For three years, Kim Brandenburg and Stephen Younge looked into replacing their old wood deck that was “falling off the house.” From paint that was chipping off to simply wanting a more functional deck, they knew it was time to revitalize the exterior of their home and their outdoor entertaining options. They talked to numerous professionals and homeowners, solicited three bids from ServiceMagic contractors, and eventually they found just the right contractor for the job in Energy Concepts, Inc.
Impressive from Start to Finish
Energy Concepts didn’t give the lowest bid, but Brandenburg knew they were offering the best value. From talking to the project manager, Gary Mancuso, and looking at some of the projects they completed, Brandenburg recounts, “They had the skill set, the design options, and they were just extraordinary professionals. We decided the most important thing was to have a great experience. We’ve had friends who have had all kinds of problems with their projects.” It was a decision she didn’t regret. Besides building an exemplary new deck, the day-to-day professionalism Energy Concepts demonstrated truly impressed Brandenburg. “I trusted them to help guide us to the right decisions on materials and design details,” she says, “And they didn’t disappoint.”
Brandenburg and Seibert look over plans for her new deck addition.
The Project: Materials and Design
The new deck—which included stairs, balusters, metal roofing, and fifteen foot stone pillars—accompanied a new gazebo in the front yard that transformed the home’s curbside appeal. On the second floor, they knocked out a wall and had windows installed fifteen feet wide and six feet high to enhance their already spectacular views of the Front Range prairies. The unqualified success didn’t come easy, though, as Brandenburg remembers. With guidance from Energy Concepts, she decided on an EverGrain wood composite decking that was cheaper than the more popular Trex decking and employed a more realistic grain. Brandenburg loves it. “It’s wonderful to have a deck that won’t require the kind of maintenance the old wood deck demanded. We will never have to paint it, and cleaning it is as simple as hosing it down.”
The outdoor dining area looks out at Brandenburg’s Colorado view.
In an arduous attempt to create the right deck plans, Brandenburg and Younge looked at several books, magazines, and neighboring houses, and talked through several designs. They shared one of their homegrown plans with Mancuso, who suggested they talk to an architect—a move that saved the project, in Brandenburg’s opinion. Catherine Blichfeldt from Sugarbeet Architects introduced pillars, the gazebo, and the huge spanning windows. Working through iterations of sketches enabled the couple to land on the design that made the most sense.
The back of the home before the deck addition.
The home looks completely different with the new deck.
Complex Design Projects
Energy Concepts, Inc. has completed work from the fountains and bathrooms at the Pearl Street Mall to the reconstruction of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, but even residential projects can present their own challenges. The addition of stairs from the deck to a sloped portion of Brandenburg’s yard at a reasonable price required harvesting rocks from the property to build a retaining wall. The EverGrain composite was available in limited dimensions that demanded a nifty piece of problem-solving to fit the architectural plan dimensions and specifications as required by the county permit. Energy Concepts Inc. owner, Tom Seibert, who specializes in custom design/build projects, spent many hours modifying the construction techniques to ensure the highest project standards.
These same logistical hurdles are a common pitfall for homeowners during the hiring process. “Beware of people who specialize in low bids to get in and get the job,” Mancuso warns. “The actual cost may be double what they initially bid. Find someone who will give you an honest number and have the experience to identify hidden logistical costs.”
Whether it’s a new deck, fence, or interior remodel, the same complications that prohibit capable homeowners from doing the job themselves are the same ones that create hidden costs: the source of many homeowners’ frustrations. Knowing the value of a contractor like Energy Concepts may be the greatest asset you possess as a homeowner.
Brandenburg looks out at her yard from her new deck.
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