We’re about to build a 12’ X 20’ deck attached to our house in the back yard. We’ve been struggling with selection of a carpenter to do the job. Three fellows have come up and looked at the plans and they all seem qualified. Do you have any tips that may help us narrow this selection down?

There are some usual and obvious steps that you should follow such as checking references (work completed in a timely and professional manner). Take a look at other projects these carpenters have completed. In your selection consider that the low bid is often not the best choice because low bid contractors may cut corners to make up for the lack of funding. You can feel comfortable discarding unusually high estimates which, in turn, leaves those bids that are in the mid range.

Consider the size of the carpenter’s crew. For instance, there is an old carpenter’s adage that says “two carpenters working together can do the work of three working alone”.  For instance, on a project like your deck, a single carpenter may attempt the project, but it would take him considerably longer than the total hours of two tradesmen or a carpenter and a helper working as a team. In every contract you’re paying for the amount of time spent, so the man working alone can cost you more in the end. As well, the work can be inferior because there isn’t that extra set of eyes and arms and legs to make the heavy framing work flow smoothly.

However, there are lots of projects, especially finishing work like cabinets, kitchen and bathroom renovations and interior retrofits that are well suited for one man.  A lot about selecting your contractor relies on using your intuition and the feeling that you and your project really “fit” with a particular person. Be sure to have a fully developed set of drawings with as much detail as you can specify so there is no room for ambiguity between you and your contractor. Contract prices are padded with a worst case contingency, especially in renovation work.  So, a flat rate “contract price” can sometimes cost you more than a good, trustworthy tradesman working by the hour. Do get a written contract defining the scope of work, the fee payment schedule, standards of workmanship expected, and a reasonable timeframe for completion. You’ll find several standard contract forms available at your local building and office supply stores. 

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This article was written by Steven Cannon, a Registered Building Official and partner in Lynch Building Inspection Services Ltd. of Nelson, British Columbia. It originally appeared in The Nelson Express.

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