Eric Mortenson Construction

The project went extremely well from the first point of contact until the project was completed. (Actually, Eric even contacted me afterwards to see if I was still happy with the project :) The design of the project was easier than I thought it would be. Eric's vast experience on his past work gave him great insight on what was right for me. He also had many, many pictures on his website, on his IPad and in a portfolio which was extremely helpful. It was great to see all the options that I had. Before the project started, I had a rough idea of what I wanted done - then Eric took my ideas and made it even better! Eric was able to bring samples of the materials so I could see them before ordering. He even took the extra step to bring me bigger samples of the decking so I could make a better decision. The tear out of the old deck went really well and faster than I thought it would. His lead guy, Chris, really knows what he is doing. During the build, the communication was wonderful. I always knew what was going on, when roll-offs would be coming and going (I needed two), when materials would be delivered, and if we would be delayed due to weather. It was such a treat to watch the progress on my deck since Eric's crew are so good at what they do. They were always asking me if I was still liking my decisions and if I wanted anything changed. They also had to do extra work on the siding of my house since the past deck was not installed properly. They also worked on the two paver brick landings on the project (which was not in the original scope of work.). It was amazing that these guys are such Jack of all Trades! I am also extremely please with the LED low voltage lighting package on the deck. It really creates a wonderful ambiance at night (or in the early morning.) I am sure it will be great to have the lighting in the cold, dark days of winter. Eric and his team were always punctual, polite, professional and responsive to my questions. They went above and beyond my expectations and I couldn't be happier with the final outcome. It was a pure joy to have these exceptional craftsmen work their magic on my outdoor living space. It is truly a work of art! Enjoy the pictures and see why I am so happy with the outcome.

Overall great experience, from initial guidance / consultation and quote to final inspection. After speaking with 3 deck contractors we decided hands down Eric was the one we wanted to build our deck. While the first two contractors were very good with their prices and layout ideas, Eric was the one that showed us why he is the best around. He showed us all the small construction details others do not use, and other suggestions we hadn't even considered made him special. Eric strives to go above and beyond your expectations. He and his helper Chris were a joy to work with, were always on time, and considerate to us and the site, taking time to explain things as he went. He was very quick to respond to any e-mails that were sent to him. We found Eric to be priced a little under what we expected to pay which was great considering we feel we have the best built & looking deck in the neighborhood. Eric was also great in explaining how to properly stain our deck & suggested products to ensure the best look & performance in the years to come. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking to build a porch or deck.

The project went exceptionally well; eric and Company completed tihe project within 1 week, it passed the Eden Priarie City Inspector with flying colors and when they left you would have never known they'd been here, with the exception of our beautiful deck. we would like to add that because I was recovering from shoulder surgery Eric and his assisted vounteered to do so additional minor items for us in our home at now charge - what we call "going the extra mile". Many thanks to a job well done.

Everything went well, but I decided to postpone the work.

Met with Eric. He spent approximately 30 -45 minutes surveying and taking measurements. He explained three different types of decking explaining pros and cons of each. We discussed costs, how long we intended to live in the house, maintenance fo the decks, guarantees of decking and his work. He specializes in decks and was familiar with our city and its codes and inspection practices. He provided references. Also got a second quote and the price were almost identical. Eric is very respecftful and patient. He listened to what I was considering, presented options and let me select what I wanted. No time or product pressure. His employees were equally polite and respectful. They arrived on time, worked throught the day. Eric was also here every day. The quality of the materials and work were as advertized. It was obvious that they were craftmen. Would not hesitate using him again.

Eric is a true craftsman and gentleman. He spent as much time before the project and during the project to ensure the resulting piece of art was exactly what we wanted. He was outstanding at talking through the options, with their pros and cons, and allowing us to come to our own conclusion that would leave us thrilled with the results. We could only wish we had some other contractors who showed the same attention to detail as he did throughout the process. The corners all align exactly the way they should. The deck is spot-on level (finally)! The deck feels very secure under foot because he reinforced it well above code in a number of places. Matter of fact, the local building inspector said "A+, Great Job." Eric was right that we would start to view it not as a deck, but an outdoor room. Since it looks so beautiful, we have made much more use of the deck both in daylight and evening. The additional money to add the accent lighting was worth every penny and it looks great at night. It's a subtle accent not something overbearing. Eric said they were a full-service firm and at the start of the project said we wouldn't need to worry about anything. Should anything come up, they would deal with it....not us. He was correct. The cross beams were originally to remain because they looked to be in good shape. Upon further examination, after demolition, he determined we needed to replace all of the cross beams. Most other contractors would have started talking about exceeding scope. Eric said he tries to add something special and unexpected to each job. In our case, it was getting all new cross-beams without an additional charge. He also increased the number of lights above the original contract to ensure they looked the best. His team was as careful with the details and cordial as Eric was. They cleaned up the job site every single day. They arrived on time when they said they would. They worked extremely hard every day they were here, even on some very hot, humid days. We enjoyed having them here for the project. The end result was simply thrilling!

The entire experience with Eric was great. He is driven by customer satisfaction. We spent a lot of time with Eric discussing options, materials, etc. He was outstanding at offering suggestions and different ways to approach the deck, and then letting us make the decision. His attention to detail and craftsmanship is second to none. His passion for high quality construction and creating subtle differences in his product came through in everything did for us. During construction, there were several small things that were outside the scope of the project that Eric just took on and did at no extra cost to us. A couple examples - they added additional supports to a three-season porch because they didn't like the way it had been done by a different contractor and fixed some siding issues. Initially we thought his pricing was too high, but after we met with him and spent a couple hours getting to know what his approach is all about, we decided the price premium was more than worth it. In retrospect, we were more than happy to pay a premium in order to insure a great experience and a get high quality deck. Working with Eric was simply a pleasure - he consistently went above and beyond what I expected.

I would highly recommend Eric Mortenson for any deck project because of his quality work and professionalism. Eric came to our house in June of 2011 and gave an estimate on a Sunday evening and had detailed pictures of his deck projects and porches. Multiple examples of cedar decks and PVC decks were shown and he explained benefits of different products. Work on the deck began at the end of August and took about one week to complete the project. The timelines and estimation of completion were always communicated to us.

Eric and his crew built us a 4 season sun room and wrap around deck. He was the third contractor to give us a bid. We knew immediately that he was the person we wanted to build our sun room and deck. His knowledge of construction, focus to detail, artistic view of the project, and his integrity impressed us right away. There was no pressure. When we were approaching our budget limits, he made suggestions where we could save some money without compromising quality or appearance. He recommended a landscape company to do our retaining wall and cement patio when the one we had chosen came in with a higher than acceptable estimate. We are extremely happy he did. Our landscaping turned out much better than we imagined using the company he suggested. Eric called periodically, before our project started, with new ideas and suggestions. He spent a tremendous amount of time matching our existing siding, soffits, and shingles. He said he wanted the room to look like it had been built at the same time the house, and it does. He said he looked at each project as if he were working on his own home. It was obvious to us that he spent a great deal of time planning every detail of our project. When the construction started, Eric and his crew were here every day around 7 am and stayed until that day?s goal had been met whether it took 8 or 12 plus hours to accomplish. He, Luck, and Dave worked extremely hard each day. They worked in rain and in 100 plus degree heat. They were always considerate of our needs and wishes. Eric frequently asked how we were feeling about the project and if we had any concerns. I work most days out of our home. Eric suggested that I work a couple days in the office when it was going to be noisy and might disrupt my work. He even offered to ?babysit? our dog for a couple days while the tile floor was installed. They cleaned up every day no matter how long they had been there or how late it was. They were, honestly, a joy to have around. We were a little sad when the project was completed and we knew we wouldn?t be seeing them every day. We really got to enjoy their company during the almost 8 week project. The sun room, deck, and patio turned out much better than we could ever have envisioned, all because of Eric?s skill, talent, and artistic view to all his work. We would recommend Eric in a heartbeat.

The inspector arrived on August 25 for the final inspection as I was sitting on my new deck with Eric Mortenson who had completed the deck the day before. We had not seen him drive up but he suddenly appeared at the top of the steps. "I see what I was expecting to see from Picasso," he said. Under my breath I said, "Eric's the DaVinci of decks according to Family Handyman Magazine, not Picasso." He unhesitatingly approved the final project and readily agreed when I commented on the fine workmanship and attention to detail exhibited by Mr. Mortenson's work. He left saying he knew we would get years of enjoyment from our deck. My wife and I could not have been more pleased with this project from our first meeting with Eric to the day of the final inspection. I cannot remember meeting and working with another professional over the past 50 years more personable, credible and worthy of trust than this man. The quality of his work was a bonus. From beginning to end he made recommendations and suggestions with our best interests in mind. He called our attention to an option for black aluminum railings as a means of minimizing maintenance of the deck in the future and adding elegance to our home. He also showed us examples of ambient or accent lightiong that could be incorporated into the cedar posts and stair risers, all for reasons of safety and elegance. The railings and lighting are now a part of our deck and we could not be more pleased. The cedar skirting, all the mitred corners, the subtle overhangs of the deck and trim boards and the flowing, rather than angular, transtions from deck to staircase are all a testament to his craftsmanship. Finally, I want to mention that when the laying of the deck boards and stair treads was complete by his employees (who by the way were also very friendly, personable, punctual and hard-working), Eric asked that one deck board and two stair treads be taken up and replaced because he was not satisfied with their appearance. Work on the project began when Eric said it would and it was done within the time he said it would be. He and his crew worked on our deck everyday until it was done and every workday began at 7 AM. Our property was kept neat and was cleaned up at the end of each day. From beginning to end, including demolition,the creation took eight days. It appears as a work of art, and Eric has made suggestions for our final staining and finishing that will only enhance the final result. And let me mention with great respect and appreciation that Luck, Eric's wife and a joyful woman, was present on the majority of the working days and made a valuable working contribution to the final result and to the atmosphere of the project. Eric is hightly recommended.

Eric built an exquisite cedar deck with a graceful & functional wheelchair ramp in our backyard.(photos attached) The city Inspector was impressed & praised Eric's work, saying, "This is the full nine yards..this is beyond 100%" He walked around and said he knew it would be stable because he inspected the foundation as it was being built. But he hadn't seen the finished deck and said it was just beautiful and liked that the wood was of such high quality. He asked what I paid and when I told him, he said I got a really good deal. He said the wheelchair ramp would satisfy commercial code. I wasn't surprised because I have one friend that is an architect and another that is an engineer. Both expressed concern and advised me the ramp specifications had to be correct or I'd have trouble using the ramp safely. I gave them the dimensions Eric suggested and both agreed that his design was exactly what was needed. I told Eric I'd like him to replace my bedroom window with a sliding glass patio door which would open to a deck with a wheelchair to the backyard. Over the years, I've seen so many wheelchair ramps added to houses that were a real eyesore. I was willing to tolerate a large, akward structure if it meant I could get into my backyard. Eric really listened to my interests and described a deck he thought would be what I wanted.He said it would look really nice. I was surprised and delighted with the finished project. Eric is an excellent builder with an eye for design and attention to detail. The design and the joints and angles on the deck are like what i'm used to seeing in furniture, not an outdoor structure. He took the time to make sure the patio door threshold was smooth for me to use with my mobility scooter...and it is wonderful. Now I have a patio door which opens to a beautiful deck. Eric put accent lights on the deck and a ramp. The ramp to my yard looks like a graceful floating bridge like you see at a nature center. I love it. If you search the internet for "Eric Mortinson handyman" you will find a recent article where Eric is named one of America's Top Handyman and he was called a Handyman Hero.I agree 100%.

This review may sound overly rosy, but my wife and I are so overwhelmingly pleased with the way this project turned out that it is hard not to be enthusiastic. We elicited several bids for our deck overhaul, but the first meeting with Eric set him apart from the other contractors we'd spoken to. We described what we wanted and he was really engaged and interested in how we could get the most out our project. He had a lot of informed opinions about how to design the pergola to give it a balanced look and maximize its usefulness such as installing low voltage lighting and how big the overhang of the pergola should be. It was actually, a really fun meeting. There were a number of peculiar problems to overcome to make our old concrete block of a deck into a thing of beauty in which we could take pride, or at least less shame. We brain stormed a number of innovative solutions ultimately coming up with a great plan that we are now really proud of. We would never have been as glowingly happy about this project as we are now with out Eric lending his expertise and flexibility to this collaborative process. In the end his bid was competitive with other contractors but it was obvious to us that he would be the best to work with. We set a date to begin the project. Eric and his crew showed up right on time every day and were courteous and pleasant to be around and were even cool to our two dogs and three young kids. Eric showed us all the hardware he was using and assured us it was the best fit for the job. He selected only the best wood sending some back if it was warped or damaged. We hit a few snags along the way but Eric and his crew always found a good solution. At one point a 2 foot section of the corner of our concrete deck crumbled off. Eric built a mold and poured in concrete to fix the problem with out ever asking to increase the fee. When a new type of black aluminum grippable stair case railing first became available for sale after our bid, but before the completion of our project he bought it and installed it without mentioning the extra cost he must have incurred. They were careful to clean up the job site at the end of each day, and when they finished the project right on time it totally transformed our back yard and the whole look of our house. Our house is on a corner, and the new deck is really on display. We have gotten many a compliment from passing admirers and have spent more time out there in the past few weeks than we'd ever expected. This has honestly been one of the best contractor experiences we have ever had.

Did not end up selecting for this project, but would not hesitate

My experience with Eric was outstanding from start to finish. I needed to replace a deck railing on a fairly large deck (25' x 25') including several gates and steps. Eric was very thorough during the estimate and had a clear vision of the design and implementation. Eric and his crew were able to start the project the following week. At the end of each day during the project, the workplace was left in perfect condition. I love how the railing turned out. Eric in even threw in a couple of design elements that make the deck look even better.

Fantastic. I found Eric using Angie's list and all of the positive comments I read about him I found to be true. Eric really cares about the work he does, he is not rushed, he listens to what you want and works to make that happen. The deck turned out better than I could have expected. Eric took what was already a large deck that had alot of unusable space and really turned it into a fully functional large deck. He was completely right about the dimensions. I showed Eric an idea for an arbor I was thinking about incorporating into the deck. He took the photos I sent him and really designed something spectacular (see photos). In fact, he told me that the city inspector was so impressed with it he asked Eric for his card which is a very rare event. I have absolutely no hesitation about strongly recommending Eric. He did not employ any hard sales tactics, he provided very good information to allow me to decide what was appropriate. I also appreciated that while Eric and Dave started early in the morning, they really were unintrousive. They were not ringing my front doorbell at 7 in the morning to ask questions, they would wait to see me come out of the house on my way to work to ask questions, if they had any. I also appreciate, being a single woman, that unlike some contractors I have dealt with in the past, Eric treated me as a client and was very respectful of my ideas on the project.

Fantastic, from beginning to end. We interviewed and got estimates from three builders, Eric included. Eric was the only one who brought pictures of previous jobs; it was very helpful for us to have a visual. He gave us lots of suggestions for how we could accomplish what we wanted, and still stay on-budget. He gave us ideas for color combinations, and how they would compliment the color of the house. He even emailed us a few days later with more suggestions: "I've been thinking about your deck, and I have this great idea for the railing..." Out of the three estimates, Eric's was the best price for the best product, so we went with him, and we're so glad we did. Throughout the process he kept us up to date on the progress. If they weren't able to work one day because of the weather, we'd get an email, so we wouldn't be wondering. When it came time to pour the concrete for the bottom landing of the stairs, Eric came over and talked us through our options – we had mentioned to him that eventually we wanted to add a patio, and since our yard has a slope, he wanted to make sure that he put the landing slab at the right elevation. Most other builders would pour the concrete and leave it to us to figure out later. He thought of everything, and always stayed one step ahead. Even with some pretty wet, cold weather, and the deck being fairly large, it was complete within about a week and a half, by the first week in May. We had originally told him that our goal was to have it finished before Memorial Day, but he still apologized for it taking so long because of the weather. We were thrilled that he beat our goal by several weeks! Eric was very careful about the workmanship and the quality of the construction, but also the aesthetics of it. When it was finished he pointed out the tiny details- miters here and there, the railing post fitting the edge board perfectly – the little things that really make for outstanding craftsmanship. The deck is BEAUTIFUL! More than what we could have ever asked for. As we're sitting out there enjoying the sun, neighbors have been yelling across their yards, "Nice deck!" It's great fun. I would not consider hiring anyone else for a job like this. He's our go-to guy.

Eric was great! I'm confident that we would have used him but he suggested we do something different due to the issues with the existing deck. We really appreciated his honesty and concern for his final product being perfect. If we ever decide to redo our deck, I know who we'll call.

This is the best experience i have ever had with any contractor. I was especially impressed for numerous reasons. I had initially chose another contractor (not on angies list) to do this project. That contractor told me it would be ok to pour cement under my deck prior to building as long as I had my locations determined for my footings. To make a long story short, my initial contractor didn't communicate with the inspector adequately and my footings were poured in the wrong locations. At this point i realized i needed someone who was very experienced to help me out and my search on Angies list lead me to ERIC MORTENSON. I am so glad it did!! When i first spoke with eric on the phone he was very professional and said he would like to come out and see the project himself before starting. Because we were nearing the end of the deck building season, eric came out that same evening. He took a while to survey the situation and explained my options. He explained I should have built the deck first and poured the cement underneath later, but that he would be able to help me out. I could tell immediately that he was a PROFESSIONAL. He knew absolutely everything about the finest details of deck building. He knew what things would cost and told me right up front - (None of the i will get back to you on that kind of stuff). He worked through the permits with the city and ended up removing one of the footings and slightly altering the design of the deck (saving me alot of money) in order to save us from removing another. The day Eric and his assistant started building the deck - in a matter of hours the weather turned from a warm fall day to brutal winter. But Eric was determined to get the deck built- and build it he did! The rest of the project was done in below freezing weather and snow nearly every day. Eric and his one assistant (Brian) would show up every day on time and work hard- including shovel the snow on the sidewalk to the deck. Eric s professionalism showed when it came time to install the railing i purchased. It was one of the few he hadn't seen, but he took it as a challenge to get it exactly right even in the bitter cold. The deck looks beautiful! Just look at the photos. Notice the skirt around the outside of the deck to hide the cuts on the cedar. I cant stress enough how Professional Eric is. He is a perfectionist when it comes to building a deck- it is so nice to work with someone who takes that much pride in what they do. We all know people who are at the top of their field because they take pride in what they do. Eric loves to build decks and it shows in the result. Thanks Eric.

Eric is a pleasure to do business with. He recognizes that customer service is an important part of his business and he is very responsive. One thing to keep in mind is that he will ask for feedback so be ready to give it! Even now covered in snow and unusable we enjoy looking out and seeing the structure he built. The snow on the arbor is beautiful.

Overall, the experience was extremely positive. As mentioned in other reports, Eric is very easy to work with and does not try to oversell any features, materials of construction, or design. He listens intently, provides overviews and pros/cons of the different options, and gives guidance/advice but ultimately lets the homeowner make the final choice in a stress free way. Quality of his work is excellent - case in point: the old deck had a rotting wood railing that was embedded into the stucco on the side of my house. He cleanly removed the old wood and made a custom cedar support to align with, and cover, the marks left in the stucco by the old railing. End result was a clean, seamless railing that looks like it was built with the house. Eric stayed on schedule and completed all tasks in the time line allotted even though the removal of the old roof was considerably more involved than he had anticipated (note that he did not charge me one cent more for this). He also fixed the access door to the deck which was difficult to close (again, no up-charge for this). Did an excellent job cleaning up and keeping debris from neighbor's yard. Does the work himself (with assistants), so it's nice having him on site at all times for questions/updates. Pricing was inline (middle to lower end) of estimates I received. I was ambivalent about whether or not to do this project this year but am extremely happy with the outcome and glad I made the choice to go with Eric and complete the project here in 2010.

Eric Mortenson did an outstanding job! His bid was competitive. He started on time and finished as scheduled. He is involved in all phases from design through construction and incorporated a design change which materially improved the deck appearance. He used hand-selected top grade cedar to skirt the entire deck and his detail work is excellent. The city inspector commented he "seldom sees work of this qualitity anymore", the mark of a craftsman. Eric is more interested in customer satisfaction than any worker I've ever hired.

They said the work we needed done was not what they specialized in and they referred us to other people.

It went very well. The new deck looks great and the construction was easy to deal with. Eric consulted me about design details while the project was underway and was great to work with. He cared a lot about the final quality, look, and safety of the deck. I am very pleased with the whole experience.

After getting several deck quotes from other contractors, I called Eric based on a neighbors recommendation. He had a deck built by Eric a few years prior and I really liked how it looked. I had sketched out on graph paper a few designs I was interested in for the deck and Eric came to my home to take a look at them and give me an idea of what he could do. Eric brought a nice photo album of his past work with him which was great, but the best part was that Eric actually drove me to a nearby subdivision where he had built several decks giving me the opportunity to see his work first hand. I could tell right away that this guy was the real deal. Eric was very open to my designs and after some modifications based on his suggestions, we settled on one. Eric started and finished the project within the timeframe he committed to and on budget. I found Eric to be an extremely hard worker who takes a significant amount of pride in the quality of his work. He was very concerned about exceeding my expectations and he absolutely delivered. The attention to detail and frequency of communication was fantastic. I was informed every step of the way and each step of the project was verified with me before being completed. My family has been enjoying the deck all summer and we're looking forward to enjoying it for summers to come. I have had countless comments from friends and neighbors about how nice our deck looks and we owe it all to Eric. Eric was a joy to work with and I would recommend him to anyone looking for top quality craftsmanship in their deck project.

He was very prompt and had a lot of pictures of the work he had done. His workmanship was incredible, but he was five times more expensive than anyone else who came out. He was way more expensive than anything I would spend on a deck.