First State Building & Design

We recently had FSBD replace our existing deck and the job was completed in July 2019. The entire process was smooth and we couldn't be happier. We worked with with Andrew to design the deck. Phil and his crew demolished the old deck and built the new one, exactly to our specifications. Construction Supervisor Joe routinely contacted us throughout the process to insure the job was going well and that we were happy with the work. We've owned a number of houses in 6 different states, had renovation projects in each and FSBD is by far, the best company we've dealt with. We'll definitely use them again for future projects.

I had a section of deck off of a screened in porch that was pulling away from the house and was no longer safe. First State Building & Design came over to asses the damage and give potential options. They were nothing short of professional, kind, and knowledgeable. Upon selecting the route I wanted to take, the team came out to fix everything. We had some weather issues, and everything was communicated perfectly, and the team completed the job in a timely manner. In addition, they also installed new doors to the screened in porch. FSB&D's craftsmanship and pride of work, even on a "little" job, was clear and appreciated. I would highly recommend First State Building & Design to anyone! Thanks FSBD!

FSBD has done an excellent job in building a deck. I love the way they came to our home and looked at the possibilities helped us in making the right choices in choosing everything under our budget. The 3D view of the deck after finalizing the design was a excellent and is similar to the finished product. I have a future requirement of expanding the deck to another level and I am going to call them back when we are ready. Also I am going to recommend them to our friends and family.

We worked with FSBD to create an architect designed porch on the rear of our home. The old deck had to be removed and the new screened porch built to include a green house roof which would continue to allow light into the adjacent rooms. Joe Oaks and his crew were enthusiastic and hard working craftsmen. We recommend them highly!

We hired First State Building Design to build our deck after conducting four interviews. Joe Oakes was incredible, from the very first meeting on through the end of the project. In order to provide a more complete picture of the experience, I'll talk about it in stages: Hiring/Planning The first thing Joe did when he sat down in our first meeting was to ask "What do envision for your deck?"... Maybe an odd question, but we've always envisioned our deck being part of a larger outdoor/backyard relaxation area, so it was the perfect way to start. Joe listened and took notes, asked about materials and the look we wanted, explained the various price points for materials, and showed us samples of each. It was incredibly thorough and professional. It was the MOST professional presentation we received, by far. After we hired Joe and his team, Joe worked closely with us on the blueprints/design, making any adjustments we requested and offering his advice on certain points we hadn't considered (e.g. where to place the stairs). FSBD took care of filing the paperwork and getting the permit. Construction The FSBD team was fast, clean, and efficient when it came time to build the deck. The lumber was delivered promptly and was carefully placed on the side of our house, avoiding any damage (I've heard of other companies haphazardly dropping off supplies). The team had the footers dug and the framing up efficiently and the entire project was finished in just under three days. When it was complete, they cleaned up the entire work area so the only thing there was a brand new deck for us to enjoy. Deck Design/Materials Our deck is built from Azek decking materials, which is, I believe, the new PVC/maintenance-free stuff. It gets direct sunlight, but the heat retention is minimal, so I think you could walk on this barefoot in the middle of the summer (not always the case with composite decking). We have lighting that frames the perimeter of the deck, w/ FSBD installing the light timer adapter near the requisite power outlet. A note about the design... We did not want a deck w/ railing. What Joe and FSBD put together for us was what can easily be called Part One of our deck plan. The "deck with no railing" you see will be joined by a pergola and then eventually by stone planter boxes that frame the perimeter of the deck, providing an end/ridge point. The deck is a 20'x20' square. Overall If it wasn't abundantly clear by now, we highly recommend First State Building Design. Their craftsmanship is impressive, as is their professionalism and attention to detail. We are very happy we hired them and look forward to working with them again in the new future.

Wow...wow..wow! If you are looking for hard working, honest, creative contractors....look no further! First Sate Building Design built our deck and did an amazing job! They were on time every day and answered our questions as we watched the deck being created! They were respectful, met the deadline and our budget. All the staff is very knowledgeable and helped us achieve our goal. Thanks so much to Joe Oakes and the crew...we love our deck!

Replacement of 16 year old wood deck with combination composite and cedar material. Materials were Zuri composite flooring, cedar rails and posts, and black round aluminum balusters. We had read many favorable reviews of Joe Oakes and his team at FSBD. In addition, Joe was recommended as a Zuri installer by Shone Lumber. Joe and his crew did an outstanding job. Joe worked very closely with us in the design and selection of materials. His communication and coordination were exceptional and he responded quickly to any questions that we had during the project. My wife and I tweaked the design during the construction and Joe was very receptive to making changes. He was also very creative in addressing any constraints that we had because of space limitations, etc. We have been very pleased with the new deck, and have received numerous compliments. We highly recommend Joe Oakes and his team.

We engaged the services of FSBD to construct a new 27’x20’ deck made of Azek and Timbertech decking materials. It also included a spiral staircase made by Salter Spiral Staircases. We immediately felt comfortable with Joe at FSBD. Although our conversations included what I’ll call the basics: deck materials, lighting, stairs, schedules, budget etc. they quickly turned to a more technical nature. I was impressed with Joe’s engineering knowledge and felt comfortable that he and his crew would build a quality deck capable of providing enjoyment for decades. Joe thoroughly explained the building process and provided continual updates via email, phone, or text. We communicated throughout the entire project, something I believe to be paramount. He also handled all permits, scheduled inspections, keep with the scope of work, stayed within budget constraints, and honored agreed upon project timelines. He and his crew were also careful to clean up the work area daily, a subtlety that is often overlooked. Joe even did extra work, including cutting stringers and planks for my endless pool stairs, without any supplementary costs. Upon my request, he was able to provide names of trusted contractors he recommended for work outside of his expertise. The craftsmanship and experience of Joe and his team is unmatched. You can expect to get everything you asked for and far more. The attention to detail and pride in their work shines through in my deck project. Regardless of what you have in mind, FSBD will not disappoint. I’d absolutely use FSBD for future projects and would recommend their services without reservation.

We hired Joe and his team to build a ~400 sf deck and add a concrete patio beneath it. Initially everything was great - Joe had all the right answers. While everything was contracted through FSBD, Joe hired a friend to do the concrete work. Joe and his friend assured me they would be done within a week because they were going on vacation over St. Patrick's Day together. I told them not to rush as I would rather have it done right than fast. I came home one day to find the back of my driveway torn off - no one called me and told me. Joe told me it was because the driveway was too thin. He said his friend, a professional in the concrete industry, recognized it, but went over it with his machinery anyway. I also paid an additional $450 to have two colors and a curve added to my patio. The patio just looks dirty now. The yard was left torn up - I had to drag and seed it (after they just threw down seed). Joe said that his friend was very busy with corporate work and this "wasn't like him" to do this type of work. I asked Joe to make it right and leave it looking like something he would want at his house - he came out and powerwashed my driveway and raked the yard around my patio and continued to charge me full price. The drive is cracked, stained and scratched throughout, the patch is weak and shallow, and the patio is just flat out disappointing. I have to have the driveway refinished and the patio re-stained - this should not be necessary based on the price he charged us.

We engaged FSBD to replace a deteriorating deck including the underlying support structure, retaining walls and concrete patio pad. From our first meeting with Joe it was evident that he was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and experienced. Working in conjunction with a hardscape specialist who was responsible for replacing the retaining wall and patio pad (the two worked together successfully on other projects) they coordinated their efforts to keep our project on time and within budget. Joe walked us through the design and engineering requirements to build a three-season room and deck combination to replace our existing deck. In addition, Joe’s advice on decking materials (we used AZEK), railings, stairs, windows, skylights, doors and trim was invaluable. Joe and his crew were very skilled, personable and extremely conscientious. We were particularly impressed with the workmanship of the crew and appreciative that they cleaned up the job site every evening. We recommend FSBD without reservation and would be happy to speak to anyone considering engaging their services. We are very pleased with our new three-season room and deck combination.

We hired FSBD to replace our 2nd story cedar deck that had been destroyed by a fallen tree. We were ready to try a low maintenance product and were pleased to find Zuri decking, but realized that only a few local professionals had experience with the product. We met with Joe, and were convinced he could do the job. We had very high expectations, and Joe and his team met our expectations. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and most importantly, he engaged us in the details of the design and decision-making, which was extremely important to us. Overall, we are delighted with the end product.

We hired FSBD to resurface an existing deck attached to a screened in porch. The old deck was stained and rotting and we chose to use a composite material to refurbish it...replacing railing, stairs and all. FSBD did and amazing job and we are thrilled with the results. Their estimate was reasonable, the start date was hornored, the craftsmen arrived on time, we were updated via email with all information concerning the project and the work was completed when promised.