The process is the product.
Most outdoor living projects fail in the same place — not in the design, not in the materials, but in the gap between what was promised and what was actually delivered. Crews vanish for weeks. Quotes change mid-build. Surprise costs appear at billing. Calls go unanswered.
Every TAB project follows the same six-stage process — the same one we’ve refined over 18 years and 500+ projects. You’ll know what’s happening, what’s next, and what’s expected of you at every step. No surprises. No silence. No “we’ll get back to you next week.” That’s the part you’re really hiring us for. The deck and the patio? Those are the easy part.
From First Conversation To Final Walkthrough.
Every project moves through these six stages — so you always know where things stand, what’s happening, and what to expect next.
Consultation & Site Visit
It starts with a conversation. We meet at your home to walk the space, understand your vision, and talk through scope. Photos, sketches, magazine tear-outs — bring whatever inspires you. We’re listening for the kind of details most contractors skip — drainage, sun exposure, sightlines, how you actually plan to use the space — so the design we build for you reflects how you’ll really live in it.
- 30–60 minute on-site walk-through
- Honest conversation about budget range, timeline, and use case
- No pressure, no commitment — just a clear next-step path
3D Design & Renderings
Within a single illustration cycle, you’ll see exactly what we’d build. Our in-house designer creates a custom 3D rendering showing your project from every angle: material textures, lighting, sightlines from your window, even how the deck will look in shade. If something needs to change, we change it before a saw touches a board. You approve a design — not a hope.
- Renderings emailed for review
- Honest feedback — what you love, what you’d change
- Final design sign-off before we move to materials
Materials & Detailed Quote
With the design locked, we move to material selection and a fully itemized quote. Every line is broken out: AZEK or TimberTech composite line, Unilock or Techo-Bloc paver collection, fastener system, framing lumber grade, hardware finish — including all subcontracted trades. You approve the spec before anything is ordered. Your quote becomes your contract — and every number in it is the number you’ll pay.
- Material samples reviewed in-person or shipped
- Final spec sign-off
- Signed contract and project deposit (industry-standard schedule)
Permits & Scheduling
Permitting is where most home improvement projects lose weeks — so we handle every interaction with your municipality. Whether you’re in Hudson, Pepper Pike, Strongsville, Avon, or one of the 40+ Northeast Ohio communities we serve, we know the local inspectors, the local code, and the local timeline. We’ll lock in a tentative start date when you sign, then confirm it the moment permits clear.
- A signature on a permit application or two
- A confirmed start date — usually within 2–6 weeks of contract
- Nothing else. We handle every inspector interaction.
Construction & Daily Communication
Build day arrives. Your point of contact — the same one you’ve been working with — is on-site or available the entire build. You’ll get a daily update via text or email: what was done today, what’s happening tomorrow, any decisions we need from you. No “we’ll check in next week.” No vanishing crews. No silence. The same crew you met on day one is the crew finishing the project.
- Daily updates from your project lead — read at your convenience
- Quick decisions on the rare in-flight question (usually finishes or accents)
- Coffee for the crew, if you’re feeling generous
Final Walkthrough & Warranty
The project isn’t done when the build is done — it’s done when you walk through and approve every inch. We walk the project together with your jobsite supervisor, item by item. If anything is off, we fix it before we call it complete. Then we hand off our written warranty paperwork, manufacturer registrations on your AZEK, TimberTech, and Unilock products, and your point of contact for any future question. Year five, year ten, year fifteen — we’re still the call you make.
- 30–60 minute walkthrough at completion
- A punch list, if needed — addressed before final invoice
- Warranty paperwork in your hands and digitally archived
Why We Only Build With AZEK, TimberTech, Unilock, And Techo-Bloc.
Materials make or break a project — literally. Here’s why we’ve made the choice we have, and why we won’t quote anything else.
Engineered for Northeast Ohio.
AZEK and TimberTech composites are engineered to handle freeze-thaw cycles, lake-effect humidity, and the temperature swings every Northeast Ohio homeowner knows. Wood splits. Composite lasts..
Backed by the strongest warranties in the industry.
Our installations qualify for the longest residential warranties available — including TimberTech’s 50-year fade and stain warranty and AZEK’s lifetime limited warranty. Most other materials? Five to ten years and you’re hoping.
Designed to look like nothing else.
Premium composite, Unilock, and Techo-Bloc pavers don’t just outlast traditional materials — they look like the project you actually wanted. Wood-grain texture without the maintenance. Stone-grade hardscape without the cracking.
TimberTech Platinum Elite Contractor · Unilock Authorized
What To Expect — Honestly.
Every project is custom, but here’s the realistic range for typical scope, complexity, and conditions.
Smaller Projects
Mid-Sized Projects
Larger Projects
Timelines reflect active build days from permit clearance to final walkthrough. Permitting timelines vary by municipality. Weather, material backorders, and design revisions can extend project length — when they do, you’ll hear it from us first.
The Questions Homeowners Actually Ask.
If you’re considering a major outdoor living project, you probably want straight answers about how this actually works.
Do you handle the permits, or is that on me?
We handle every permit: applications, fees, inspections, and final sign-off. You'll sign a form or two, and we deal with your municipality directly. We've pulled permits across dozens of Northeast Ohio communities and know what each building department wants before we submit.
Will subcontractors be doing the work on my home?
Our core construction crews are in-house TAB staff: decks, structures, hardscape, all of it. We bring in licensed specialists for electrical, gas, and plumbing, the same Ohio trades we've worked with for years. Your project lead is on-site or reachable throughout, whoever is working that day.
What happens if I want to change something during the build?
Change orders are normal on custom work. When something comes up, we quote it in writing before any work proceeds, including any effect on the timeline. You approve every change before we make it, and nothing surprises you at billing.
How do you handle weather delays in Northeast Ohio?
Honestly — we plan for them. Most outdoor work doesn't proceed in heavy rain, deep cold (below ~25°F for hardscape), or active snow. When weather forces a pause, we let you know that day and reschedule the next available window. Spring and fall projects are most weather-stable; mid-summer and late-fall builds carry the most variability.
What’s covered under your warranty?
Two layers: our workmanship warranty (covers installation issues), and the manufacturer warranties on AZEK, TimberTech, Unilock, and Techo-Bloc products (which we register on your behalf). Combined, that's typically 25–50 years of coverage on materials and a lifetime workmanship guarantee on installation. Full warranty paperwork is delivered at final walkthrough.
Do you work year-round, or just in the warm months?
We work year-round — but the project type matters. Composite decking, structures, 3-season rooms, and indoor remodeling continue through winter. Hardscape (paver patios, fire pits, walkways) typically pauses December through February when the ground is frozen. Most Northeast Ohio homeowners book spring/summer projects in fall or winter to lock in their build window.