BookedWork ProDecks and Outdoor Living business resources
Deck intake: height, attachment, and intended use
Approx. 3 min read
Ask whether this is repair or new construction, approximate size and height, whether the deck attaches to the house, and whether stairs or a guard are involved.
Published September 24, 2026 · BookedWork Pro editorial guide. A qualified professional must verify field conditions, local rules, and product instructions before a technical recommendation or price.
What the inquiry is really about
Ask whether this is repair or new construction, approximate size and height, whether the deck attaches to the house, and whether stairs or a guard are involved.
What a professional needs to establish
Customer sketches are useful for conversation but not a structural design. Record the property, access, desired materials, and any concern about wobbling or rot for qualified review.
How to explain the scope and next step
Schedule a design or structural assessment appropriate to the project. Do not promise that a floating deck or existing posts are adequate solely from a photograph.
Put the decision into practice
Keep the form short enough for a phone: the customer's own observation, location, timing, safe contact method, and whether immediate human review is needed. Ask one or two trade-specific questions that determine who should respond and what appointment type to offer. Do not force the customer to select a technical cause they cannot know. Acknowledge receipt accurately, assign a named owner internally, and give a real next step. If the request falls outside the service area, say so promptly. A form should guide scheduling and prepare an expert; it cannot establish a diagnosis or binding estimate.
Turn the reply into an appointment
Create two clearly different paths: a report that needs prompt human review and an ordinary estimate or service request. For each, define who sees it, what an honest acknowledgment says, and when the customer receives a real appointment choice. Track receipt, first response, booked visit, and declined requests as separate events. If the customer changes the issue after the first reply, update the record so the field professional is not sent to the wrong kind of job.
Trade-specific reference point
Footings, posts, spans, and connections depend on the deck's actual geometry and applicable local code. The American Wood Council guide is a technical reference for qualified design review, not a remote safety verdict.
This note supports a specific trade detail. It is not a diagnosis, a complete installation procedure, or a promise that every property needs the same work.
Practical checklist
- Record the customer's own description and the property location.
- Confirm the site facts before making a technical claim.
- Explain the work, exclusions, and who owns the next step.
- Record a realistic response or site visit window.
- Close the lead when the customer books, declines, or opts out.
References and limits
These sources support the trade and business context; requirements vary by project and location. The job-specific observations, price, and safety plan belong with a qualified local professional.