When Kevin Tann and his wife, Denise, moved to their Bethel, Connecticut home from the Bronx in July 2021, they found themselves in the middle of a long list of home improvement projects.
“This house was built in 2008. It’s relatively new, but it was in a state of disrepair. We had to paint everything. We had to redo the floors. Every appliance needed to be replaced. It was to a point where I said, ‘Baby, I think we got a money pit,’” he said.
Then, on top of that, Kevin’s sister stepped out onto their elevated, second-story deck, and her foot went right through the rotted, pressure-treated wood.
“Imagine, from this height, having your foot go through the deck. It was scary. Needless to say, we condemned the deck.”
Kevin’s friend, a licensed contractor, suggested looking into composite woods from brands like TimberTech® and AZEK® for an upscale, durable, and long-lasting deck.
Searching for the Best Decking Materials
(in Expensive Times)
Because of the number of home improvement projects they had and high costs, Kevin carefully researched prices and labor. He decided to work with a licensed carpenter and supply the materials himself.
Like most homeowners, he began his search for the best decking materials close to home. He went to nearby home improvement centers and lumberyards.
“Everything was ridiculously backordered,” he said. “And they didn’t have the specialty pieces that I needed.”
And the prices were still shocking, given the number of materials for his project.
“All you hear is cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.”
He went online and broadened his search.
“I looked on the internet, found Warehouse ’71, and as soon as I spoke to the product expert at Warehouse ‘71, and I asked him: ‘How much is a 20-foot piece?’ His price was half of what I’d see in the stores.
“It was Christmas in July.”
Finding a TimberTech Composite Decking Expert
Now, knowing he was getting the best deal on decking, he and the product expert got to work on making sure he had all the right materials for his project.
“He talked me through everything. Having him guide me through the whole process was like night and day.”
With the product expert’s help, he and his wife took accurate measurements, got the right materials, and picked out colors they love.
“He talked me through everything. He actually told me how to properly measure from one end to another. My wife’s holding one end. I’m holding the other end, and we’re taking the measurements. We’re feeding it to him at that time. Then he says, ‘Ok, give me about an hour.’ Next thing I know, he emails me back. ‘Based on what you just did, I think it would take this many linear feet. This is what you need.’ That’s how we approached it.”
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They added LED lighting to their posts and got the specialty pieces they needed for a complex, elevated decking project.
“My wife and I went out there, and the product expert took as much time as we needed to basically satisfy our concerns. We picked colors. We picked posts. To come across someone who’s like, ‘I don’t stand to gain or lose anything by helping you. This is just something I love doing.’ When I say painstakingly—he took the time.”
Getting Decking Materials on Time,
With Ease
Picking up the materials was also a breeze, even though Kevin lives about two hours from Warehouse ’71.
“I told him, ‘How soon can I get out there? How soon can I pick it up?’ I think it was a Thursday or Friday when I called him, and he said, ‘We’ll have it ready for you by Tuesday morning.’ I said, ‘Ok, I’ll rent a truck, and I’ll be out there.’ As soon as I arrive, it’s waiting for me, and they load it into the back of the truck.
“He’s like, ‘If you need anything else, just give me a holler.’”
As the project progressed, they did end up needing a few extra finishing pieces. Just like the first time, Kevin picked up the phone, and, within a couple of days, was picking up the materials he needed.
“It was 1, 2, 3.”
Enjoying Their Deck—and Their Great Decking Deal
“If you saw it at night, we have lights on every corner. We absolutely love it. We absolutely, positively love it.”
And, of course, like every savvy homeowner, knowing they got a great deal on premium decking materials makes the results all the sweeter.
“If we had gone to a home improvement store or lumberyard, it would’ve been easily double the price. It would’ve been more than double actually. Finding Warehouse ’71 was truly a godsend.”
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