BlueRidgee Construction

Building dreams from the ground up. Love how this staircase and framing are turning out!
New stairs taking shape! Fresh lumber, solid framing, and tools scattered everywhere as this deck upgrade comes together. Looking strong already.

The installer says this is the correct way to follow a sloped yard, but I wasn’t expecting every panel to sit at a different height.
From the patio, the top of the fence looks like a staircase. Some gaps underneath are nearly large enough for our dog to crawl through, while other boards are pressed into the soil.
We paid extra for what the quote described as a “clean, uniform finish.”
Is this acceptable installation on a slope, or should the panels have followed the grade more smoothly?

This fence has been standing for eleven days, and the concrete around three posts is already cracked and pulling away.
The installer says small cracks are normal and the posts aren’t going anywhere. But when I push on one panel, the entire section moves.
We spent $8,600 because we wanted something that would survive more than one windy season. Being told to “give it time” doesn’t make me feel any better.
Is this normal settling, or does the contractor need to reset these posts?

Looking for some recommendations on a good stain for this deck I just finished. I really like the natural look of the wood, so I’m trying to stay away from a solid stain if possible, especially since the deck is completely uncovered and will be exposed to sun, rain, and everything else the weather throws at it.
My main priority is durability. I don’t mind doing some maintenance down the road, but I’d really like something that holds up well, protects the wood, and doesn’t start peeling or looking rough after a short amount of time.
I’m open to transparent, semi-transparent, or other options if you’ve had good luck with them. I’d love to hear what products you’ve used, how long they lasted, and whether you’d use the same stain again.
What would you recommend for a new uncovered deck like this?

“Let’s go with the cheapest” 🤦‍♂️ Oh my gosh guys… the more I look at this the worst it gets.  In my industry I find that people want the lowest price possible, which I totally understand, but often with the lowest price comes the lowest quality.. If you know, you know, there are some serious problems with this build and for some untrained eyes (clients) it may not look so bad, but… it’s bad. So always take a second to think about those large projects!

Update on my first week at my new job. Boss bought lunch all week, filled up my truck, gave me a brand new water heater for my house, and even gave my wife a half Oz. LOL. Im pretty happy
I asked to get paid on Wednesday to keep my routine.

Found this one out in the wild yesterday and had to stop for a closer look. At first glance the deck looked pretty normal, but the more I looked at the railing and the way everything was put together, the more little details started jumping out at me.
There’s definitely some creative thinking going on here, especially around the posts, rail caps, and framing connections. It’s one of those builds where you can’t help but stand there for a minute and study how everything was assembled.
I’m curious what the deck builders in here think—would you call this clever, questionable, or a little bit of both?

After 61 years in carpentry, this staircase would make me nervous! 😬 The homeowner complains about the complicated layout and unfinished work, questioning the contractor’s $24,000 project quality.

I’m a homeowner in the middle of tearing down my old deck so I can expand and rebuild it, and I came across these metal brackets attached between the joists and the ledger board. I’m not completely sure what they’re called or what their exact purpose is.

Before I get too far into the demo, I’d like to understand what I’m looking at and whether these are something I should plan to reuse or replace when the new deck goes back together.

Can anyone tell me what these brackets are and what they’re meant to do?

Roof framing