Top-rated deck maintenance specialists.

Get matched with top deck maintenance specialists in Dunkirk, IN

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your deck maintenance project in Dunkirk, IN?

Select your specific project to find the pro for you.

Find Deck maintenance specialists in Dunkirk

Avatar for Maximus General Contracting LLC
Maximus General Contracting LLC
4.4(
135
)

Serving Dunkirk, IN and surrounding areas

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Eric and his people are very professional.  Eric is very nice and promptly to our request.  He fixed our roof on last Saturday since it was raining on Sunday. He also gave us good advice about our roof maintenance.  The fixing price he gave is very reasonable.  We will definitely use him when we replace our roof next time and recommend him to our friends as well.
"
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Avatar for Legacy Window & Door LLC
Legacy Window & Door LLC
4.1(
151
)

Serving Dunkirk, IN and surrounding areas

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"After receiving a few other estimates on a sunroom addition plus a screened in porch, we decided to go with Legacy Windows. Mark’s estimate was in the middle of the other estimates and he offered much more flexibility than the other companies we spoke to in terms of customization. He is a great salesman with previous marketing experience. We signed our contract on April 10th. We were told that Mark and his crew were finishing a room and would be able to start in 2-3 weeks with a timeframe of 6-8 weeks for completion of our room addition project. The budget and timeframe worked well for us, so we decided to add replacement windows for the rest of our house (11 windows total). Several weeks went by and our project had not yet started so we followed up with Mark. We were told that there were issues with his current project (did not pass inspection) and it would push our start date back due to the workmanship repairs. During this time period before any work began on our project we would communicate often with Mark to check on the status of our project. The really frustrating thing about working with Mark is his inability to fulfill commitments he would make to us in regards to project timing and when things would be done. Our primary communication with him was via text messages and time after time he would tell us, “we should be starting next week” or “we are going to be making up for lost time quickly” and time would pass and it just wouldn’t happen. Work on our project began when our existing windows were replaced in early June. The foundation for the expansion was finally started in late June and framing started in early July (roughly 3 months after signing the contract). The first crew completed the framing, hired the shingles out, installed some of the cedar siding, and installed one wall of windows. We were seeing decent progress after having such a long wait in the beginning, all the while the commitment issue just kept popping up. We would get a text saying something like, “going to be at the house tomorrow with some stone samples” and he wouldn’t show up. It was annoying, but progress was being made and we were happy with how the expansion was taking shape so we were willing to overlook it. Sometime toward the beginning of August (roughly 4 months after signing the contract), work just stopped. Again, when we would reach out to Mark asking about the status of our project we would be told, “I’ll have an action plan later this afternoon” or “we want to get everything we done we can this week” or “the crew will be there tomorrow and we will be working all week on your project trying to finish”. In the meantime, nothing would be done and we would repeat the process. This went on for over 3 weeks, during this time there was absolutely no work done. Large piles of construction trash and building materials sat in our yard during this time. A great deal of the usable wood began to warp and I am sure that ultimately materials had to be tossed from being left in the elements for so long. After a couple weeks I finally moved a significant portion of the usable wood up onto the deck so it would at least be partially protected. We found out that there was an issue with the electrical and Mark had decided to let Crew #1 go as they were not meeting his expectations, but it was not communicated to us until the end of the over 3 week period. A second crew then arrived who Mark said usually only did work for him on the south side of Indy (we live in Lebanon), but he wanted to get our project back on track. There seemed to be little to no communication between the crew and Mark on what they were supposed to work on so we had to explain to them what was in the contract to be completed. Crew #2 also started making good progress, they finished the cedar siding, got the rest of the windows installed in the sunroom as well as installing the sunroom ceiling. About this time, which was at the beginning of September we had a separate crew come out to do the drywall. Mark recommended them very highly. As it turned out, the drywall was not properly installed or insulated (in some walls there was no insulation), and ultimately it had to be taken down and redone by Crew #2. Crew #2 seemed to be doing a really good job and we were quite pleased with their progress and the quality of work they were doing for us. They were replaced by Crew #3 sometime in mid-September. We were never told why they were replaced, but Crew #3 was much closer to where we lived so I assume that had something to do with it. Much like when Crew #2 started, there seemed to be little communication between Crew #3 and Mark on what they were supposed to work on. So we again had to explain what was in the contract to be completed. All through the process, the commitment issues mentioned previously continued. We were not as happy with the quality of the work done by Crew #3 as we had been by Crew #2 (or even Crew #1), but they did finally complete for the project for us and after (3) failed attempts we finally received a pass from the building inspector on his final inspection. When Crew #3 decided they were finished they never came back, we communicated multiple times with Mark about the remaining punch list items to no avail and ultimately decided to finish most of the small punch list items ourselves instead of waiting any longer for them to finish (clean up, sanding / finishing drywall, etc.). We love the way the sunroom and covered porch area turned out. From contract signing until the end it took a little over six months, but in Mark’s defense he did agree to let us add a brand new window in the dining room of our house to tie everything together at no cost to us as appreciation for our patience. There are things that we liked about Mark’s company and things we didn’t, I have tried to summarize each category as follows: Positives • Price seemed reasonable • It is truly a custom build, no problem with changes we had at any point • Love the way it turned out, looks amazing • Mark seemed to genuinely care about the quality of the product he was delivering to us (he replaced the cedar shakes that had been installed by Crew #1 because he wasn’t happy with the quality Negatives • Our project seldom felt like it was a priority, part of the reason it took so long was because they were over committed on other projects • Commitment Issues (addressed previously) • Construction Trash left in our yard for months • We cleaned up inside more than they did, I understand drywall work is messy. They never swept up any of the dust and they didn’t clean up any of the clumps of dried drywall mud all over the floor. • We finished some of the minor punch list items, just to be done."
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+70

Recommended by84%of homeowners
Colors of Distinction
5.0(
4
)

Serving Dunkirk, IN and surrounding areas

In business since 1999

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"First Thad helped me to determine which roofing product I wanted. I thought I wanted metal, but Thad showed me that metal was too expensive and not appropriate for the pitch of my roof. We went with a lifetime guarantee energy-star-rated asphalt shingle instead.
Thad presented a clear and detailed price quote. He stuck to this quote, except for extra work which was required because of damage found. He charged me for the extra work at an hourly rate.
Because of the low pitch of my roof and shoddy workmanship when the house was built, Mike and Thad found extensive damage under the old shingles. There were rotten truss tails, rotten decking, and rafters that weren't nailed in place, as well as misalignment caused by one part of the house settling. The ideal solution would have been to tear off all trusses and start over, but I could not have afforded that. Mike and Thad applied their carpentry skills to anchor rafters, to shim bowed trusses, and to fasten new wood on either side of rotted trusses, cutting the new wood to just the right angle.
If you are a looking for a person to do a fast and dirty roof job (say for a property you're going to sell), do not hire Thad. If you want a roof on a building that you plan to keep for a long time, then I highly recommend Thad. He is a perfectionist. He ignored no problem, but for each one either got me up on the roof to see or showed me a photo, and then described options for fixing the problem. I feel very confident that my roof is now solid and sound and will last for years. I most definitely would hire Thad again.
About the snow retention system on my parents' roof, Thad put many hours of research into finding the best product. The installation happened without a hitch and the price was as quoted.

"
Recommended by100%of homeowners
So Clean Exterior Cleaning
5.0(
2
)

Serving Dunkirk, IN and surrounding areas

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I've never seen a small business owner do a better job. The price was absolutely reasonable. The most impressive part? He took great care to shield my landscaping from the wash so it wouldn't be ruined! I encourage anyone in need of their homes, roofs, decks washed, give them a try! You WON'T be disappointed. Owner is great to work with and did a free estimate!"
Small Barn
Small Barn
Small Barn
Small Barn
Small Barn

+55

Recommended by100%of homeowners
Showing 1-10 of 32
Deck Maintenance questions, answered by experts

The best direction for a gate to swing depends on its location and purpose, but swinging inward is the general rule. An inward swing is often considered safer, prevents the gate from opening into public spaces like a sidewalk, and may be required by local building codes.

There are exceptions and specific considerations. If your property is on a slope, an inward swing might not be possible. For a deck gate, it's safest to have it swing away from any steps. In a backyard, the direction can be a matter of preference, though an inward swing can be helpful when carrying heavy items like a wheelbarrow into a garden.

Regardless of direction, ensure the gate can open fully without hitting any objects or blocking spaces. While an inward swing is standard, a gate that can swing both in and out offers the most flexibility if your setup allows for it.

Footings for ground-level decks need to be at least 12 inches deep, and some areas require them to be even deeper. A standard range for deck footings is anywhere from 12 to 48 inches. The minimum footing depth is determined by an area’s frost line and soil conditions. If you’re unsure how deep to install deck footings, check local building codes to find the minimum footing depth in your area. 

Choosing whether your deck should be lighter or darker than your house is a matter of personal preference, as there is no right or wrong answer. However, considering the pros and cons of each can help guide your decision. Darker colors are often chosen because they show less dirt, footprints, and marks from daily wear, making them easier to keep clean. On the other hand, lighter deck colors tend to stay cooler in the summer. From a design perspective, using a deck color that contrasts with your home's exterior can help make the deck a more defined and distinct feature. Consulting color theory can also make the process of choosing a complementary house and deck color combination easier.

Many people say the best composite decking is Trex, TimberTech, or Fiberon. These brands have formulated composite deck boards to withstand the elements and hold up over time. Each offers a range of product lines varying in durability, price, and appearance. Compare their different composite decking offers for cost, looks, and features before deciding on a product.

When sourced responsibly, the most sustainable wood decking options are timber trees like redwood, pine, Douglas fir, Nootka cypress, and Western red cedar. These tree species are fast-growing with low carbon emissions. Plus, most timber woods make durable deck materials because of their resistance to rot and decay over time. 

The Dunkirk, IN homeowners’ guide to deck maintenance services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.