What a deck service agreement is for
A deck that is washed, checked and sealed on schedule lasts years longer, and a loose railing caught early is a safety fix instead of an accident. Owners like a set yearly visit, and it keeps you close to customers who will want a bigger deck or a replacement later.
What to put on a deck service agreement
- Deck size and material covered.
- Yearly inspection of ledger, posts and railings.
- Washing and stain or seal cycle.
- Small fixes included.
- What is quoted separately.
- Price, billing and cancellation.
A worked example
An owner with a 320 sq ft wood deck wants a spring check, wash and a reseal every other year.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring deck inspection | 1 | visit | Your price |
| Deck wash | 320 | sq ft | Your price |
| Stain and seal, on cycle | 320 | sq ft | Your price |
Board and framing replacement is quoted on its own. This template is not legal advice; check your state's rules.
Line items deck builders use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Footings, dug and poured | each | Depth to your local frost line and the inspector's rule. |
| Framing: posts, beams and joists | sq ft | Lumber grade and joist spacing. |
| Ledger with flashing | ft | Attached to the house with the fasteners code calls for. |
| Decking, pressure-treated | sq ft | Board width and fastening. |
| Decking, composite | sq ft | Brand, color and hidden or face fasteners. |
| Railing | ft | Wood, composite, aluminum or cable. |
| Stairs | each | Per step; width and landing. |
| Tear-out of old deck | sq ft | Demolition and haul-off. |
| Post caps and lighting | each | Low voltage or solar. |
| Skirting or lattice | ft | Around the base. |
| Permit and inspections | each | Footing, framing and final. |
| Stain and seal | sq ft | For wood decks, after the wood is ready. |
Terms and deposit language for deck
- Deposit. The deposit at signing orders lumber or composite and books the build week. Each state sets its own deposit limits on home improvement work.
- Payment. Balance due at the final inspection or when the deck is finished and walked.
- Warranty. You warrant the framing and your workmanship for a stated time. The decking maker warrants the boards. Normal checking, warping and weathering of wood are not defects.
- Permit and inspection dates are set by the town and can move the schedule.
- Buried lines and sprinkler pipe at footing locations are the owner's to have marked.
- Pressure-treated wood needs time to dry before stain; the timing is in the notes.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the start and end dates.
- List what each visit includes and how many visits a year.
- Add your price per line; the plan shows a yearly total, and a monthly figure if billed monthly.
- Fill in what is not covered and the renewal and cancellation terms.
- Check your state's rules, then print it for signatures.
Free tools for deck
The same service agreement for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for deck builders: how deck builders run on Koira.