Spring 2015 Trends in Deck Building: Download our Deck Builder eGuide

Nothing signals spring like the sound of birds chirping, flowers blooming. If you're in a colder climate, watching the snow melt away to green grass can be as exciting as signing your first client. No matter where you live, we can all agree that once spring arrives and temperatures rise, sitting outside on the deck enjoying a cold drink with family is one pastime we never seem to get tired of.  No wonder then why this is the time of year when those potential customers start calling for deck quotes. And today’s customers are savvier than ever.

Whether they're looking for wood or composite, they're definitely going to be well-educated, armed with a plethora of ideas they've likely obtained from helpful planning or idea websites like Houzz or Pinterest.  Ideas are one thing, but turning them into reality can be another.  So, how do you go about convincing your customer that a deck is the best investment for them this spring?  Here’s some information that may be of use to you and your potential customers.

According to Paul Mackie, Manager of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association in an interview printed in US News and World Report, building a deck and an outdoor living space is a wise investment for three reasons:

1. On average, 85% of the total cost of adding a deck or another outdoor living space can be recouped when the home is resold.
2. Because there’s no need for heating, plumbing and electrical work, a deck is a much cheaper investment than having an addition built.
3. Having an outdoor living space makes the home appear larger without adding extra heat and cooling expenses.

While these are some excellent reasons to "say yes to the deck," convincing your customer to BUILD that deck is only half the battle. You also need to convince them that YOU should build their deck - you need to persuade them that you are the right builder to handle their project. So how do you do this? Easy...You have to offer the highest quality deck for the fairest possible price. Come to think of it, maybe that’s not so easy. But the best thing you can offer them is a deck built with integrity and with good quality materials that are not only trendy this spring, but will be around for many, many springs to come.

The SCRAIL ® line of deck fasteners can show you what’s hot this spring and help you with your promise of building a good quality deck with a worthy value. They have many advantages over traditional screws and nails, here are a few:

• BeckDeck ® - A double threaded fastener designed to eliminate the “mushrooming” that occurs when traditional screws are driven into composite materials. The second thread actually pulls the displaced material back into the hole with the SCRAIL® creating a more snug fit and a flat, finished surface.
• InvisiDeck® - This deck fastener system creates a completely smooth finish with no visible fasteners. It is designed to be used with grooved boards and can be adapted for use in non-grooved hardwood or composite materials with the use of BECK’s groove cutter. The clips and SCRAIL® are installed under the deck’s surface and create a tight yet invisible bond.
• Reduced Labor Costs – All of the SCRAIL® deck fasteners can be used with power-driven pneumatic tools. These tools make installation quick and easy and are actually twice as fast as using hand driven bulk screws. This not only saves you labor costs but also ensures you have customers who are happy that you finished their job on time.

Check out our SCRAIL® fasteners in action:

• All SCRAIL® deck fasteners are designed in a way that allows you to remove them, readjust them and reuse them, all without damaging your decking material. This will allow you to deconstruct any portion of the deck to allow for adjustments, repairs, and to ensure a thorough paint job. It can then be put back together without the need for new deck fasteners. This could ultimately save your company a great deal of time and money.

Using SCRAIL® fasteners in deck building can enable you to offer your potential customer a high quality deck they can enjoy for many springs (and summers) to come, at a fair and competitive price.  You can win the job by providing them with the information they need regarding the quality materials you intend to use to help them get the stylish deck they desire.

To learn more about SCRAIL® fasteners, visit our website at www.fascoamerica.com or download our eGuide: Deck Builder eGuide - Convert your Client's Tax Refunds into Bigger and Better Decks