Archadeck of Kansas City

The project started earlier than expected. The entire process from start to completion was as projected (2 weeks). Steve Folsom and his crew were very professional. All of our questions or concerns were addressed in a timely manner. We were disappointed in the subcontracted roofing company, but our concerns were addressed to our satisfaction. We would highly recommend this company for similar projects.

Archadeck is one of the best companies I have ever dealt with for any construction/remodeling project. Steve Folsom helped design the deck. He was very thorough in explaining all options for construction. He explained things we never even thought of asking about! He spent considerable time with us planning all aspects of the project. Construction went very smoothly. Everything was scheduled. Steve would tell us "the carpenters will be there at 7am" and they were. He'd say "the electricians will be there at 2pm" and they were! He handled all the permitting and arranged for all the inspections. He came over every day to check the workmen and was available at all hours for any questions we had. We made a couple of change requests during construction - no problem. The whole process was amazing. Steve explained how they work. He schedules all the crews for your project. You don't have a situation where the carpenters are waiting on the electricians but the electricians are on another job so the carpenters can't close in the ceiling and all work stops. No, everything is scheduled and everything went like clockwork. All of the workers were professional and friendly. They are very good at their jobs. We were looking at some of the cuts the carpenters made to fit the drink rail around the wall posts - excellent craftmanship. I don't know how they made such accurate cuts! All of the work was cleaned up at the end of every day and our yard was kept very clean during the entire process. We do not have a single complaint. We are so pleased with the work. The porch turned out better than we ever expected - it looks great and feels very solid. I highly recommend this company.

I found another company located in our area on Angies List with an "A" rating and was very pleased with their work.

Steve Folsom and his folks built a screened in porch for us several years ago...He did a great job. Recently, after 7 years we noticed some movement on the porch. Steve and his folks came back after seven years and repaired the issue with no questions asked and no additional cost. This is well past the warranty period. Can't say enough about Steve...He is true professional and gentleman. AAA+ Company to do business with.

I was very happy with them. They were very good. I thought that they were expensive but they made the changes we wanted. I would recommend them.

I was very impressed with Archadeck and wish I could have afforded to use their services. Steve Folsom did the estimate with a high degree of professionalism: on time, courteous, and very well versed in everything I needed to know. The winning bid was much lower, and so I did not go with Archadeck.

Steve, Thomas and the rest of the crew were great! The project started with Steve carefully listening to our desires and offering helpful suggestions and choices to fill our needs. There was never any pressure. Steve always returned our phone calls and emails promptly. He kept us informed as the estimated start date approached. On the first construction day, Steve outlined the schedule for the week and everything went exactly as he described. He visited the site daily. The crew of Thomas, Jeff and Luke were fantastic. They arrived on site promptly every day and worked a full day. Whenever we asked a question, they always took the time to give us a complete and thoughtful answer. Several times, a choice needed to be made on a construction detail. They would carefully explain the issue and give us the pros and cons of each option. We were very impressed with the quality of the work. There were no surprises on this project. I would definitely hire this company again.

Contacted them through their website. They did not reply.

Their professionalism is top notch. They were there when they said they would be and finished on time. Their level of professionalism is top notch. Their prices are competitive with other reasonable bids. I would say their quality and attention to detail is the best I have seen. If you want the best in town, call archadeck!

Steve and his company were absolutely fantastic. He gave us suggestions in the beginning and really made the options easy to understand. Our number one concern was that this new deck be built to code and that it be completely safe and sturdy as it is fairly high off the ground. We were made comfortable that the new deck would definitely be safe, sturdy and attractive. We were given a tentative start date of about two months out and despite a really wet spring and early summer, construction began within that time frame. Ours was a small project but we felt it was given as much attention as a larger one. The crew arrived on time each day and they were very pleasant to be around. The old deck was taken away within a day and no mess was left behind. How refreshing to have a home improvement project go well with no surprises!

Steve & Thomas were a pleasure to work with. The porch turned out AMAZING! We are very pleased. They were always here to start work right away in the morning and cleaned up after themselves before they left every day. Before the project started, Steve spent quite a bit of time with us discussing different ideas to make sure we were getting exactly what we wanted. There are many, many options when it comes to building a porch, and Steve was very well educated in all of the different features that could be added. Thomas peformed all of the carpentry work, mostly by himself. Even my neighbors were amazed at how quickly he was able to get the porch up, considering the high level of quality close attention to detail. It's very obvious they have a lot of experience and take pride in their work. If you want high quality without the hassle of worry during the project, Archadeck is the company to go with. You get what you pay for. They are a custom porch & deck builder, they do not build from kits. Everything is done from scratch from the ground up, and it's built exactly the way you want it, with any features you ask for. The quality of their work is top notch, and they ask a fair price for the quality of work and professionalism they bring to the table. I highly recommend Archadeck for any deck or porch project. I would definitely hire them again. We couldn't be happier with our new porch.

Very well, they actually started the job a week or two ahead of schedule. Steve and his crew arrived first thing on Monday morning. By the end of the first day the old deck was torn off and they were pouring footings for the new deck. They had a dumpster placed in my driveway for the week which allowed disposal of the old deck and all the scraps, etc. associated with the new installation. The weather the during installation was far from perfect, it has rained a lot the week before they started the job and rained off and on throughout the week, but the crew (of 3) worked whenever it was not raining. Needless, to say my yard took a beating but it recovered pretty well. They made amazing progress and were done by Friday afternoon. They did have to come back a week or so later to fasten down a coupel strips on the ceiling of the porch which has come loose due to the humidity, but they we back out within a day or so of me calling Steve to let him know of the problem. Archadeck also handled the building permits and expections with the city. We did have a small issue with the handrail but Steve kept on it and had the necessary changes made to the handrail to satisfy the inspector. Update - I experienced difficulty in opening & closing the door on the porch this past summer. I contacted Steve at Archadeck and he came out within a few days and advised that he thought the deck may have settled, made an adjustment to the door to provide a temporary fix until he could get a crew out to fix it. They came back a couple weeks later and determined that the deck had settled due the hot, dry weather, poured a few additional footings to correct the situation and readjusted the door. This was all covered under the warranty. I would still recommend this company, they stand behind their work!!

Overall the project went exceptionally well. I appreciated the patience and team spirit Archadeck workers displayed. When I had questions they stopped work and took time to offer explainations to my understanding satisfaction. Although we paid more than we initially planned for the deck, we are very pleased with our final selection of installers and craftsmanship. We would highly recommend Archadeck to others due to our experience. SEE THE ABOVE COMMENTS TELLING OUR STORY FROM START TO FINISH.

After researching and speaking with contractors about our deck, we realized that Archadeck was the best company for our needs. Owner Steve Folsom understands the importance customer service. He was very knowledgeable about our decking choices and was able to answer all our questions. He checked work progress every day and promptly returned our calls His crew were punctual and neat and also able to answer questions and address our concerns. This was one of the best experiences we have had and highly recommend him to anyone considering remodeling their deck.

Out 21 year old house was built with twin 320 sq ft decks, one over the other. We never used the lower deck because it was too dark, too dirty and too wet. A set of stairs connected the upper deck with the lower. Both decks had been showing signs of rot for some years and had begun to pull away from the house. A word of warning; for our area, cedar should be avoided as a construction material. Use cedar for support posts and joists and you will be replacing your deck again in 10 to 15 years. In selecting a contractor, we took the time to verify that the prospective contractors are licensed in Johnson County, KS. It turns out that many decking contractors are not. We recommend this step to anyone considering a decking project to make sure that someone has independently examined their qualifications to perform major projects. Also, the City of Olathe building inspectors are particularly picky, so getting someone who knows the building code and the way it is interpreted locally is important. After some investigation of deck contractors, we asked Steve Folsom from Archadeck to visit with us to explore the possibilities. As we looked out on the open upper deck from our breakfast nook I told Steve about our dream. We wanted a four season room in place of the upper deck and an open, dry and well lighted deck to replace the existing lower deck. After taking some measurements Steve thought we would have just enough room to start a roof under the second floor windows and slope it out towards the back yard and still have about seven feet of inside height at the shortest portion of the room. Steve explained that the price of structure would vary somewhat depending upon our decisions regarding materials and the scope of finishing we wanted. He also noted that painting, flooring material, lighting fixtures and the cost of windows would not be in his estimate as the cost of those are highly variable depending upon the owner?s taste, preferences and budget limitations. While I think Steve was expecting a one-hour visit that first day, I believe we chewed up more than three hours talking about ideas and fleshing out our ideas. Steve provided the names, addresses and phone numbers and type of work performed for a number of other customers. We spent the weekend and the next few weekdays visiting homeowners, looking first-hand at the quality of work and listening to the homeowner?s experience in working with Steve and his crew. We thank all who allowed us into their homes as we found that that experience built our confidence in trusting Steve with a project we knew was going to be expensive. Steve returned the following week with a basic estimate for the sunroom and lower deck at about $60,000 (without the painting, lights etc). In short, I was pleased that the estimate was in the ballpark of our expectations and allowed us to move forward with the 4-season room. Given the preliminary estimate, we spent another three hours or so with Steve fleshing out the details. Since two of our stucco outside walls would become interior walls for the sunroom we elected to have those walls finished to the same quality as the other two interior walls. We ultimately decided to finish out the 4-season room with a Brazilian hardwood floor and a western red-cedar ceiling. We also elected to move an existing sliding door from the breakfast nook to the far end of the 4-season room where it provided access to the outdoors. After a great deal of discussion with Steve regarding the expense and benefits thereof, we also purchased two Pella exterior French doors to replace the existing sliders (one 9ft wide, one 6 ft wide). In hindsight, we feel that was the correct decision as it allows us the flexibility to close off the 4-season during the summer when it is not in use without worrying about the expense of keeping it cool with interior air conditioning. Steve proposed to leave a 4-ft extension of the upper deck so that I would have a place to keep the grill. The original plan included a set of stairs from the upper to lower deck with an improved design than the original. A bit later, Steve made a suggestion that we eliminate the stairs altogether. If we did that, he could use the extra room to expand the 4-ft stub deck across the length of that side of the sunroom. We liked that idea and eliminated the stairs. A few days later I called Steve and asked him to expand that upper deck about 5 feet further, back to where a chimney ran up the side of the house. He agreed and amended the estimate and plans one more time. Ultimately Steve?s estimate came in at $69,760 and was bumped up solely from our decisions to move to the best available materials and high-end finishing options. After signing the contract we had about four weeks before construction began. During that time we managed to buy some Pella windows at 20% off from Lowe?s. We also purchased the Pella Architect series French doors from Lowe?s under the same sale. We investigated light fixtures at Lowe?s and Home Depot but the on-line reviews suggested the quality of lighting was very spotty. We ended up buying most of our lighting at Wilson?s Lighting with only the six can lights for the lower deck purchased from Lowe?s. We also purchased six ?wet? rated pole lights from an internet source. It took longer than expected to obtain approval from the home-owner?s association; part of this was the routine processing of the application, part of it was the requirement for drawings and blueprints from Steve that took a few weeks to prepare. I appreciate that Steve did what was necessary to satisfy the information needs of the association. Construction began on time, but as the old deck came down, it became apparent that the extent of the rot on the old deck was much deeper than we realized. Underneath our breakfast nook, water had been seeping behind the stucco for a number of years. As the deck came down we realized that the wet rot extended into the basement wall which happened to be our daughter?s bedroom. Steve?s crew constructed the lower deck and laid the decking material and then had to pull off the job until I could get someone out to fix the problem. To Steve?s credit, he stayed within his own level of competency and did not want to tackle something that might have to do with the structural support of the house. Steve beat the bushes on our behalf and was able to recommend a carpenter to fix the problem. Steve showed the flexibility to work through this problem. He pulled the crew off to work on another 1-week project while my carpenter went to work on the wet-rot. After pulling back about 5 ?ft of stucco we found the limit of the rot, and also found that it had not penetrated beyond the 2x4 wall itself. Unfortunately, the timbers in the wall were so rotted that we could crush them in our hands. As it turned out, the carpenter was able to replace all the rotted wood and prepare the wall for stucco in a day and a half. Rain caused some delays for Steve on the other job so a one-week lull became two. Steve?s crew returned as soon as possible and resumed construction. Construction continued smoothly and completed on time. Our home-owner?s association required stucco siding on the new addition. Steve once again made contacts and found an experienced stucco company with an excellent reputation among general contractors and that work was completed without event. We used a painting company that Steve recommended and were quite satisfied with their work. I found very limited information on the internet on how a cedar ceiling should be finished with some recommending a stain. Ultimately, we did not use stain. Instead, I used two coats of Sherwin Williams satin clear coat vanish. That brought out the nice honey colored tone of the wood. Steve also works closely with an electrician. Because of our lighting requirements and the A/C unit installed in the 4-season room we had to have a second breaker panel installed. The electrical work was well coordinated with the base construction. The electricians returned after the painting was complete to install the lights. We also elected to use foam insulation for the 4-season room. In hindsight, that still seems like a very good decision as the 4-season room doesn?t get hot even when the outside temperature is hovering around 100 degrees. The A/C we installed is sufficient to quickly adjust the temperature to our comfort level within about five minutes whenever we want to use the room. The Archadeck crew cleaned up the work area each day. Our crew was Thomas, Hunter and Jeff. The quality of the work is excellent. Since I was home during construction and could observe and ask questions, I can say that assessment applies to both the structural work as well as the finish work. As I write this, we still don?t have the final inspection approval since our local inspector found yet a couple of minor things to fix that for some reason he never bothered to comment on in his earlier inspections. Steve is working to fix the last details without further cost to us. I highly recommend Steve Folsom and the Archadeck crews to anyone contemplating deck or sunroom work. Given the materials used and the quality of work, this deck / sunroom will likely last as long as the house itself. Final cost of the project: Archadeck -------------------- $69,760 Furniture (4-season only) -- $ 8,696 Windows and doors --------- $ 8,617 Lighting ------------------------- $ 3,774 Flooring ------------------------- $ 3,619 Painting ------------------------- $ 2,800 Stucco --------------------------- $ 1,108 Rot repair & drywall -------- $ 800 Total project cost ------------$99,174

We met with Steve Folsom and contracted the job last December. Because our powerline was to close to our porch and would not meet code for the work we wanted done we had to have it buried. Then came our snowy winter and rainy spring. Once we got through all the snow and rain and got the line taken care of it was April. In the meantime, Steve was constantly in touch and kept us at the head of the list. When the actual work began it was amazing how fast everthing went. The project took about two weeks and the crew couldn't have been more dedicated. (Hats off to Thomas, Hunter, and the rest of the gang.) They started at 7:30 each morning and worked till 5:00 or after. They were as careful as possible with their tools and materials when storing them on our premises. They were also very helpful and eager to please when asked to do something outside the scope of the original plan. Although we loved our screened in porch, we love are "new" room even more. We still have the "feel" of a screened in porch when we open the windows but will be able to enjoy it even longer once the weather gets colder. From Steve to the crew, they are very knowledgable and easy to work with. Both my husband and I couldn't be happier. (As a note, Steve was also very helpful in referring us to an electrician and painting company. Look for my reviews on their work!)

The man who came was very good. He had brought pictures with him. He was very professional and very good. They were just more than what we were expecting. I would rate him high. He was very responsive and came early in fact. I would have used them if money were not an issue.

I hadn't chosen all the details a deck contractor would need to make a fair estimate. He gave me tips on what decisions we needed to make before we could get a realistic estimate, and even though we live outside his work area, he gave me the name and number for someone in our area. If I moved into their area and needed a deck, I would call Archadeck (like Architect).

Steve met with us, showed us many examples and worked with us to design our porch. Steve and crew were outstanding in every aspect from start to finish. Work was done on schedule, on budget, and to the highest possible standards. We had an ideal experience with Archadeck and recommend them without reservation. We LOVE our porch and deck!!!

Member Comments: Amazing. On time, on budget, and beyond our expectations. This project took us over a year to finally decide upon. Initially we rejected Archadeck because the estimate was well above what we expected. After getting several other bids and referrals to "a friend who builds decks on weekends", we came to realize that Steve Folsom was the only person we talked to who fully understood the scope of the project, and who clearly anticipated and planned for everything that would be necessary. So although Archadeck's bid was the highest, we felt comfortable that he had fully disclosed everything up front, and that there would be no surprises. The design was excellent. We had a general concept, but Steve helped us find the right details. We had always wanted to use Ipe, but assumed it would be prohibitively expensive. Steve made it work. His design changes from our original concept made for a significantly improved space. It is just beautiful. Quality of workmanship was beyond our expectations. The work crew led by Thomas and Jeff were phenomenal. Always on time, always courteous, friendly, and respectful, and absolute gentlemen. My wife remarked several times about what good role models they were for our six children during the three weeks they were here. Hard workers, neat, clean, tidy, and attentive to every small detail. Not once did we ever hear so much as a raised voice or angry word. I cannot say enough great things about this work crew. We miss them! (And I assure you I have NEVER said that before about a construction crew of any type.) Quality of work is beyond our wildest expectations. This was the best quality job we have ever experienced. (And we have remodelled just about every corner of this house) If only the rest of our house had been built this well. This deck and Porch will be around long after most of the house is! If I was concerned about the price before hand, I can honestly say, we got more than we paid for. Steve, Thomas, Jeff and their team are the poster children for the ultimate contractor experience!

In short, this was the best home improvement and contractor experience we have ever had. I would highly recommend Archadeck and Steve Folsom for any deck/patio/sunroom project. When we originally called Steve, we knew we wanted a 3-season room, but didn't know any more than that. Steve came out on a Saturday (he is always willing to come when it is convenient for you), and sat down with us to hear our ideas. He then walked through all the various aspects of the project and gave us all of our options (screens or windows, insulation or not, size, decking materials, interior finishes, etc.). When he left, we were very confident in Steve's expertise, and as well as his work ethic and attention to detail. We received the bid a couple days later, followed by 3-D drawings of our house with the new room and deck. We got on Steve's schedule to have the work started about 2 months later (we could have gotten on earlier, in about 3 weeks from bid, but we had to delay due to a scheduled vacation on our end). Steve called us frequently to update us on the timeline, which only varied due to weather (it had been very rainy), and by only a week. Once they got started, the room and deck flew up in record time. You get a dedicated crew with Archadeck and every morning they were on site and working at 7am. AMAZING CREW! Day 1 - footings in. Day - 2 deck mostly up and floor of room up. Day 3 - walls up/deck finished. Day 4 - Roof on. Day 5 - Windows in. And it went on like that. It was a joy to come home everyday and see how much they had completed. They finished the job in less than 3 weeks. This included some extra work we asked them to do on the side, such as replacing all of our house trim with SmartTrim, installing a couple cabinets in our laundry room and putting in a doggie door. The porch and deck are solid as a rock and clearly better constructed than the house itself! Every detail of the work was done to perfection. I'm not exaggerating. There is not one nail out of place. It is superior work and craftsmanship. Steve came by every day to check on the work, answer any questions we had, etc. I have never had the pleasure to work with such an amazingly talented and dedicated contractor and his team. This was a very large project for us, and we could not be more satisfied. Expertise, dedication, craftsmanship, communication, timeliness, value, attention to detail, cleanliness, friendliness, trustworthy - all Grade A. I only wish he did inside work!

Archadeck was the third contractor we had come out to give us an estimate. We requested a bid through their website and they called us the same day to set up an appointment. Dan came out a few days later with his computer to discuss the type of deck we wanted. to build. I had done some research and decided that we were going to use Ipe, a tropical hardwood. Dan showed us some photos of Ipe decks they had done in the area and they were beautiful. He asked about the shape of the deck we wanted and we assumed we would just build a rectangular deck. He said we could do that, but it won't be very eye catching and it wouldn't cost more to put some styling into the deck. I think one of the things we liked best about Dan and Steve is they wanted to make the most appealing deck possible and made a number of suggestions about ways to add beauty to the deck. Some of the suggestions we followed and others we didn't, but they were never pushy about anything, they simply wanted us to know what options were available. We considered building lights into the deck but ultimately decided against it. Dan and Steve's estimate was in line with the other two estimates we received and we felt most comfortable with them, so we decided to have them build our deck. The start date for the deck was pushed back by about 10 days due to the heavy rain in early may. We had a two or three man crew of master carpenters working on our deck daily for about 2 weeks. Steve and Dan visited the site daily to check on progress and discuss any problems with us. Everything went very smoothly. The carpenters showed up every morning at 7 and were working until about 5pm. They were very respectful and entertaining for our 3 year-old son. They didn't swear or smoke on-site. They finished the deck on time and removed all of their equipment, leaving minimal damage to the landscaping and grass. They did cut one of the spinkler lines, but they weren't marked and it was easy to have fixed. Steve gave us the name of a company he recommended for sealing and staining. Overall the process was very smooth and we couldn't have asked for a better deck.

We asked for a bid for a screened in porch and adjoining deck or patio. Dan Hall handled the estimate, design and overall coordination of the project and was a pleasure to work with. He met with us several times to discuss our needs and develop a custom design that met our goals and budget. We felt comfortable with Dan from the very start and his willingness to work with us on the design prior to us committing a deposit was a surprise and delight - and was probably one of the greatest deciding factors in selecting Archadeck. They provided dozens of references and even allowed us to go see a few of them. In the final design we opted to forgo the deck/patio to keep the cost of the project within our budget. The project was set to begin the first week in October and we had hoped it would be complete in time for Thanksgiving. A few weeks prior our start date Dan alerted us to a city zoning restriction that would require us to request a variance. This set us back several weeks and was a disappointment, but until our design was finalized there was no way for Archadeck to know that this would have been an issue. They handled communication on this very well. On Nov. 19th the zoning board approved our request and Dan and team started work on our project the very next day. Steve Folsom, Archadeck's principal owner, was directly involved in the oversight and management of the project from the first day of demolition and construction. Like Dan he was a consummate professional and was great to work with. Their 3-man crew led by Thomas was an impressive group of guys. They were a very clean cut group and were extremely courteous and professional. They arrived at 7:30am every day and always kept us informed about what they would be working on and what we could expect next. They always cleaned up prior to leaving. After a while we truly enjoyed having them around and were impressed with the quality of work that they did and how they handled themselves. Steve managed the final details of the project including the completion of the tile work and finishing up the final interior and exterior trim. The project was complete within the 3-week time estimate that they provided initially. We could not be happier with the final product. Between the sliding doors, cedar walls and ceiling and slate tile floor we absolutely love our screened in porch and look forward to enjoying it for years to come. Archadeck does great work and provides excellent customer service.

Dan came to our house and we discussed our needs and various options that we were considering. He went back and prepared several designs on the computer and came back to review with us. We chose one design and requested several changes, which he incorporated. He showed us samples of all the materials we were considering, and provided us with a long list of previous customers that we could contact for recommendations. We did go and see two decks, which was very helpful. We had some specific ideas about going with non-wood railings, and Dan was able to show us a number of options. We were very satisfied in Archadeck's willingness to explore options to satisfy our needs; for example, we needed a gate at the top of the deck stairs that would match the railings and help keep our dogs on the deck. After the old deck was removed, the local Archadeck franchise owner visited the job site with Dan to finalize some of the engineering aspects. We have a tree growing up through the deck, and had requested an extra set of supports for the deck. The entire project was accomplished by one lead carpenter and one assistant. We really appreciated knowing who was doing the job, and once we had discussed something there was never any question of it being passed on to someone else. The workmanship was excellent all the way through the project, and the crew was friendly and considerate. We selected a composite product that is tongue-and-groove and has no visible fasteners. The crew worked hard to make sure the few joints that were necessary were placed randomly and are hardly noticeable. The finished result is beautiful. I can't say enough good things about the quality of the service and workmanship provided by Archadeck. Everything we requested was followed-up and the result is a deck we are very proud of and are enjoying very much. I told them some things I was going to be picky about, and they responded well and made sure those things were done well. Dan Hall has made numerous trips to our house before, during and after completion of the deck to respond to our questions and follow-through on everything they promised. The price of the deck seemed high to us, but we knew that when we signed the contract. There were no surprises later. We did not get any competing bids. There is always someone willing to do a job for less, but you usually get what you pay for one way or the other. I know that we received top quality service, top quality product, and top quality workmanship and we were willing to pay for that. We scheduled this job in the early spring so that it would be completed before we had to leave town on a trip. The start of the job was delayed due to several rainy days. The job was almost complete when we left town, and we had total confidence in letting them complete the job and clean up while we were gone. Did I say we love our new deck? We would definitely recommend Archadeck.

Although I was happy for the information over the phone, I was disappointed that a company would have a project minimum policy such as this, and think it is important to share with others as you do your research.