I'm so dissapointed to even be writing this. In early February, Richard Alvarado, the owner of Deck Doctors, come out to provide a bid on some dry rot repairs. He seemed eager for the work and I felt really good about him and his capabilitiies. I let him know I wasn't in a rush as I had some planned travel but would like to get something locked in in a few weeks with goal of having them do the work after my return. I received a bid from him on February 6th with a suggestion that I contact him with any questions. The next day I emailed him with a few qeustions, specifically asking about some items we'd discussed that weren't in his proposal. I left a few voicemails between then and February 18th. On February 19th, I emailed him again asking for clarification on one of the items we'd discussed and asking for a more detailed bid for some additional work (more work for him). I returned from being out of the country for 2 weeks and still no response to either voicemails or emails. This week, 3.11 I left another voicemail asking him to please respond and suggesting that if he's no longer interested in the work that he please let me know so I can make alternative arrangements. Yesterday 3.13 I send a follow up email. Still nothing. I get that many contractors while very good at what they do, may not be as good at managing the "business" side of things but honestly this is ridiculous. I am left to assume he's not interested in either my project or preserving a good reputation. Very disappointing!! read more

Richard and his crew did a fantastic job repairing our roof-deck after a big storm. He was up front about cost, made every effort to keep us updated as unforeseeable surprises emerged (old home), and suggested little improvements to the original build. His crew was clean, courteous, and paid attention to small details. We recommend them to everyone in our hood. read more

Terrible quality, they charged us $10,000 to build a small 12ft x 10ft deck with Trex and it collapsed the following week after it was completed. We called and called and the never would come back and fix their mistakes. Steer clear of this shoddy company read more

Deck Doctors (Richard and his team) replaced a deck pier (post) on my deck. Richard is very knowledgeable and personable and his team is as well. They did an excellent job and I'm very pleased with the work. I would contact them again for future deck work. read more

I reached out to a number of contractors for a deck project in my back yard that involved sanding and re-staining an existing deck as well as assembling and installing a gazebo. Out of all the contractors who provided quotes, Richard was the only one who advised that the method I intended to use for installing the gazebo wasn't the best way to go and suggested a better alternative. Based on his honest assessment of the work involved in my project and his competitive quote, Richard won my business. Since I was having major landscaping work done in my back yard at the same time, I was forced to re-schedule with Richard a couple of times and he accommodated the changes without issue. His crew was professional, detail oriented and thorough. Observing them assembling and installing the gazebo was well worth the cost of the project alone. My satisfaction with the overall project completion is extremely high. I highly recommend Richard/Deck Doctors for any deck project and I will definitely use him in the future for on-going deck maintenance. read more

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I would highly recommend Richard and Deck Doctors. My deck on a rental property needed some serious repairs, including upgrading the support structure below the deck. It was a challenging project and in an area that was hard to get to. Richard and his crew did a fantastic job and at a fair price! His communication and follow-up has been excellent! When I call him, he actually answers the phone, even months later when I had a quick question. I'm planning deck repair work for my residence in the next few months and will definitely use Deck Doctors again! Keep up the great work Richard! Thank you for your service to our country and thank you for doing excellent deck work! read more

Richard was very easy to work with knows his craft. Went over throughly the process for refinishing the deck. His workmen were by far the best I have ever had work here. They were considerate,kind, neat, on time & meticulous about their work. They put everything back exactly where it was & the deck looks beautiful. I highly recommend Deck Doctors! 5 stars! read more

Was looking for someone to revive our deck, wanted something nice & cost efficient. Richard came out & met with us, he gave us some suggestions. Him & his crew brought our vision to life. A true professional & perfectionist. Thank you again Richard. read more

Deck Doctors - Backyard Deck - Decks & Railing Near Me

Hi, I am on the board of Walnut Place here in Walnut Creek. We hired Deck Drs. to do work on out decks, stairs and patio area. Richard;s team did a great job. Everything was explained and laid out before hand. work was done well. I would recommend Richard to all reading this. Thomas read more

Built a new redwood deck on my property and made the mistake of staining it with a poor quality water based stain. I attempted to strip myself but sense I had never done it, I worried it would damage the new decking. I called Richard and he gave me a fair quote to strip, brighten, sand and stain the deck. It was a bit of a challenge to remove the old stain but it came together and looked great in the end. read more

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Richard from Deck Doctors is our go to guy! We had three arbors in our backyard that were in very poor condition. We contacted a well known company that provides quotes and repair work for section 1 items during the selling and buying of a home. When that company's representative could not even give us a quote or provide a thorough professional opinion on the condition of our arbors (busy, thought project was a waste of their time, too big of a project, not knowledgeable about project scope, who knows?), we called Deck Doctors for a quote. Richard came out to inspect everything and really took the time to explain and make suggestions as to what we should do with the arbors. It was determined that two were beyond the point of repair due to extensive wood rot and rebuilding those two side arbors was going to be extremely costly. We hired Richard and his team to do the demolition and removal of the two side arbors and the repairs on our arbor behind our pool which had several wood rot posts. Richard kept me updated on all aspects of the project without taking up my entire day. I didn't need to micromanage like I do with a lot of other contractors. He safely, carefully, and efficiently tore down and removed the side arbors without destroying trees and plants around them. Then with meticulous planning and detail, he and his team replaced necessary sections of our pool arbor to make it look new, again. In addition, Richard went out of his way to clear and make a channel around the bottom of the posts to prevent dirt and moisture from further contact. He thoughtfully kept all his tools and gear organized and out of the way, was flexible with his schedule when I needed to break up portions of the project because I had a backyard party, courteous in the morning to not disrupt my family's sleep, ALWAYS TIMELY, thorough in cleaning up, and completely pleasant to work with. He did such an outstanding job that I've hired him, again, for another project! Richard is our go to guy! Thanks Deck Doctors!! read more

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Wish I had taken the other reviews more seriously. No show. Waste of time. Disrespectful. We have to call over 5x to get anyone to call us back (a bad sign to begin). Then we had an appointment with Richard that he cancelled the day before and rescheduled. Then on the rescheduled day, he never showed and after multiple calls never even called back to apologize. This whole process set us back a month on our project and now we have to start looking for someone else. Richard had no regard for wasting our time and clearly has no clue how to run a business or doesn't care enough to try. read more

I called and spoke directly with Richard last week. He is very cordial and was available to review my job the following day. I found him professional by phone as after he suggested a time - he change course suggesting that he had family plans and wanted to allow for enough time to insure he could commit to his agreed upon 1 hour time window. The following day he was a no show. I called to and left a message to see if he was running late or sidetracked with his family. Immediately he sent a text indicating that he was talking with a customer and would call me in 10. When he didn't call back, I left another voice mail followed by a text in the hopes to reconnect and determine if he intended to make it later or reschedule. Again, no response. I don't mind a change of plans. That's life - but I do like to be notified. Nobody likes to be blown off. However, our conversation the previous day lead me to believe and appreciate that he valued the time of his clients. In this case, clearly he did not. Deck Doctor may well do good work - there certainly are a number of positive reviews that suggest that. However, upon looking at other reviews - I am not the first customer who's time wasn't appreciated. read more

We hired Deck Doctors for the second time and Richard and his crew did a great job on our deck. Our deck was looking old and weathered and Richard was able to bring it back to life. Like before, it was easy working with Richard. read more

I was recommended to Deck Doctors by my friend who recently had her decks redone by them. I was so amazed how beautiful her decked looked. I spoke with Richard on the phone and he came out to do an estimate and also went into detail of what the process would look like. The price was just right! I was impressed with the level of customer service, professionalism and exceptional work from Richard and his team. My deck looks new and beautiful and they even fixed the hand rail going down into my garden. I would highly recommend Deck Doctors to my family and friends. Thank you Richard and team. I am happy customer!!! Richard came back out months later and did another project for us. We asked him to pressure wash our front driveway and pavers to get rid of the moss because I was afraid someone would slip in them and he recommend a sealer and I am very happy with the results. It looks clean and the sealer makes the driveway and pavers look new. Thanks again for outstanding work!!! read more

Richard and AJ did a wonderful job restoring our 2nd story deck. It looks beautiful! There was a bit of back and forth on timing, but overall, the job was completed quickly before we have houseguests arriving. And Richard replaced a bad board with termite damage and suggested I cut back plants at the supporting columns to keep them free from moisture. I appreciate the attention these details! I have read the other reviews, and I have to add that of the three deck contractors that I called for estimates, Richard was the only one to call me back. It seems like he has a lot of business coming his way and could really benefit from having a scheduler to help out. read more

Richard did a fantastic job of cleaning/power washing/sealing our composite deck that was stained and overgrown with moss. He also painted the deck railing to make everything look like new. I was particularly impressed by how responsive Richard was- from coming promptly to give the estimate, to scheduling and then completing the job. I was kept updated with phone calls and/or text messages. He even took care of a yellow jacket nest that we discovered under the deck- which was very much appreciated! read more

The only positive thing about this company was Victor, who replaced some rotted boards. The owner had poor communication, made a HUGE mistake that was clearly his fault, refused to fix it then demanded we pay in full. Less than one year after our large deck was painted instead of stained from his mistake, our deck is peeling. Do not hire this company. It is not worth your hard earned money. read more

Richard did a great job on my deck. I would highly recommend him and his crew. My old deck looks new

Richard and his crew were selected to work on our roof deck, specifically to execute some waterproofing updates to the membrane. While I agree with many of the other reviewers that Richard was nice, the work quality was not only poor, it was dangerous. One example... his crew used 2" screes to secure the deck board to the sleeper when the sleeper was only 0.5" high and thus poked right through the membrane he helped to refresh - and did this multiple times. Another example was when he pulled back some of the siding and instead of the obvious method of adding siding paper "under" the existing paper so that the water flows down, he did it on top and thus trapped any water coming down the wall into the seams. We had to hire another contractor to come out and fix the mess and he said it was one of the least professional jobs he was ever seen. Unfortunately it gets worse. As nice as Richard may be, he does not follow through and shouldn't be trusted. After I approached him with the issues he assured me he would make me whole. I suggested he cover the costs of the fixes but after a few emails and calls back and forth to close on the plan, he went radio silent and never replied. My attorneys have filed documents with the stater contractor's office so that they are away of his poor work. Do yourself a favor - choose someone else. read more

Richard and his crew are great to work with. We had a minor issue after they had sanded and stained our deck. They came back and redid the whole job, at no cost to us - he wants to make sure his customers are satisfied, which we really appreciate. read more

I'm always a little skeptical about local contractors, given some things I've heard and experienced over the years but must say our experience with Richard and his crew could not have been better. All work was performed as requested, minor issues resolved to our complete satisfaction and he and his crew were absolute professionals. We could not be happier. read more

Richard and his crew did a very good job finishing our old growth redwood trim. I was nervous about making a mistake but he was very patient, explaining everything in detail. Even before he got the job he came to our house to apply oxalic acid and various types of wood finishes to test spots, so we would feel comfortable knowing the available choices and possible end results. Richard is also a veteran, and although I hate and oppose war, it's a great thing to support our veterans and veteran owned businesses. read more

My experience was exactly like A.C. From walnut creek. I called and set up an appointment and he never showed up. He didn't even give me the common curtsy of a phone call to reschedule or tell me he wasn't coming. I read the other reviews and figured I had a 50% chance of him showing up, I figured I had better odds since it is winter! Nope, not a chance, this guy must be flakey. read more

I definitely would not recommend this Company for any of your deck restoration/repair needs, even if they are minor. Richard R. Alvarado agreed with me on a job on February 6th, 2011 and committed to have it completed in one (1) week. As of today (July, 5th 2011) not only the job has not been finished and the quality of what has been done is not up to a professional standard but it has been impossible to get in contact with anybody in the Company, leaving countless voice-mails and not getting any of my calls returned. Go for a real Pro and do not waste your time and money with this company. Stay way from Deck Doctors! read more

I called Deck Doctors several times to setup an appointment. They did not return my calls.

I called Deck Doctors to see up an appointment for my deck restoration and refinish job, and was pleased that the phone was picked up right away. We set an appointment for the estimate for a couple days. He never showed up. I called and left a message to reschedule, and my phone call was never returned. Would you really trust Deck Doctors to restore and refinish your deck if they don't keep their appointments. At a minimum, he could have called and left a message that he couldn't make it, as common courtesy. read more

Spoke to Richard and made an appointment for February 13th for a new deck construction project. His worker came out and did all the measurements and said Richard would be in contact with me soon. It is now February 29th and still no call back. I even called last week and left him a voice message. I still have yet to receive a call back. I guess customer service is not important to him. read more

Please read all of the reviews on this person. Totally unprofessional (actually crazy making), untrustworthy and unconscionable. Mine may be the most pathetic story yet. I paid Richard as agreed upon after he power washed and brightened the deck a (after being hours late and not responding to my calls, texts, or emails). This was on a Tuesday. He told me he would return at 9:30 the following day. (Wednesday) to sand and stain the deck (i.e., finish the work). When he did not show up at 9:30, I called him at 10:30 and he said he would be there in 30 min to an hour. I told him I had expected him at 9:30 and 12 noon was a time that would work for me. He agreed to be there at noon, but did not show up. I called him, texted him and emailed him and he never responded. After 2 days of false starts, and missed appointments and finally accepting money for an incomplete job, I told him (via voice mail, text and email, since he does not pick up his phone) that I was voiding our agreement because it was causing too much frustration and inconveniece. He presented himself as a Veteran and a stand up guy. He assured me that I would be happy with his work and professionalism. He provided me with a reference who vouched for him. I had advised him that a disabled houseguest would be here and it needed to be finished 2 days prior to her arrival. You be the judge of this Richard's (and his business Deck Doctors) reliability and integrity. I so regret giving him the benefit of the doubt. Read less read more

I received a lead from Thumbtack in search of a general contractor who could help me with some dry rot work needed to clear Section 1 reporting I received from a termite inspector. I notified Deck Doctors and spoke to Richard about the job. He came out for the visual inspection and bid on the job, at which time he said he would give me the estimate in 48 hours. Well, unfortunately Richard failed to keep his word. I notified him after 48 hours and he said he would get back to me the following day. Still nearly 6 days later, no estimate, no calls, no explanation. Absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional. What a joke. This behavior seems consistent with other comments on Yelp. If only I had researched Yelp, I wouldn't have bothered calling Deck Doctors. Thumbs down!!!! read more

It took several tries to get them to come out for an estimate and several calls and emails to get them to give me an estimate. The estimate did not reflect the work we discussed. I am not hiring them. read more

Guy came twice and still never received a price quote. "It's all about good maintenance", that's all this guy says. What a joke. Hey dude "it's all about customer service", try writing that on your cool truck,, read more

I have seen a few of thier jobs and I think the skill set is very high. I recently spoke to the owner Richard and he was very thorough and professional. I delt with a lot of flakey arrogant contractors while getting bids and he was by far the best! I will be going forward with Deck Doctors and will YELP again soon!!! read more

We have a large deck that is less than 4 years old but was in need of removing the old finish. I contacted Richard and he came out within a few days and provided a detailed (& reasonable) estimate with the steps they would take to bring it back to life. Richard and his crew completed the work in a timely and professional manner. He took care in making sure the deck was properly prepped before applying the sealer and they recommended some colors that we may like. We ended up having 2 coats applied to ensure the color was uniform, after the first coat there were areas that "soaked" in more than others and we found that the joints needed more attention. Richard agreed and worked with us to make sure we were satisfied with the finished product. I would use Richard again and recommend his company, I also recommend that 2 finish coats are applied to achieve the best coverage for a uniform color and fill in all the joints properly. It only added a couple of extra days and minimal materials for the 2nd coat. read more

Deck Doctors - Decks & Railing Near Me

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Totally unprofessional. Spoke with a nice, but seemingly uneducated, woman to set the appointment. We cancelled Saturday plans because we would have had to wait two weeks to get an evaluation. We took the 4-5 appointment. Out deck is two story and 25 years old with some post and beam issues. Well about 5:45 we left them a voicemail asking them to call us after standing us up without a phone call or anything. They never returned the call. I understand busy, but there is no excuse to be so disrespectful to a potential customer who was ready to spend $15K. Don't say you were not warned. read more

Richard came out on December 10 to inspect the project and said he would get back to us in a few days with an estimate. After not hearing anything back for a couple of weeks, I called and left messages multiple times through January 7. Never heard a word back. read more

Deck Doctors are doctors! I recently purchased a new home. The back yard and deck looked horrible. I was ready to start over and had Richard over for an estimate.. He did arrive on time for our appointment and was very easy to talk to. After a look around he made some suggestions to brighten things up.. I had know idea what he could do to the deck and fence... The price was fair and after the job was completed. I would say well worth it in the end my back yard looks like a whole new place.. My wife really enjoy entertaining in our back yard are now.. The deck and fence look like new and the finish is perfect.. I would highly recommend Deck Doctors and Richard for any deck or fence job. The team works fast and cleaned up every day after the job. read more

Richard came out on Thursday 06/16/16 to give us an estimate for our deck and awnings repair. We have been waiting patiently for his call. Today is Saturday 07/30/16 so its been 44 days and we still haven't got an estimate for our deck and awnings estimate. This is not really good for business. read more

Real customer service. I needed a specific type of wood and Richard went the extra mile for me. He was actually looking out for his customer's best interest. That goes far with me. I look forward to working with Deck Doctors in the future. Thank you. read more

Richard just finished my deck rebuild and refinishing project. The rebuild was large and difficult so I was amazed at how fast it was completed. Coming in ahead of the scheduled completion time! Quality of the craftsmanship was outstanding. Highly recommend!!!! 5 star service!!! read more