As someone who has been around the construction industry for most of his life, Dave Lyons can often look at a finished project and tell right away if it was built properly and if the contractor followed all of the appropriate codes. This superpower even shows up when he is off the clock, much to the chagrin of his wife and family.

"We'll be out somewhere and I'll look at a structure and say, 'Well, that wasn't done right,'" Lyons shares with a laugh. "And they'll say, 'Stop it – we're supposed to be out to dinner!"

Although Lyons' attention to detail might irk his loved ones from time to time, it is nothing but a benefit for the clients of his thriving outdoor living business, Archadeck of Delaware. Specializing in decks, patios/hardscapes, screened porches and sunrooms, along with all of the in-demand amenities, the company combines the local knowledge of Lyons and his staff with the backing of a national corporation that has completed more than 100,000 projects worldwide.

Lyons himself has extensive experience with both the design and construction aspects, having started at a young age. He regularly tagged along on jobs with his father, a general contractor, and later worked for his family's hardware store while building decks in his spare time. Lyons eventually became the lead project manager for a major residential construction firm before leaving to start two companies of his own: Archadeck and DNA Siding & Roofing.

Bringing clients' backyard oases to life is particularly rewarding for him.

"It's not really a job for me," Lyons says. "I'm not doing this to get rich: I'm doing it to be happy in life. It's gratifying to be able to help people, to solve their problems and to fix things that nobody else seems to be able to fix."

At Archadeck of Delaware, the process starts with Lyons personally visiting a client's home. That is different from many other companies in the industry, which rely on slick salespeople who don't know the first thing about actually constructing an outdoor project.

"Usually the first appointment is for us to find out if we can be a good fit for each other," he says. "This is a project that's going to take some time, so we need to be able to work together. I spend roughly an hour with the customers and I take detailed measurements, I do a sketch, I show them some pictures of work that I've done before, I have a short presentation about the company, and then I talk to them about budget so we can agree on what they want me to build and what they can spend. From there, we will meet again, look at more detailed drawings and look at the proposal, and they'll be able to make a decision."

Along the way, Lyons will make suggestions about the best materials, design ideas and deck size, while staying true to the financial commitment the customer is willing to make. He handles all of the permits, will provide 3D drawings to be presented to a homeowner's association, if applicable, and can offer several financing options.

In addition to his vast experience, he regularly attends Archadeck's national conferences where he is able to compare notes with other franchise owners while meeting vendors and deck board manufacturers to learn about the latest trends in the industry. One that he feels strongly about is the use of steel framing, whether for wood decks or the more common composite variety.

"The advantages are it's lighter and stronger, you have fewer posts and you can get a longer span," he says. "The disadvantage is that it costs more money. It's difficult to sell that to a client because it's an upgrade that will add $6,000 to the project. I think it's the way things should go, but it's probably going to take some time to catch on. It's just like when they first came out with composites – a lot of people were still putting up wood decks. Now, for every nine composite decks, there might be one wood deck that we do."

Most of Archadeck's jobs nowadays also include a combination of either a deck and a patio or a deck and a screened porch. Lyons' experience as a roofer proves to be beneficial when a shade structure is added or the space essentially serves as an extension of the house.

Whatever type of project a customer is looking for, they can rest assured knowing that Lyons and his team are committed to delivering top-notch results that will stand the test of time.

"My satisfaction comes from making sure that the jobs are built correctly," he says. "Our goal is not necessarily to be the cheapest company in town, but to produce a high-quality product."

Archadeck of Delaware
Hockessin, Del.
(302) 240-9225
Archadeck.com/Delaware

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 3 (January/February 2024)
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