How I Work
Everything you need to know about working with me, from first conversation to finished project.
I want you to know exactly what to expect before we start working together. The more clearly we understand each other up front, the smoother everything goes — fewer surprises, fewer miscommunications, and a better result. This page walks through my process from beginning to end, including what's in my scope, what isn't, and how I handle things that come up along the way.
Step 1 — We Connect
The easiest way to reach me is by text or phone call. I'll ask a few questions about what you're looking for — the type of project, the general scope, your timeline, and your budget range. This helps me understand whether I'm the right fit before either of us invests more time.
If it sounds like a good match, I'll usually ask you to send a few photos or a short video of the area. This gives me a feel for the property, the existing conditions, and any obvious challenges before I come out in person. Sometimes a quick photo exchange is enough to tell me what we're working with and whether a site visit makes sense.
If it doesn't sound like a fit — whether it's the scope, the material, the budget, or the timeline — I'll tell you that honestly and do my best to point you in the right direction.
Step 2 — I Visit the Property
If everything lines up, I'll schedule a time to come see the site in person. During the visit, I'm doing a few things at once — taking measurements, studying the terrain, looking at the architecture of your home, noting sun exposure and sight lines, and identifying anything that might affect the design or construction. Slopes, setbacks, drainage, access, existing structures, trees and roots — all of it factors in.
This is also when we talk through what you want and what the property will support. Sometimes those are the same thing. Sometimes the site asks for a different approach than what you originally had in mind. I'll be honest about what I think will work best and why, but it's your property and your decision.
By the end of the visit, I should have everything I need to develop a design and write up a proposal.
Step 3 — Design and Proposal
I'll work up a design that accounts for your goals, your budget, and the realities of the site. You'll receive a fixed-price proposal with a detailed scope of work — materials, dimensions, construction methods, and timeline. No ambiguity, no allowances that balloon later, no fine print.
If you want to adjust the design or explore different options, we can revise the proposal. I'd rather go back and forth at this stage than discover a misunderstanding once I've started building.
The design phase begins with a design agreement — a percentage of the estimated project budget that covers the time I invest in site evaluation, design development, and proposal preparation. If you move forward with the build, that amount is credited toward your project total.
Step 4 — Booking and Scheduling
Once you approve the proposal, I'll book your project and add you to my schedule. I typically book four to eight weeks out, depending on the season and the size of the jobs ahead of yours. I'll give you a target start week, and as I get closer to finishing the project ahead of yours, I'll confirm an exact start date — usually about a week in advance.
Because I work on one project at a time, my schedule is straightforward. When I start, I'm there every working day until it's done. A project that takes five build days is finished in a week, not stretched across three.
If something comes up on your end that affects the start date — travel, other contractors on site, a change in plans — let me know as early as possible so I can adjust the schedule.
Step 5 — Construction
I work Tuesday through Saturday, typically starting between 7:00 and 8:00 am and wrapping up by mid afternoon. It's me and my apprentice Alex on site every day. You'll know who's on your property, and it's the same two people from start to finish.
Before I start, we'll sort out a few logistics — where to stage materials and tools, where I can park the truck, access to power and water, and any concerns about pets, kids, or security. If there are specific hours you need me to respect, or parts of the property I should stay clear of, let me know.
I keep the work area clean and organized as I go, treating your property as if it were my own. At the end of each day, I make sure everything is secured and the site is safe. If I'm building a fence or gate that replaces an existing one, I plan the sequence so your yard isn't left open between properties any longer than necessary — which is one reason I sometimes recommend handling the demolition myself rather than having it done before I arrive.
What’s Included
My proposals cover the design, material sourcing, and construction of your project. I hand-select the lumber, I deliver it, and I build the structure on site.
Specifically, this includes the redwood structure itself — framing, fastening, and all carpentry — as well as post setting (including digging post holes and setting posts in concrete), hardware installation, and any custom details or design elements we've agreed on.
Demolition
Demolition of existing structures is available as an add-on and I'm happy to include it. There are good reasons to have me handle it — it's useful training work for Alex, it gives me a chance to see how the old structure was built and where it failed (which sometimes informs the new design), and it lets me manage the sequencing so your property isn't left exposed or unsecured longer than necessary.
That said, if you'd prefer to save money by handling the demo yourself or hiring someone less expensive to do it, that works too — with a few conditions:
The demo has to be fully completed before my start date. That means everything removed and hauled away, including concrete footings if you expect me to set new posts in the same locations. I can't build efficiently around a partial teardown, and any remaining demolition on my end will result in a change to the scope and cost.
If keeping part of an existing structure in place until I'm ready to replace it makes sense for security or privacy — which it often does with fences — we'll plan that into the sequence together.
What’s Not in My Scope
There are several trades that sometimes intersect with my work but fall outside what I do. I don't perform concrete flatwork, landscaping, roofing, irrigation, or electrical work. I'm not licensed or qualified in those areas, and you'll get a better result from specialists.
What I will do is coordinate with your other contractors on sequencing. This matters more than most people realize. The order in which things happen — setting posts before concrete or hardscapes are poured, establishing finished grade before a fence is installed, routing irrigation before planting — can save significant time and money if it's planned correctly. I've seen jobs get expensive fast because the sequence wasn't thought through. If you have other work happening alongside mine, I'll communicate with those contractors directly to make sure we're not stepping on each other or creating problems that cost you extra later.
Finishing
My proposals do not include staining, sealing, or painting. I've found over the years that my clients get a better result — and better value — by hiring a dedicated finishing contractor for this work.
Applying a quality finish is a different skill set from building. It requires different tools, different expertise, and a different kind of patience. A good finisher knows how to prep surfaces, manage temperature and humidity during application, achieve consistent coverage, and match colors precisely. I'd rather connect you with someone who does that every day than offer you a result that doesn't live up to the structure it's sitting on.
If you're considering leaving the wood unfinished and letting it weather naturally, that's a perfectly good option for redwood — I can walk you through what to expect on the Why Redwood page.
I'm happy to recommend finishing contractors I trust, or help you find one in your area.
Change Orders
Once construction starts, the design is locked. Changes after that point — moving a section, adding a gate, changing a detail — can usually be accommodated, but they affect the cost and timeline. I'll give you a clear estimate for any change before I proceed, and I need your approval before the work happens. I don't build things we haven't agreed on, and I don't bill for work you didn't ask for.
The most cost-effective time to make changes is during the design phase, before any wood is cut. That's why I'd rather spend more time going back and forth on the proposal than rush to start building.
Communication
I'm on site during the workday, so the best way to reach me is by text. I'll respond during breaks or at the end of the day. If something is urgent or will affect the next day's work, let me know and I'll get back to you sooner.
I like to keep clients informed about progress, and I'm always happy to walk you through what's happening and what's coming next. If you want to check in on the work, you're welcome on site anytime — it's your property.
Payment Structure
Payment is structured based on the size and duration of the project:
Design agreement: A percentage of the estimated project budget, paid up front to begin the design process. This covers site evaluation, design development, and proposal preparation. If you hire me to build, this amount is credited toward your project total.
Most projects (one week or less): 50% due at the start of construction, 50% due upon completion.
Larger projects (one to three weeks): Split into thirds — one-third at the start, one-third at the midpoint, and one-third upon completion.
Extended projects (three to four weeks or more): Split into quarters, with a small percentage held back until any remaining punch list items are addressed.
Final payment is due upon completion and your approval of the finished work. Before we wrap up, we'll walk the project together to make sure everything is right. If there are any items that need attention, we'll make a punch list and I'll take care of them.
I stand behind my work. Every project comes with a workmanship guarantee — if something I built fails because of how I built it, I'll make it right. Full details are on my Workmanship Guarantee page.
The Short Version
You reach out. We talk. If it's a fit, I visit the property, develop a design, and give you a fixed-price proposal. You book the work, and when your start date comes, I show up and build until it's done. One project at a time, one point of contact, no surprises.