"Excellent! Great job restoring wood deck floors, 3 sets of stairs, built in benches and railings. Mark did a great job. His assistant Phyllis was awesome. Joanna is friendly and quote was fair and reasonable. Completed quickly and removed all old wood. Will definitely call for future projects."
"Matt is fantastic! I hired him to do some carpentry work. I know nothing about such things, and he made sure to explain everything—what he recommended, different things he could do, why he was doing certain things—and he included me in every step of the process. In addition, he is very responsive and communicates really well and PROMPTLY! He takes his work seriously, and it shows. I’ll definitely be hiring him again, and I highly recommend him!"
"Jesse and his team were fantastic to work with! Our deck needed some repair work for safety and then a full refinish and new stain, and our deck now looks brand new. They were quick to get us scheduled and charged a reasonable price for all the work. They also were great with keeping us updated if there were any scheduling changes. We would definitely work with them again!"
"Paul got our deck done very quickly and very well. He followed up with a visit to make sure it looked good after it dried, and touched it up to make it perfect."
"Job was completed in 1 day and could not be more pleased. They had me the customer in mind and were very reasonable with quote. They went beyond my expectations. The crew was very able and professional. I would recommend custom exteriors for any carpentry work needed. Very pleased."
"Matt and his crew were excellent to work with. They took an older, damaged deck and made it look new again. Went above and beyond the original bid. Even built a custom door to match the deck. Highly recommended."
"Brian did a fantastic job. Immediately understood I wanted an easy quick fix. Had two other bids who wanted to do major rework to the deck despite me telling them I just wanted it leveled out as much as we could without it turning into a big job. Was quick and cleaned up after. Good price. Will work with him for all future exterior projects."
"Brian did such an amazing job! We hired him on two occasions. The first was to install a faucet in our new home and about a year later Brian helped us install an in-wall AC unit in our sunroom after our original one died unexpectedly. He showed up on time, is reasonably priced and seems very knowledgeable and experienced in home improvement and maintenance issues. He also has a great attitude. Would definitely use him again and you should too!"
"Overall good experience. Worked directly with the General Contractor, he was able to work around my schedule and ensure that all subs completed their work to our standard the first time! Upfront pricing, honest and provided flexibility in price. For example, I wanted to have my own painter. Additionally I purchased my own vanity and shower. He provided just a labor quote. Iâ ve already recommended to two friends!"
Yes, using certified lumber and engineered wood products for reduced environmental impact.
Installing a tongue-and-groove wall requires similar techniques to those associated with installing shiplap. However, because of the precision necessary to make each board fit perfectly and the increased material prices, the cost is higher than that of shiplap installations. Expect to spend between $2 and $6 more per square foot for tongue-and-groove walls versus shiplap ones.
Most of the time, you’ll want to use screws on your subfloor rather than nails. Nails can actually weaken plywood, whereas screws can easily penetrate without damage. They also form a more secure connection because of their shape, preventing squeaky floors and tightly holding the subfloor in place. That said, some contractors do prefer nails depending on the type of floor covering because they allow for more flexibility.
When deciding if you should use 2x6 or 2x8 deck joists, consider the size of the deck, joist spacing, and materials. Larger decks, larger-spaced joists, and weaker wood all require more support, meaning they need larger joists. For example, 2x8 redwood joists spaced 16 inches apart can only safely span up to 10 feet and 7 inches. On the other hand, 2x10 southern pine joists spaced 12 inches apart can be as big as 16 feet and 2 inches. If you aren’t sure what size joist is best for your project, speak with your deck builder.
Joists do distribute their load to beams, but they don’t sit on top of the beams. Instead, home builders nail or screw the joists directly to the beams such that the end of the joist butts up against the edge of the beam. Beams can sit on other beams for support, but you’ll never see a joist sitting on top of a beam or another joist.
The Arnold, MO homeowners’ guide to carpentry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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When you’re tackling a project or hiring a contractor, it’s helpful to know key carpentry terms. From end grain to dovetail joints, here’s a complete list.
While both can perform most carpentry work required for house projects, the major difference between a journeyperson vs. a master carpenter is their years of experience.