Modernized Exteriors

I recently had the pleasure of working with Modernized Exteriors, and I must say, their craftsmanship is exceptional. They transformed our outdoor space in Everett into a stunning oasis with a composite deck featuring Azek decking and sleek cable railing. The addition of a gazebo and fire pit created the perfect outdoor seating area for entertaining or simply unwinding after a long day. The attention to detail and professionalism of the team at Modernized Exteriors truly exceeded our expectations. We couldn't be happier with the result and highly recommend their services to anyone looking to elevate their outdoor living space.

Modernized Exteriors did a fantastic job with my deck reconstruction, gazebo rebuild, and installation of deck lighting! I selected M.E. from four contractors whom I had contacted. M.E. did two things right in that process. First, they did a phone consultation in order to give a ballpark estimate for my deck. They wanted to do a phone consult before coming out, because potential customers may drop their idea once they hear how expensive a project is going to be. M.E. does not send salespeople out to give estimates; the owners come out themselves. They were guarding their time, and I was impressed by that. The second thing they did right in the bid process was they were the only contractor to show me photos of their previous work. There are some outstanding examples that you can see on their website. I accepted M.E.’s bid, paid a 1/3 deposit, and given a schedule estimate for 6 to 8 weeks. Because of snowy weather in the Seattle area in late December/early January, my project did not actually begin until 10 weeks after my deposit. My project took about two weeks. Homes here in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle are a tight fit – as I put it – and I was a bit impacted by the need for a dumpster in my driveway (for old deck removal – my garage was inaccessible), and the need for a porta-potty for the crew on my curb strip. The inconveniences were well worth it, as my new deck looks spectacular! I only gave Modernized Exteriors four stars because I wanted you to read this review. As my project was underway, the crew was identifying additional work items that they deemed necessary in order to do the project correctly. For example, my old deck had a platform for my hot tub, and a wooden gazebo to cover it. We determined due to deterioration of the hot tub platform that the hot tub needed to be moved, and the platform rebuilt. This was an unforeseen need. As well, a considerable amount of soil and debris underneath the old deck needed to be removed, and the undergirding frame rebuilt. Perhaps naively, I was verbally assenting to these additional work items without inquiring about additional cost. Neither was this information volunteered by the contractor. The upshot is that my project went nearly 28% over the original estimate. By my opinion, exceeding a bid is a problem for one bit reason: The situation becomes indistinguishable from a contractor that deliberately low-balls an estimate in order to win business. I do not believe that went on here, because I could see that the additional work items were not foreseeable when the project was bid. All told, I would have agreed to the additional work even if the original bid had been updated. I value a job done right, and I have every expectation that my deck will last, and be beautiful for decades. The reader will have to decide whether the amount of surprise billing at the conclusion of the project was more the contractor’s fault for not updating the estimate, or mine for not asking about it. Congrats again to Modernized Exteriors for a job well done, and I do definitely recommend their services!