Deckorators Certified Elite, Cass Brinkman from All Weather Decks has been in business since 2008 serving the Kansas City area. Cass has a passion for building decks and creating unique outdoor environments that his clients can enjoy.
Q: How did you come to be a Certified Pro?
A: We are one of the top 10 Deckorators Certified Pros and joined in 2017. The program gives us recognition for what we do with Deckorators products. It allows us to track our growth with Deckorators among the nation’s top builders. If you deserve recognition for what you are doing, Deckorators is there to support you and your growth. It feels good, it works well, and I feel like I am part of a team that is growing together.
Q: How has your experience been with Deckorators products in a climate like this?
A: It is great to have a product that will hold up to the varying temperatures. We must have a product that will hold up to -19 degrees in the winter and 110 degrees in the summer. It is a lot to put a deck board through year after year, and Deckorators products have handled that great. It holds up wonderfully. Any decking is going to swell and shrink, but it must be within a range of variation that it doesn’t cause problems. Deckorators holds the mark on that.
Q: Which Deckorators products have you used over the years and are there some that you like to use more than others?
A: The Voyage decking product line that recently came out has hit the ground running. We are selling that like crazy. We prefer not to direct the customers on which products to choose. We want them to choose what they like. They always choose Deckorators, specifically Voyage decking – which is a great product. It is what I have on my deck. People want it more and more and they like its enhanced traction.
Q: What is different about your approach with design, construction, and processes compared to other builders?
A: With such a wide service area, we must be licensed contractors in a lot of municipalities. We pull permits in lots of different cities and municipalities. We design all of the decks ourselves. I create 3-D renderings to showcase our work and give a visual representation to the customer. A lot of people can’t visualize what the deck will look like, and 3-D renderings help with that. The Deckorators Deck Visualizer is nice, and we use that as well.
Q: What are some trademarks that you bring to the decks you build?
A: We picture frame every composite deck. If it is a composite deck, we automatically picture frame it. We also have our own 6x6 post sleeves to cover pressure-treated or cedar posts. We don’t think this wood under a composite deck looks too great, so we have an option of putting a powder-coated aluminum post sleeve over the entire post that matches the hand rail. This allows the whole deck to be maintenance-free, as a wood post would require staining.
Q: How many decks do you typically build in a year and how many crews do you have?
A: Last year we built around 350 decks, and this year we will likely do about 400. I have 3 project managers who start the project by ordering materials, coordinating all the paperwork and setting the project schedule. We have two-man crews with a lead guy and a helper who take over the project from start to finish.
Q:What does the future of All Weather Decks look like?
A: The future of All Weather Decks is bright. I want to grow and continue to do more. I don’t have a limit or a specific goal because I want to allow the company to grow as much as possible. I can’t conceive how much growth may happen five years from now.
