At Deck Masters, LLC we take pride in the fences we build. My name is Chris Marquand and I am the owner.

Chris Marquand, Owner

of Deck Masters, LLC. We are not some large company that sends out hordes of untrained crews to throw together hastily built fences. We are a small business where the owner, myself, visits every job site. I believe that quality materials, quality craftsmanship, and a focus on customer service is the way to build a better fence.

To start with, we use true 3/4″ Western red cedar for our fence boards whereas many companies only use 9/16″ or 5/8″ boards like you find at home improvement centers. The size matters because a thinner board is more likely to warp or break and the species matters because the wrong type of wood won’t last as long in the Oregon rain. Another important fact is the source of the fence boards. Our fencing will actually have deep reds and pinks in it indicating it came from older trees, has more protective oils in it, and will thus last longer. When we finish building you a fence your yard will actually smell like cedar, it is a wonderful aromatic smell that only comes from high quality cedar. For the structure we use pressure treated 4x4s for posts and set all our posts two feet deep in concrete so that the fence will never lean. We also use pressure treated 2x4s for our fence rails because they last the longest.

One of the biggest fence companies in Portland actually uses standard Hem-fir rails for their fences (the cheapest option) and doesn’t even offer the option of using pressure treated rails. When I discovered this fact I called the company to ask why. The salesman I talked to told me that pressure treated rails weren’t necessary because the rails don’t contact the ground and that the standard Fir rails would last just as long. That is interesting, basically he was saying that while they use cedar for the fence boards because they lasts longer and pressure treated lumber for the posts, untreated Fir was just fine for the structural rails. If that were truly the case, why wouldn’t they just use Hem-Fir for the fence boards too? The answer is that consumers are educated enough to know that cedar is the appropriate material for fence boards but not as educated about the rest of the fence. By using standard Fir 2x4s for the rails a company can save themselves around fifty cents a foot on the cost of materials, that is the reason they do it. We only use standard untreated rails when requested, otherwise we recommend pressure treated rails.

Another issue that differs between fence companies is the gates they use. We use black metal no sag gate kits that not only ensures the gate won’t sag but look really nice as well. For six foot tall gates we also use

Back side of gate showing gate hardware

thumb operable latches that are lockable and can be opened from either side and have a decorative look. Some companies go the cheap route and use the little latches that you have to use a string or wire to open from the other side. They are awkward to use on a tall fence and should only be used on fences that can be easily reached over. Another important factor that is often overlooked is the type of fastener used for the fence. Obviously regular “bright” un-galvanized nails or staples shouldn’t be used because they will rust and the fence will fall apart. But what most people don’t know is that galvanized fasteners also have problems when used on cedar. Cedar has acidic oils in it that react with the chemicals in galvanized fasteners and cause them to “bleed” down the face of the board. This results in unsightly black or red streaks down the face of the cedar at every place where there is a fastener. The only fastener that should ever be used in cedar is stainless steel. Stainless steel is more expensive but it lasts forever and is well worth the extra cost. It also doesn’t cause any bleeding so you don’t get ugly streaks on the boards. We exclusively use stainless steel fasteners on our fence boards.

The next factor is craftsmanship. I make sure that we take the time to do every job right by visiting every job myself.

This fence built by an unlicensed contractor sagged in the first year.

I personally train every employee and make sure the work is done right. Another startling issue I discovered when researching one of the biggest fence companies in Portland is that they pay their employees per job rather than by the hour. This is a great technique for efficiency within the company, not such a great technique when it comes to quality. Think about it, if an employee is getting paid the same amount regardless of how long it takes them to do a job, they are encouraged to rush through it. If they get paid by the hour, they have the incentive to do the job right.

The final issue I stress is customer service. I provide my personal cell number so that I can be reached at any time, I check and respond to my e-mails every day, and I am generally quick to respond no matter what the issue may be. I also hire friendly approachable people so that any customer will feel comfortable approaching anyone on the crew. That’s what I call customer service.