Quality Honesty and Integrity, What it takes to build a company that lasts 25 years.
In order to stand behind its work, a builder needs to stay in business. Unfortunately, 54% of construction companies fail within 3 just years. By 20 years the number grows to 83.5%. It’s no accident Loudoun Deck and Fence is still going strong 25 years later. To learn why, we decided to sit down with Dan Hutchinson, the company’s founder, to discuss what he’s learned building decks and fences in Loudoun County for two and half decades and how he builds his business and his projects to last.

Brief History of Loudoun Deck & Fence

In 1998, my family and I were living in a townhome and I was working as a school teacher, teaching Spanish and History. In that year my grandfather passed away and left each one of his grandchildren a small amount of money. At the time, we had very little, but I decided to spend my grandfather’s money on a skill saw and a nail gun and the material to build the fence around our small backyard. Our neighbors noticed, liked the quality and asked me to build their fence as well. Soon, in addition to my teaching job, I was working part time building fences. A little later our neighbor showed me the estimate he got from a local company to build his deck and I told him I thought I could do it for half as much. I decided to try it out on my own home first and it went well, so then I built his. Shortly thereafter, a few neighbors and family members took a chance on me and the deck business grew from there. 

I quickly realized that designing and building decks was something I really enjoyed and I possessed a natural talent for. Loudoun Deck and Fence officially got started when I got my contractors license for the business in 1999. As things got going, in 2000 I quit my teaching job and committed to Loudoun Deck and Fence full time. In the early days, we only took on the number of projects I could take on personally, overtime as we found crews we trusted and the number of projects we took on steadily increased.

Over the years, partnerships with national builders  allowed us to really refine our processes, train crews and make the quality of our products consistent and repeatable. Many of those crews and processes are still with us 15 + years later. 

Nowadays, as we continue to build fences and decks, we have become a more widely known name in Loudoun County. We are focusing more and more on our custom deck designs. Planning and building custom decks can be a little more complex and take a little longer. For this reason, we made the conscious choice to focus on delivering the best value solutions to homeowners here in Loudoun instead of trying to become the biggest deck company around.

How has the decking materials changed over the years?
In the late nineties and early 2000s pressure treated wood was the dominant material being used. Composite materials were new and unproven. At first, about 95% of the projects we installed were with pressure treated wood. There was very little composite material being used. 

Now the exact reverse is true, about 95% of the projects we install include at least some composite material. Today the structure of the deck still remains pressure treated wood. The reason for this shift is because composite materials have improved tenfold over the years, and composite materials will continue to improve as time goes on. Composite materials have many benefits over pressure treated wood, read more about those comparisons here. Today we recommend the floor of your deck should be some type of composite material.

Why do we choose to build over code and use better materials than our competitors? 
We want to provide a high quality product that not only looks great, but also feels solid and safe. In the early days I remember someone saying to me, “code is the absolute minimum quality required to get a standing structure.” It was around then that I decided we wouldn’t just build to code, but above code to produce a product that is not just safe, but feels solid and secure. We use a higher standard and our decks and fences have a different feeling of stability and strength because they are, in fact, built differently. 

To build a better deck, you also need better materials. Early on we chose to use higher quality materials in our projects; it is part of what we are known for. Better materials are typically stronger, easier to work with and hold up better in the elements. In the short term, we would make more money using lower quality materials and most homeowners probably wouldn’t know the difference, but we’ve found better materials last longer and give the deck or fence a feeling of quality and comfort we want our company to be known for.

We value a job well done; a higher standard of building code and a higher standard of material allows us to deliver quality and stability on every project. As a result, customers are happier with their decks.

What have we learned about designing decks over the past 25 years?
Design is arguably the most important part of the deck building process. A good design will do several things including save you time, save you money, and create more usable space. Many of our clients come to us because they are unhappy with their existing deck. Typically one of their main problems with their deck is the way that it is laid out. 

Over 25 years we have fixed countless decks in our design meetings. Nearly every day we talk to someone about how their current deck doesn’t work quite right. Within a few minutes with the help of our design software, we can change their design to make everyone happy. We help homeowners develop a design that creates designated zones with intentional pathways to and from the yard and the house and separate spaces for entertainment, grilling, seating, etc. Our experienced deck designers are skilled at laying out a deck so that the client gets more usable space from the same general footprint of their existing deck. This efficiency saves the homeowner time and money. The time invested in laying out your project with an experienced deck designer will save you time, money and a whole lot of headaches over the life of the deck. If our design process interests you, you can read more about our design process here.

Do you have any favorite projects over the years? 
I don’t have a favorite project. My favorite projects are anytime I get to help clients create more effective spaces. I love the thrill of educating my customers and helping them make informed decisions about what type of deck they want to build. With our deck design program the client can see in real time what their deck will look like and I can help them make informed decisions about where and how they want to spend their money based on how they plan to use the space. It is satisfying to fundamentally improve the backyard spaces that we work with. It’s just fun to know that you did a great job and that you delivered on both quality and functionality. 

Why do you think your business has lasted when so many others fail?
I think it comes down to honesty. We strive to keep our prices and our practices fair. We work hard to have great customer service. We want every customer to feel like they have been treated fairly and respectfully. I can’t speak to why other companies fail but I know that is one of the main reasons why my company has been successful. 

Gratitude for our customers and our wonderful employees 
Over the years we have had the pleasure to work with amazing people. We are grateful for the amazing clients who have trusted us with their Deck and Fence projects. I am also grateful for our amazing employees including our incredible installers. They are truly vital to our success. We feel truly blessed.