Deck & Patio answering service & AI receptionist
Deck square footage and height off grade price it, and callers give a rough length. Demolished decking leaves as treated lumber under its own arrangement. The measurement sets how much leaves and the class sets where it goes, and the fee needs both.
What the call has to establish
Thanks for calling. What can I help you with?
We want to build out over the slope at the back so we can actually use that space.
How far above the ground would the far edge sit?
It drops away quite a bit. Eight feet at the low end maybe.
Can materials get round the side, or would they come through the house?
There's a side gate. It's narrow though.
Has anyone been to the building department yet?
No. Do we need to?
Is there a date driving this?
My daughter's graduation party in June.
Last thing — what's the address, the best number for you, and when suits?
I'll give you the address now. This number is fine, and sooner is better.
That is everything I need. Someone will come back to you shortly.
What reaches the crew
Collecting quotes, not buying
Composite, pressure-treated and hardwood are three budgets on one drawing. Material and equipment have to reach the back yard through a side gate. The caller wants a number to compare, and a slow one gets compared without you in the set.
Urgent, and off the ground
Rot found during a repair converts the job into a partial rebuild. Anything above a set height requires railings, footings and an inspection. Elevation slows every response, which is why the clock has to be started earlier here.
Square footage lies alone
Footing depth depends on soil that nobody knows until the auger goes in. Builds are quoted against two other contractors working from the same sketch. The same figure quoted across two materials produces two very different jobs.
7 questions every Deck & Patio call has to answer
- Roughly what dimensions are you thinking?
- How high off the ground will it sit?
- Composite, pressure-treated, or hardwood?
- Is this a new build or a repair to something existing?
- Can materials reach the back yard without going through the house?
- Has anything been submitted to the building department yet?
- Are you working to a date, like an event or a listing?
What it qualifies
Deck
Height above grade, which decides railings, footings and inspection.
Patio
What the surface sits on, and whether drainage is involved.
Other
The route to the back yard for materials and equipment.
Calls that do not wait
- A structure with visible rot under an occupied deck.
- Railings failing on an elevated platform.
- An event date with the surface torn out.
What else answers the phone
| Voicemail | The sketch goes to whichever builder answers first. |
| Generic answering service | Height above grade is never asked, and that decides permits and railings. |
| In-house staff | The builder is on site with a saw running. |
Deck & Patio answering service questions
What sets the price beyond square footage?
Height above grade and material. An elevated platform needs footings, railings and an inspection that a ground-level one does not.
Why does the material come up before the design?
Composite, pressure-treated and hardwood are three different budgets on the same drawing. Knowing which one the caller has in mind makes the estimate comparable.
Can footing depth be quoted from the call?
No. It depends on soil nobody knows until the auger goes in. It is recorded as an open variable rather than priced.
How is a repair different from a build?
Rot found mid-repair converts the job into a partial rebuild. The call records what prompted it and where the soft spots are.
Does access get captured?
Gate width and the route to the back yard, since material and equipment have to reach it. A narrow side gate changes the crew and the day.
What about permits?
Whether one has been pulled, and the height, since that decides whether one is required at all. It is recorded so the schedule accounts for the inspection.