking again for the estimate so that we could make a choice, but we never heard anything from them ever again. It didn't make sense that after investing all that time, they wouldn't get back to us with a written estimate, and it made us feel like we had just wasted our time.