What's included
The spec, in plain sight.
The price gap between deck builders almost always hides in what you don't see — the footings, the framing, the fasteners. So here it is: what comes standard, what's an optional upgrade, and how a properly built deck compares to a cheap handyman job.
Included as standard
Every Alexander & Sons build gets this.
- Free on-site estimate, and we work with your budget
- Custom design for your yard, grade and how you use the backyard
- An honest wood-versus-composite conversation before anything is ordered
- Properly set footings and solid, well-fastened framing underneath
- Your choice of decking — Trex / composite or pressure-treated wood
- Railings, stairs and clean structural detailing
- A small family crew, working immaculately and on schedule
- Site cleanup and haul-away of the old deck on a rebuild
- Workmanship you can count on, plus registered manufacturer material warranties
Optional upgrades
Add exactly what you want.
- Composite upgrade
- Step up from wood to Trex or another composite line for color, grain and low maintenance.
- Deck lighting
- Integrated deck, step and railing lighting for evenings outside.
- Metal railings
- Black metal balusters and posts for a cleaner, more modern look.
- Custom picnic table
- A matching 6, 8, 10 or 12 foot picnic table to finish the space.
- Built-ins
- Bench seating, planters or storage worked into the design.
- Carpentry add-ons
- Interior built-ins, exterior trim and other carpentry while we’re on site.
Like for like
It's not that we cost more — it's what the cheap option leaves out.
| Feature | Cheap handyman deck | Alexander & Sons wood build | Alexander & Sons composite build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Off a napkin | Custom, drawn to your yard | Custom, drawn to your yard |
| Estimate | Rough number | Free, on-site, budget-first | Free, on-site, budget-first |
| Footings & framing | Minimum, rushed | Set properly, solid & level | Set properly, solid & level |
| Decking | Basic wood | Pressure-treated wood | Trex / composite, low-maintenance |
| Railings | Standard wood | Wood or metal | Composite or metal |
| Finish | Left rough | Clean, immaculate detailing | Clean, immaculate detailing |
| Warranty | Often none | Workmanship + materials | Workmanship + materials |
Comparison against a typical uninspected handyman deck — no competitor named.
Pricing
Every deck is priced for your backyard.
Because every project is custom — the size, the decking material, the framing and the railings all change the number — we don't publish flat prices. Instead we offer a free, no-obligation consultation and come back with a detailed, itemized estimate built around exactly what you want.
Free consultation
No cost to find out.
Talk through your backyard and how you'd use it, and Sean will come out, look at the site, and come back with an estimate — no commitment, no pressure.
Detailed & itemized
You see where the money goes.
You get straight, honest numbers with no hidden extras — the honesty reviewers point to when they say Sean set expectations clearly from the very first conversation.
Want it priced for your backyard?
Every estimate is detailed and itemized, with no hidden extras — the part clients mention most in their reviews.