Deckorators Certified Elite, Peter Soares, owner of Pete’s Construction, specializes in renovating homes from frame to finish. Servicing the area north of Boston, Pete’s company builds anything from kitchens, bathrooms, basements ... to even decks!
Q: What makes the New England market unique?
A: New England is known for a lot of colonial homes and beautiful architecture. Folks nowadays want to steer away from using wood products on the exterior of their home. Lots of folks here in New England are eager to use more composite siding, composite railing and composite decking products. With Deckorators, we have definitely been able to help with the issue of having their decks rot.
Q: How has Deckorators decking been incorporated into your business?
A: I incorporate Vault Decking into my business whenever I do any decks. I don’t even consider any other products on the market. For a couple of different reasons –
• It’s great to work with
• It’s lightweight
• It doesn’t bend like other composite decking does
• It is easy to install
• It is just a phenomenal product because I don’t get call backs on anything.
I use this product to differentiate myself from other competitors in the area. Most folks don’t take the time to explain to the client what the benefit of each product is.
Q: What is your approach to working with customers from the initial contact to design?
A: Most of the time, clients will reach out to me via my website, a phone call or an email. We set up a time that is convenient for both of us. I will usually bring my decking sample bag to that meeting.
Once the homeowner selects the decking, we’ll get into designing the deck. Sometimes we even get into designing a 3-D picture, so the client has that visual. From that point, I gather all of my information, provide them with a contract, and then we move forward from there.
Q: What led you to become a Deckorators Certified Pro?
A: Three years ago, at JLC LIVE, one of the Deckorators representatives talked to me about the Certified Pro program and the product. I was intrigued. Becoming a Certified Pro has provided me with a couple different features.
• An app on my phone – Pro on the Go
• A personal representative who would work with me directly on a day-to-day basis
Q: What does the future of Pete’s Construction look like?
A: Very busy – we are booking out anywhere between four or six months at a time. I have a great team and I am looking to grow that team to potentially have two or three crews.
Q: Tell me a little bit about how Pete’s Construction was started. How did you develop your brand?
A: There are many people that I am surrounded by in my life, especially my wife, who motivated me and pushed me to get my contractor’s license. If it wasn’t for her, I honestly wouldn’t have known what today could be.
Joining a construction company at the age of 19 really exposed the trades to me and taught me many lessons. It’s hard work, it’s not easy. You have to get up early every day, you work hard, and it is some pretty physical work. As a business owner now, it’s not just physical, it is using your head as well. It is mental work as well. Some days it can be draining, but most days it is rewarding.
Q: What are your thoughts on the state of skilled trade?
A: I have joined the Carpentry Advisory Board at the technical high school I went to when I was 15 years old. Being on the Carpentry Advisory Board gives me the opportunity to grow the technical aspect of the school. It’s important we give back to our community and help grow the trades.
We are trying to develop these kids to be able to get hired when they leave high school. I have been fortunate enough to hire two students who have transitioned full-time with my company. They understand the basics, they come with their OSHA card, they are positive, they are eager, and they want to learn. Teach them how to do things the right way the first time, and they will continue to do it over and over again.
Q: What Deckorators products have you used and what new products are you excited to use soon?
A: I have used all of the decking on the Vault line - Mesquite, Dusk and Hickory. I am pretty excited to work with the new line of product – Voyage featuring enhanced traction. I have a client that we just scheduled a new deck build with Voyage Mesa. It’s really going to complement the siding that we just put on the home.
Check out Pete’s Constructions Instagram page to see his latest builds.