Deck subcontractor scope and structural handoffs
You need a deck subcontractor who can explain the structure and house connection before selling the walking surface. Compare the support, drainage, and inspection scope first. Ask for close connection photos from work resembling your proposed design.
Specify the entire deck package
For a new deck, identify footings, posts, beams, joists, bracing, house connection or freestanding support, decking, guards, and stairs. AWC’s wood-deck guide covers those structural interfaces. DCA6 guide Use the approved project details to allocate each part of the package.
For a remodel, distinguish resurfacing from replacement of the structure. Ask the responsible designer or qualified project professional to assess retained framing and connections before agreeing to new decking. Mark which parts remain, which are replaced, and who accepts the retained work.
Keep proprietary decking and guard systems tied to their own documentation. AWC DCA6 is based on the 2015 IRC and states design and applicability limits. It does not establish approval in every jurisdiction. AWC limitations Ask the official which details and documents govern your permit.
Resolve the wall interface early
Coordinate concrete footings and framing support before finish work limits access. Assign ledger attachment and water protection with the framing and siding crews. The deck connection deserves a specific review; Simpson Strong-Tie publishes a guide devoted to deck connections and fastening. Connection guide
Give the deck crew and window installer the same threshold elevation. Assign exterior lighting to the electrical trade. Record the final grade and stair landing plan with excavation or landscaping. Arrange coating or painting after damaging access work, and identify who returns for the final punch list.
Establish permit and inspection stages
Raleigh has a dedicated deck, porch, and balcony permit process. Its requirements include project site and structural information. Raleigh deck permitting Check the property’s actual jurisdiction and permit before relying on another town’s process.
Ask the official about footing-before-pour, concealed connection or framing checks, and final stairs and guards. Put the required stages in the crew’s schedule. Name the party who requests inspections and responds to corrections. Keep required connections visible until they receive acceptance.
Check NC credentials separately
G.S. 87-1 ties the $40,000 GC threshold to the undertaking and who contracts for it. It distinguishes work for a licensed GC from work for an unlicensed customer. Ask the board how your contract fits that definition. NC contracting definition Ask the board how Building or Residential scope applies to this undertaking. Classifications
Match the claimed license to the contracting entity. Licensure alone does not establish insurance coverage. Contractor FAQ Request current insurance evidence from the insurer. Obtain the assigned foreman’s name, committed crew, concurrent-job plan, and written callback responsibility before hiring.
Hire for connection details and return work
Ask the assigned foreman to explain the proposed house connection, lateral restraint, post-to-beam detail, and guard attachment. Request the actual footing and framing crew, access equipment, and return visits. Obtain the written workmanship terms and compare them with the product warranties.
Use AWC’s connection, corrosion, guard, and stair topics as review prompts for the approved design. Wood-deck guide Ask for photos of footing preparation, post bases, beam bearing, ledger flashing, hangers, guard-post attachments, and completed stairs. Pair each view with its location and governing detail.
For a callback, record movement, water staining, loose components, or finish damage before choosing a remedy. Refer support and connection concerns to the responsible designer. Avoid treating a resurfaced deck as proof that the retained structure has adequate capacity.
Ask suppliers to quote the specified lumber, connectors, decking, and guard accessories as a coordinated package. Confirm substitutions with the designer or product documentation before the crew installs them. Keep delivery and accepted-change records available for warranty discussions.
Use the trade-handoff checklist to record who accepts the wall connection and releases the next crew.
For deck subs
Show the kinds of structures and products your crew performs. Separate attached decks, freestanding designs, and resurfacing examples. State which engineering, permit, electrical, and finish work belongs to others. Give the builder a written readiness list for footings and the wall connection.
Build your portfolio from the structure outward. Include the connection before concealment, then the finished decking, stairs, and guards. Caption the system and your scope. Keep private customer and property information out of shared images.
For a builder introduction, ask for approved plans, site elevations, selected products, and permit status. Offer a bid that names structural responsibility and inspection return visits. Ask who accepts changes when retained framing or a wall interface differs from the drawings.
To support repeat work, document the handoff to siding, grading, and finishing crews. Keep a contact available for punch work and operation concerns. Request a builder reference about connection coordination and return response. Describe your completed work without claiming that a photo, a product badge, or a guide certifies every possible deck design.
Examples from the field
Illustrative examples, not member stories
Attached deck wall interface (illustrative)
Your attached deck meets a finished exterior wall. Review the approved ledger attachment and water-protection scope with the framing and siding crews before concealment.
Resurfacing with retained framing (illustrative)
You replace the walking surface while retaining the deck structure. Record which members remain and obtain the responsible professional’s assessment before approving the resurfacing scope.
Door and stair landing handoff (illustrative)
Your deck serves an exterior door above a graded yard. Give the deck crew, door installer, and grading crew the same accepted threshold and landing information.
Where Cercha fits
Cercha portfolios can show deck connections and finished projects together. Builders can review builder endorsements and use Messages to ask a member about the proposed structure, product experience, and inspection return visits.