Deck and Shed Pros

I contacted them via email to come out and quote a job. They emailed me back and asked me to fill out a form on their site. I did and heard nothing more for about a week. At that point I got an email from the company asking if my inquiry were promptly handled. I responded that, no, I had not heard from anyone to set up an appointment. I never heard anything more from them.

Randy Smith was an excellent, responsible guy. He listened to everything I wanted and seemed to "get it." The deck is a three-tiered deck. It was old and hard to remove the boards. We had one other guy who was interested in doing the job for $3,600, but when I understood what Randy had in mind, I thought to myself, no, I don't want a cheap version of what I really want. So, I got in touch with Randy and other than a need to charge more because we needed new stringers on the lowest part of the deck, there were no added amount of money. Originally, he gave us a price of $5,000. The amount he added was nominal for what he did and I was very pleased. Other than a couple of times when they showed up late, it went very well.

We could not be any more thrilled with our new screened in deck!! The number of compliments we've received from neighbors is extraordinary (we have a corner property, so everyone can see the new space). Randy is perhaps the only contractor I've ever like from the very first day I've met him. He's creative and thoughtful, and is conscious of good value. His crew - Steve, in particular - is the nicest, most conscientious group of workmen you'll ever meet. They were nice, meticulous, and went above and beyond to make sure our project was perfect and that we were happy. We received a number of estimates for this project, and Randy was the only one able to fulfill our vision. MD Deck and Shed's estimate was neither the highest nor the lowest we received, but in the end we feel we got great value for our money! That isn't to say there weren't a few hiccups along the way - a couple of miscommunications and a few corrections. Took a little longer than originally estimated. But honestly, it didn't matter because the moment we pointed out the mistake, Randy and his guys just took care of it; no arguments, no haggling. Creative and detail oriented every single step of the way. I would highly recommend these folks to any one considering a deck project!

If you go with this contractor be prepared to be VERY frustrated. They took 2 months to complete a 1 week (7 day contract) basic deck and shed contract. This contractor has too many layers of management and nobody is ever on the same page. I constantly had to track them down for updates. They constantly made promises and never lived up to them. Timelines are meaningless and their customer service is the worst. They seem like nice guys so either they are incredibly inefficient or just good sales people who really don't care about the customer. The deck and shed turned out pretty well from a quality standpoint. I did have a cosmetic issue with a board along the front of the deck. I was told that because I had been so patient throughout the process they would be special ordering a new board and replacing it. That promise was made 2 weeks ago and I have received no correspondence from the company since despite being told the board would arrive in 5-7 business days. I'm not surprised though, this was typical of the entire experience. They also left lumber and cement on my lawn for days/weeks at a time and killed all the grass. I had to move a lot of stuff off the grass myself. I don't care if you leave something overnight but its disrespectful to leave it there for days or weeks at a time without doing any work. Overall, not a good experience, can't recommend.

I was very pleased with the work and communication with the company. I would use them again.

I contacted the company and spoke to Jim to inquire about a deck estimate. Jim told to me go on the website and and request an estimate from there and I would be contacted within 24 hrs. 48 hrs passed and I never heard back from anyone. I guess it was to hard for Jim to take my information down over the phone. I called once again and spoke to Jackie who advised that Steve would call me by close of business. Jackie advised that they never received the online estimate request, which is not true because I received the confirmation via email. It's been a week and I never heard back from anyone. I shouldn't have to chase a company down for their business.

Buyers beware What went well: 1. Showed up every day, and there was no major interruption except the rain. 2. The foreman and his team were nice and friendly and tried to protect the grass and inside of the house where possible. What didn't go so well 1. Didn't like the fact that no one was overseeing anything, it was all up to the foreman that Steve hired to do the job. I, knowing nothing about construction caught few things ? some were addressed and some were not. 2. The only time Steve ever called or emailed was about asking for the 2nd payment and some additional money because he said they had to do more than what they had thought. I had specifically asked Steve that if there would be any extras added later during our first and only meeting, to which he?d said no. Later he pointed out some fine-print in the contract about unknowns and asked for more money. 3. The patio sliding door that Steve promised was not brought initially. The Foreman brought the cheapest patio door available in HD, Fortunately I saw it before they installed it and asked it to be replace. After going back and forth couple of times they did bring in the door that was promised. I had to remind them to get the screen after a few days when I saw that it wasn't there. 4. One of the poles that they put in clearly slanted, after spending so much money I?d hoped at least everything be aligned. 5. They didn't ensure proper sloping of 1/2 inches per foot slope for the torch down roof; as a result there is some standing water in the roof. 6. Initially Steve said that we don?t need a permit. Then later he said we need it ? there wasn't any change to the nature of the work, and I being a new homeowner didn't understand that whole thing about needing or not needing a permit because the nature of the work never changed. It was specified in the contract that new footers are to be put in, and obviously he asked more than double of the permit fee because of the time needed to go to the county and get the permit. 7. My concern of the water dripping from the gutters connection was not addressed (it still drips). In other words they don?t care about the little things. Overall experience: I had Steve give me estimate along with a couple of others. His estimate was between the lower and a higher bid. Considering Angie?s list reviews I signed the contract with Steve. Like with everything there is multiple grade of products ? they seem to use the cheapest possible that is available in Home Depot. I feel that they try to cut corners and save as much as they can ? time and money . It is impossible to specify each and everything in the contract, especially if you are a new home owner and don?t know much about the materials; they tend use that to their advantage.

Contacted them through the AL ap. They responded within 24 hours letting me know that Steve H. Would be contacting me in the next 48 hours. 5th day of no contact despite my repeated attempt to reach out. I can appreciate its the busy season for deck installations but at least let a potential client know if you're not interested in the work. Moving on to the next contractor on the list. Can not recommend.

It turned out great. We are happy and would recommend them to anyone. Everyone was courteous and everything that was promised was done and more. Thank you Steve and everyone else at Maryland Deck and Shed!

MD&S provided top notch, quality and clean service. They came in at budget and on time. Everyone was polite and comfortable to be around.

Could not have gone smoother. Once the county permit department gave us the permit, the team worked non stop to complete the job. The did not work between jobs either. The team was professional and knew their craft This company is awesome

Incredibly prompt, very professional. Good ideas. Knowledgeable. However, backyard required more expertise around grading/drainage.

Overall MDS did an excellent job, and we would have no reservation recommending them to AL users. There were some delays during the pre-build planning process due simply to emails going back and forth between MDS, my organization and the owner of the building that the deck was built on. However, once the plans and specifications were approved by all parties, MDS got the deck built quickly. Most importantly, we had given them a firm build-by deadline of Memorial Day, which they worked hard to meet. When we pointed out minor issues that needed to be addressed during construction, they were taken care of immediately and without question. We have received many positive comments on the finished deck from our members, some of whom are builders themselves and so are very critical of work by anyone else. This was an important job for us, and MDS carried it off flawlessly.

They did not end up doing the pavers and did give me $500 back for not doing this part of the job. They stamped the front walkway and 3 of the 4 steps. They never did the porch and only prepped the wall to be done and never completed it. The first man I spoke with, Steve, had told me they could do the pavers and the wall. Another man later told me they could not do the pavers or the wall. So the work that can be done is still incomplete and I have tried to contact them to get them to come back to finish. I have even spoken with the owner and he was supposed to call me back the next day, but I have not heard from him in 2 weeks and no one has come back to finish the job.

Our deck was in pretty bad shape and we knew it was time to replace it. We met with Steve who gave us what we believed was a very fair and honest assessment. He showed great consideration to work within our budget while not compromising in quality. On the morning of the job, his crew was prompt and professional. Steve even showed up personally to work and make sure everything went well, since there were some unique details of our deck, which sits 8ft off the ground on a steeply sloped yard. Even with snow on the ground and more snow threatening to fall, the deck was completed the same day. All of our concerns were addressed, questions answered, and we couldn't be happier with our new deck. We highly recommend this company and we plan to use their services again in the future.

Very well. Steve showed up within a day of my requesting an estimate and was very professional as to what was required.In fact, he noted some previous undone construction that posed a major safety hazard. We came to an agreement quickly as to what I would approve, with no hassles about some other work that I decided to take on myself. I deeply appreciate not being given a hard sell. Jim and Paul came a few weeks later (this weekend actually) and were very courteous and professional. The work took several hours and they were literally working like busy beavers all afternoon at it. The quality of their workmanship was impeccable. Makes me wonder why I hadn't gotten this work done earlier. The next morning, my wife and I were sitting on the porch drinking coffee, admiring the quality of their handiwork. Maryland Deck and Shed may not be the least expensive, but if you want prompt quality work, go to them.

Steve went through design and estimate thoroughly incorporating custom elements Rob led the build team and responded to all questions, including correcting some elements.

Excellent job - great design and workmanship.

Wonderful customer service from start to finish. Steve was able to meet our budget and provide some creative ideas to the design of the deck, which we greatly appreciated. They were also able to accommodate us quickly as our old deck was literally falling off the house. The demo crew came on a Saturday morning and was professional, quick, and tidy. The construction crew showed up on time as scheduled 3 days later, did a fantastic job, and cleaned up after themselves thoroughly. They also took the time to go over cleaning and maintaining the deck with us upon final inspection. The deck looks fantastic! We also asked them to build a new wooden bench for placement under the deck, which they did at a great cost -- and it looks wonderful and matches the new deck. We bid 3 companies for the job. Maryland Deck and Shed came back the most competitive and with the best visual/design options for the price. We couldn't be happier with the deck and would hire this company again without question!

The job seemed to go very well at first. I feel halfway through the job they got a little sloppy not paying attention to the slope of the porch so the rain runs off and does not puddle. The first half of the porch looks great, but when the floor is just past halfway done the water does not drain well. The other thing wrong is the ceiling below the porch that had come loose from leaking over the years was not completely reattached which was part of my contract with them. The part they did reattach was poorly done and is a mess. I have called Maryland Deck & Shed for five weeks now and have been told someone will be out to fix the concerns, but that has not happened. I would never hire this company again if this is the way they handle business. I did not get the kind of job I paid for.

It was a great experience. The work was done on schedule, the crew was very professional and the property was nicely cleaned up upon completion.

It went great from start to finish. We were provided a great many choices of styles, materials and other options. The installation was prompt and professional with no mess. A couple of minor punch list items were handeld quickly and to our total satisfaction. We would defintely use them again and would be very happy to recommend them to friends and family.

I have used MD Deck and Shed previously on my deck. Who knew that they could do handyman and house repair work as well!? And better yet, they could do as well as they do decks and sheds! To me, MD Deck and Shed is a winner all the way around. They do excellent quality work at a great value. I do not worry that I could have gotten a better deal or better work somewhere else. But the biggest reason MD Deck and Shed will continue to get my business....customer service. They are friendly, prompt, professional, take pride in their work (big or small), courteous, and clean.

We were really pleased from the moment we met Randy to the very end of the project. The entire team is really professional, courteous, and very good at communicating on all aspects of the project. Most importantly, what we wanted is exactly what we got - the stairs are in great shape, they look really nice, and the materials we asked for were used. With the winter weather, Randy and his team worked as fast as they could while making sure that everything was installed correctly. When there was an issue with some of the parts, they ordered new parts and installed everything the right way. We really appreciate the high attention to detail. I highly recommend their services and we will be using them again for our front porch project later in the year.

MDS was the third company I contacted for an estimate on my deck replacement. I originally talked to Jim Sarazin, who took tons of notes and sketched out our deck. Soon after, Steve Hessler took over administration of our project, and came out to get more measurements. Based on my conversations with him over the rest of the job, I don't think Jim's notes ever got passed on to Steve. This led to some disappointment on our part as the job progressed, described below. We decided to go with MDS due to a fair price, and I was excited about the Nyloboard decking material, made from recycled carpet fibers. A day or so after I received the contract to sign, I got a call from Steve asking if they could start the next day, because the permit on one of their other jobs had to be revised and his crew needed work. I was a little nervous about starting so soon, but I thought they had a good handle on what I wanted due to my discussions with Jim and his careful notes. I was also excited to be getting the deck finished a few weeks earlier than planned. The first day was all demolition, and getting the hot tub up on trim boards so it could be slid out of the way. The next day all of the decking was done and railings started to go in. The problem was, they were the wrong railings. I had asked Jim for railings with a deck board on top (cap rail), because I was worried about going from an all dark deck and railings to a dark deck with all white railings. I also think the cap rails look really nice. To do this, you need a rectangular top rail instead of the standard t-shaped top rail. When I got home on day two I noticed that the top rail was wrong. The guys were gone for the day, so I called Steve first thing the next morning. Somewhere between switching from Jim to Steve and rushing to get materials ordered, the cap rails got missed. Steve called the supply company and the foreman on site (Rob), and I got a call back an hour or so later. All of a sudden the cap rails had become something MDS did not recommend, that would just become a maintenance issue within a year due to expansion and contraction of the boards. We also would need Azek or similar material for the rail topper, because the Nyloboard is very rough on the edges (fine for the deck floor, but not for the railings). I was really disappointed, and felt a little ganged up on since Steve, Rob, and the supplier were on the phone telling me what a bad idea it was, and how they never recommend installing cap rails. If company preference is not to install cap rails, I should have been warned at the initial consultation with Jim so I would have time to do my own research on the issue. I might have gone with a different railing had I known the cap rail would be such an issue. Instead I was trying to decide on the fly while at work. We ended up keeping the standard white railing, since we didn't want to push MDS into something they didn't recommend. They ended up giving me a $250 credit to cover not doing the cap rails - I am positive that this amount does not include the labor they didn't have to do. So day three saw most of the railings installed, the screens replaced, and the vinyl siding on the screen porch. This was another detail that was different from what I discussed with Jim and Steve. The vinyl siding on the screen porch is white instead of yellow to match the house. I remember Jim warning me that they would not be able to match the yellow exactly, so I know we discussed putting up yellow siding, not white. In the end we thought the white looked good and didn't ask them to change it, but this is another example of communication issues on the job. After that, the remaining work was finishing up the steps and railings, and getting the deck wrap boards in place. At this point we reminded Rob at least twice that the hot tub would need to be leveled as they removed the trim boards holding it off the deck. He agreed that it would get done before they left. At no point in this process was I ever told that the hot tub would be a problem, or that I would need someone else to take care of moving it. I specifically asked this question of every contractor that came out to give us an estimate, because I expected to be told we needed a hot tub specialist. But MDS (and the other contractors who bid the job) agreed to work with the hot tub. It's now four months since MDS left our site, and the hot tub is still not leveled. The deck structure is not level, so just resting on top of the deck boards does not make it level. What really bothers me about this is that they had it up off the deck already, so it would have been relatively easy to get shims under it before taking out the trim boards it was sitting on. Instead they just dropped it on the deck and left. Now we will have to lift it again and risk scratching our new deck in order to get it level and actually put it in use. We also had a few rails with scratches, a couple of them about 1/16th of an inch deep. We marked the sections for them, and they came out to repair the damage. Or so they said. I think they scrubbed a few scuff marks off, but the worst of the scratches are still there. Steve's last email to me said they had taken care of all the punch list items, and ?Hope you enjoy your deck!? This has a pretty final ring to it. I called and emailed several times after MDS left our site, but they did not respond to my last call back in October. They seem to feel the punch list items are complete, but I have scratched railings and an empty hot tub telling me they are not. I cannot recommend taking a chance on MDS based on the unresolved issues with my project, and the lack of interest in resolving them. UPDATE 2/10/2014: I got a call from MDS the same day this review was posted. MDS has since come out and replaced the scratched railings and leveled the hot tub - rework took a couple hours, and they had to come back a second time because they did not have enough railing with them the first trip. We are happy with the final product now that the repairs are finished. I left our overall rating at a B because we were ignored until our complaint went public. We did communicate these issues to the company by email and phone at the end of the job, but did not receive a response until our review went up on this site. We did not get a completion walk-through, but as I mentioned above we did give a list of issues to be resolved, and MDS came out in response. However, that response did not resolve all of the issues, and we sent another email, and left a phone message several days later. We did not get a response to either. We did not get a customer satisfaction survey at the end of the job, otherwise we would have brought these issues up again at that time.