Three Rivers Custom Decks

Great experience from bid to finish.

Three Rivers built a cover for our outdoor patio and we are thrilled with it. Every step of the process was professional and well communicated. The end result is quality. We highly recommend this company and will definitely utilize their expertise again.

Awesome, this is the 2nd time we have used them!

We've had a surprisingly disappointing experience with Three Rivers given the ratings they’ve received here and elsewhere. They were the most expensive of the four bids we sought, but we chose them based on their reviews and because they would utilize poured concrete footers and galvanized metal liners for the integrated planters in our deck plan. Communication at the outset was very good but quickly dwindled once work commenced, and communication is key as we are people with jobs who had to coordinate our schedules to accommodate their work. For example, on just day 2 when we were told the crew would be coming back to complete some demolition work on the existing patio, no one showed up, and when we reached out we were told that the demo contractor's work was completed so they hadn't planned on returning, contradicting what we were told. Nonetheless we were excited to see construction unfold. We were assured that due to the complexity of design, they had assigned their best worker on the job. The crew was honest about not having cut the prior concrete patio sufficiently to meet the original design specs, and to their credit, they were giving us an extra foot of deck width (to sufficiently clear the patio) at no extra cost. That was nice. However, to the plain eye it was clear that the framing of the deck wasn't square (see photos), and when I asked why this was, I was told that there was a deformity/bowing in the concrete foundation of the house that was the cause. Absolute hogwash--the house is a new build, and there's absolutely nothing to suggest the foundation isn't straight or square (again, see photos). And of course they did not offer to rectify it. In retrospect, we should have insisted on it for the money we paid. Even if we pretend the home builders didn’t make the house square (really??), shouldn’t a 5-star decking company be able to easily adjust their construction to compensate?? Despite having their best worker on the job (and though we found him to be a hard worker and very nice person), there were numerous issues with fit and finish (see photos). Fascia corners were too often poorly aligned, and several deck boards were cut too short. There was noticeable bowing of the high-end PVC deck boards despite being assured they wouldn't do this. And both fascia and deck boards and railing cables have come loose in places, which we sought to remedy through a warranty claim. We understand settling happens, but the initial fit and finish was not close to commensurate with the money we paid. During the warranty claim process, I submitted a message with requested photos of the problematic areas on Thursday, June 1. I received a message the following Monday (June 5) that their assigned crew member would be in touch by the end of the week to schedule an on-site evaluation. Fast forward two full weeks to Monday, June 19, and there's been zero communication about the status of our project. I shoot off an email inquiring and receive a reply Thursday, June 22 (three days later), that the crew member's truck had broken down and was getting fixed. Okay, stuff happens, but why was there no communication about this for two weeks until I finally had to reach out? So they set a visit for Wednesday, June 28, between 12-1pm. I say fine, but please have the crew member text my wife on the day of the visit when he has a clearer sense of his ETA, since we have a baby and want to work around his naptimes with as little disturbance as possible. "Will do!" was the emailed response. June 28 comes, and no one arrives, texts, calls, or emails. My wife would have wanted to have gotten the assessment out of the way AS SCHEDULED and be able to run some errands, but she felt compelled to postpone them in case the crew showed up late. By late afternoon I’m fuming, and I send a firm message inquiring about the no-show and making clear that we're not happy with the repeated pattern of poor/lack of communication and outright flakiness. The next day, we're again told that their work trucks broke down and that someone will reach out to us "no later than next week." Trucks again? Really? And no one thought to contact us not to expect their SCHEDULED visit that day? And it is now Saturday, July 8 (i.e., on the other side of “no later than next week”), and we’ve AGAIN received zero contact from the company. Not the crew member, not the main office. No phone call, no email, no text. Nada. We are now forced to use a different company and pay out-of-pocket for something we’ve already paid for and are contractually entitled to to fix the problems that Three Rivers left us with, because we’re done trying to deal with this kind of disregard and slipshod work. If their objective was to shove us in the corner and make us feel like we’re the lowest priority possible, they’ve done an exemplary job. My wife and I are pretty reasonable people. We don't ask for much beyond what we signed on and paid for. Complete the job in a timely fashion and to a standard that corresponds with the degree of our financial investment. We believe in getting what you pay for. But above all, communicate with us. We understand stuff happens--as long as you keep us in the loop and are honest, you will keep our business and remain in good repute. But when you whiff on the majority of those measures (completed reasonably on time, but substandard fit/finish, dubious responses to our reasonable inquiries, horrendously poor communication, and generally crap customer service), we feel duty-bound to share our experience with others who might also want to ensure that their hard-earned money is invested wisely. I won’t tell people to avoid doing business with this company, but my guess is few of you are game for paying a pretty penny for this kind of product and customer service. Consider an outfit with trucks that don’t break down all the time, at the very least. I wished we were making all this up, but the photos and email strings unfortunately prove we’re not. We’ve given Three Rivers more than enough chances to make things right, and they’ve whiffed every single time.

Our 35 year old cedar decks, one first floor and one second floor, needed to be replaced. The lower deck was covered by a roof and included a built-in hot tub. The upper deck was smaller and in much worse shape. We had several companies come out and give us bids. Three Rivers Custom Decks was by far the easiest company to deal with and actually offered us the lowest price. Everyone at Three Rivers we worked with were honest and reliable. They worked with us through several iterations of our plan with quick turnaround. The 3-person team spent 2 weeks demolishing the decks, including removing the hot tub, and building the new decks. They were very experienced and did great work. They showed up on time every day and worked hard. The resulting Trex Transcend composite decks with aluminum railings, over 700 sq feet, are beautiful and we are very satisfied. We would recommend Three Rivers Custom Decks to anyone.

Three Rivers removed our old, decaying, multi-level cedar decks (1345 sq ft) and replaced with beautiful, low-maintenance Trex composite decking with contrasting trim and Alumarail railing. Very nice work throughout! We really appreciate the attention to detail, such as the perfect picture framing and mitered railing end caps. The pressure-treated Doug Fir framing, with 6" main posts and concrete footers, is a definite improvement. Using beefy main beams allowed them to reduce the clutter under the stairs, improving the view and traffic pattern underneath. Clever! Thanks, Matt, Pancho and crew for a great job! All in all, a great upgrade to modern materials that maintains the character of our older home.

I had an appointment scheduled to get a quote on a new deck and fence installation. On the date of the appointment no one showed up or called. I contacted the company, left a message, and got no response. If they were too busy, a phone call would have been fine. As it was, I stayed home and cleared my schedule to meet with them and wasted an entire morning. Extremely unprofessional.

This was a great experience, even though it was during a pandemic. They were able to successfully practice social distancing, while going over and above on expectation. Three River Decking was able to make the deck of my dreams into a reality. The deck came in under budget, looks clean, feels sturdy, and has improved the overall look of my house. All of the workers were sincere and I truly appreciate their craftsmanship. 10/10 would recommend Three River Decking on any deck project.

Three Rivers Decks just completed a new deck for our home. They installed Trex decking materials and Alumarail railings. We’d give them six stars if we could. - Their pricing was competitive - The crew leader, Poncho, was a gifted craftsman and supervisor. - The crew, Justin, Caesar, and Carlos, was hard working, professional and highly skilled. - The foundation and framing was built so solidly that we could put hundreds on the deck without a problem. - The railings were lag-bolted into the framing so that it will last decades without problems. - Three Rivers management – Jim and Matt – were excellent communicators and responded very quickly to any questions or concerns. - They didn’t shave any corners or take shortcuts – we got a quality result that will last for decades. As an example, at the end of the project Poncho even very lightly touched up paint on the aluminum railings. I hadn’t even noticed a problem. - They were open to feedback. In fact, they were eager for it and never were defensive. They looked for ways to improve their work processes so as to continually provide for excellence. We’re grateful for their work and happily recommend them to anyone.

The finish product was better that I imagined it would be. The crew was outstanding and very responsive in answering a question and make sure that we were all on the same page. Like I said earlier, it was a complicate job so communication was very important. I would highly recommend them for any job that they're willing to quote.

I was very happy with the professionalism of Three Rivers Custom Decks. There were detailed plans of the constructions, the quote for the project broke out the materials and labor, much nicer that what I received from other companies. The construction went quickly and was well done. I love the solidness and stability of the completed deck. I felt that I received a solid value for work done.

We selected Three Rivers to replace all 3 of our wood decks (two small balconies and larger back deck) with a composite decking. Three Rivers was great to work with start to finish. They made a competitive bid, handled all the permits and paperwork, were very responsive to my many questions throughout the process and they worked tirelessly in through all kinds of weather to complete the project. The decks look fantastic and we are very satisfied with the work and the whole process. We'd hire them again without hesitation.

Three Rivers Custom Decks promptly provided a deck design and quote for our large deck project that included dried in outdoor living below. There was a great deal of attention given to the design with fully wrapped support posts, a staircase with two landings and lights for safety as well as a cedar ceiling with can lights for the below outdoor space. The finished product is so nice that my neighbors had Three Rivers build a similar deck for them. They were reliable and professional throughout the process - I highly recommend them.

Jim, Matt, Chris and crew did a phenomenal job! They each responded to our questions and requests throughout the project quickly and acted on them just as fast. Very impressed with their craftsmanship. In the past with other contractors, we've had to deal with differences in what was considered "in scope," but not this time. I would recommend them to anyone.

Overall we were very pleased with our experience. The process of getting the quote was quick and prompt, and the price point was reasonable. There was quite a delay in getting our project on the books due to a permitting mix up (June to September, if memory serves), however we still wanted to go with Three Rivers based on our initial interactions. Once the permits were secured and a start date was set, the project proceeded smoothly, with no delays. We worked first with Justin and then Dave. Both were great. We had good communication and any questions or concerns were quickly addressed. Ours was a somewhat complicated project in terms of city regulations (row house, specific firewall requirements) but the team was very much on top of it. The final portion of this outdoor project was for us to put in a hardscape (with another company), after which there would be a final inspection. This was done in April, many months after the end of deck construction in October. Still, Jim and Matt were very prompt with their response and the final inspection was arranged in a timely fashion.

We got a number of bids for the project. Jim's bid was one of the highest but in the end we decided to go with three rivers because they were willing to be flexible in terms of timing and the scope of the project. We opted to have them work over the winter. This saved us a bit on cost but also contributed to the project taking significantly longer than expected to complete. However, this was not a huge problem as we weren't planning on using the deck over the winter anyway. The Three Rivers crew was very professional working diligently in the snow and in the rain. The quality of the workmanship is excellent and the end result exceeded our expectations.

We got bids from three deck companies and Three Rivers was the most careful and thoughtful in proposing how to accomplish what we wanted. The other companies focused too much on the money and not enough on the quality. Jim's bid came in mid-range between the two others, but it was also his expertise in assessing the situation that prompted us to choose his company. He also gave us a 5% discount for doing the work in the middle of winter, and we were very happy about that. And unlike the other companies he was not insistent on us paying him ahead of actually starting the work. They started during the last week in February and ended four weeks later. There were a few delays due to weather and the lead worker's family illness but the guys were always responsive to phone calls and questions. Their work and their behavior was professional at all times. Chris, the lead on the job, and Matt, the project manager, walked us through everything, and explained construction problems clearly so that we were satisfied we were getting the best we could. For example, we discussed raising the latticework higher, but Matt explained that they couldn't do that without risking creating a leak in the roof which of course we didn't want. They gave us plenty of opportunity to choose which deck materials and railing materials and delivered samples of different colors multiple times. We chose Timbertech Terrain for the floor boards and Black Sapa picket Rail and railing cap, neither of which require much maintenance. The crew was so efficient and competent I asked them to add on a few other tasks, like building a new gate to the back yard. They did a beautiful job. At one point after the prior support beams had been removed, I saw a metal footing sticking up from the concrete. I told Matt about it and within a day they had cut out that old concrete section, removed the old footing and recemented. I am thrilled with the new deck. It looks beautiful, it is very solidly built and I would use them again for any other outdoor construction project. They honored their bid, and when a few minor things were inadvertently damaged (like the Y connector on my hose bib) they repaired it and absorbed the cost. I am very impressed with their competence and professionalism and also fair financial practices.

Three Rivers just completed the replacement of our 29-year-old wood deck with our new same-sized Trex deck, and we are thrilled with the results. We highly recommend them. From our initial contact with Blanca, through saying goodbye to Ambrose this week, it has been a wonderful experience. Jim’s initial visit to our home set the stage for our expectations and we were not disappointed. We had a few brief contacts with Matt, one with Dave and, of course, we had daily interaction with Chris, Justin and Evis. Without exception, those contacts were positive, direct, respectful, and helpful to us as homeowners. During the actual construction process, Chris took the time to listen to our questions, explain what was happening and respond to any concerns. The whole crew worked well together. They were timely, cooperative, worked diligently and created a beautiful deck. They also did all this during rainy, cold Oregon winter – it even snowed one day, and they still came and worked. Our one disappointment is that it is not currently 78 degrees and sunny, so we will have to wait to have a deck party. :-)

The entire process was excellent. Jim Gates came to give us an estimate for the removal of our existing second story deck and the design and replacement with a new deck. He had a couple of ideas for changing the configuration which was very helpful. We promptly received an estimate from him which we compared to three other vendors. Sent each of them a few questions for clarification. Jim responded in a timely manner and included 8 pages of references. One vendor never replied. The old deck was wood, at least 30 years old, and rotting. We had decided to replace the deck with composite material. My husband had done a lot of research but I did not know anything about the product. We took a trip to Conrad Lumber Company where they had "decks" set up on their lot made up of the material we were going to use. The first person to help us showed me the difference in the various brands of composite material. I told her which one we had selected (TimberTech) and which colors we had chosen (Tigerwood with Mocha picture frame). She took me out to one of the decks which was set up with that product and the same colors. I got a chance to walk on the deck barefooted. When I told her who our contractor was she told us she knew him very well and they supplied his decking material. In fact, she raved about what a great guy Jim was. We talked to a couple of other folks inside and they also knew Jim personally. It confirmed our thoughts that Jim was the contractor we wanted. Next step was to have an engineer come out to develop the plans to needed to be submitted to the county for approval. Again, quick response from the engineer and he gave us some history of the company. Plans were submitted in a timely manner and he kept us updated on the progress with the county. Work started a couple of weeks after the county had approved the plans. The first day the crew was a bit late getting started because of the icy roads. But they called and let us know they were waiting about a mile away until the roads cleared a bit. Our main crew was 3 guys - Chris, Matt and Justin. Others were brought in as needed and included Dave and Mike. Another Matt was the project leader and checked in on progress or issues as needed. The only issue we encountered was a missing piece of railing which was delivered without holding up any work. Along one end of the deck, we requested a privacy screen be built. We did not give the crew or Jim a lot of details, just basics of what we wanted. It came out beautiful. We are very impressed. My husband also requested a ramp at one end of the deck so we could easily pull the firewood cart up on to the deck. Again, some basics were provided and they ramp was completed. It works great - much easier than the step that was there before. The work was scheduled to be completed in 2 to 3 weeks. It took closer to 4 weeks but it was done over Christmas and New Years so that was to be expected. All of the folks who did the work and the folks from Conrad Lumber were professional, courteous, and respectful of our property. Clean up work was excellent. The deck looks amazing!! We could not be happier with the outcome of all aspects of the work. A great big thank you to everyone who was involved!!!

1) Great overall outcome and result. Three River build a wonderful new deck using IPE material and aluminum railing. Quality workmanship and attention to detail. I would strongly recommend them. 2) Quality work and a great owner and construction crew to work with. Jim Gates is a man of integrity and professionalism. He was extremely patient and understanding as we worked through several design iterations to find the design, material choice, and configuration that would need our needs and budget. The construction crew was very professional and easy to work with. 3) Construction timing. Good news and bad news. First the good news ... once construction started the project was completed within Three Rivers time estimates. Now the bad. It took from late June to November to complete the permitting process through Lake Oswego. This was not due to extended delays in the Permit Request submission but in huge delays by the City in processing the Permit and several additional steps that added to the cost and length of the permitting process. This may have been due to a seasonal bottleneck of permit requests and perhaps could have been reduced by an earlier submission. I recommend any potential deck client take this into consideration in planning their project.

Three Rivers responded promptly to my call for an estimate. The estimate arrived by email promptly and was very specific and detailed, complete with drawings, a list of work that would be done and the materials that would be used. We got two other estimates that were vague about what exactly they planned to do to address the problems. Since we had originally planned to do some of the work ourselves, we had originally purchased some materials. Three Rivers looked these over and adjusted the price to use these materials. The others insisted we would have to use materials from their suppliers. Three Rivers got us on their schedule in a timely manner and then showed up every day, despite rainy and very cold weather, and completed the project. They took down the old deck and stairs in less than a day. The difference in the structural support between the old decks and the new is amazing. This is one is built to last and we have the lifetime guarantee to prove it. It is BEAUTIFUL and has so many small touches that make it look so professional that they are too numerous to mention, but the "picture frame" finish around the outside is one I'm particularly fond of. The new railings are no maintenance and beautiful. Every member of the crew was courteous and professional and refused to invade our privacy by "cutting through" the house, even when we urged them to when things would have been easier for them (the access to either deck is not easy, but they took the hard way). The foreman, Dave Rhoades, was careful to consult us if there was any decision that needed to be made, and he always knew the right way to do things. We could not be happier with this work. I'd recommend them to anyone.

The crew that did our deck was incredible. They were meticulous, professional, and answered any questions that I had. They left the jobsite clean, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who asks. When we build our next deck in a different home, we will be hiring this outstanding company again.

This was a huge job and we wanted to be sure we found the right contractor to handle it for us. We couldn't be more pleased with the job Three Rivers did at our home. Dave and his crew were prompt, courteous and did exceptional work. The deck went from being splinter-filled and wobbly to completely updated with Trex. The craftsmanship on cuts and corners as well as the solid foundation makes for a lasting investment. There was one area on the lower deck that was a bit awkward, with the stairs ending about 2' from a post. When I mentioned it, Dave assured me he'd come back post-inspection to make any necessary fixes. One quick email earlier this week and we now have the deck of our dreams and can't wait to entertain. A few words of advice to those getting started with a deck project. Ask to start the permitting process right away after locking in the contract. This process can take a long time and can delay the start of the project. The other thing is to understand that this is a large-scale construction project. There will be a lot of chaos on the property. We weren't sure what state it would be in once construction wrapped up. We were so pleased to see that the final day was all about tidying up the property and getting the deck ready for the walk through. This was by far the largest expenditure we've made on our home but know that the results will last decades and we highly recommend the crew at Three Rivers.

I chose Three Rivers Custom Decks because out of the three contractors that I contacted, they were the most responsive. The only difficulty that I encountered when I accepted their services was for the owner to obtain the services of an engineer to draw up plans for the deck. I went ahead and contacted SW Consulting Engineering whom I had worked with previously and received an excellent engineering plan for a deck ($2500) on a sloped lot. The deck plan called for 9 pipe piles to be driven into the ground to a depth of 15 feet as the original problem with the deck was that it was sliding down the slope. I contracted with The Wall to install the pipe piles ($18000) and hired Columbia Geotechnical (soil engineer) to monitor the installation of the pipe piles ($2200). The Three Rivers Custom Deck crew commenced by using the old deck structure to build the new super structure. During the build, they also replaced siding and plywood underlayment where moisture damage occurred. The final structure is extremely stout (see attached pictures) and according to the soil engineer will add additional support to the home's foundation. I highly recommend Three Rivers Custom Decks for their exceptional quality and efficiency.

Our experience with Three Rivers was amazing. We found out unexpectedly during painting that the structure of our double decks had rotted and both decks needed to be replaced. Of the four bids we got, Three Rivers was the lowest and most comprehensive. Jim even confirmed with our local building department we did not need an engineering stamp on our plans and two other companies had included $5,000 for engineering in their bid that wasn’t needed. Jim and Matt were always responsive by phone and email and everything always happened just how and when they said it would. Justin our deck builder was a 10. He was a great communicator, highly skilled, always prompt, and went above and beyond in so many ways on our project. Our new decks are gorgeous and we couldn’t be happier with their work. If you are thinking of building a deck, get bids but don’t hesitate to choose Three Rivers. You won’t be disappointed!