Deck Helmet

Avoid Deck Helmet, and the «CEO» salesman Jason Apter.
Summary of problems with the CEO and the company:
– High-​pressure sales pitch, using low-​level tactics. Don’t be fooled by the party van.
– When terms are in question during an initial 3-​day window, uses delay tactics to avoid your ability to refund or change the contract.
– Displays little customer regard or respect. Uses, «Not going to happen.» «Be my guest» «I’m the CEO of Deck Helmet, I own the company, so go file a complaint.» words when speaking to customers.
We scheduled an appointment with Jason Apter for an estimate on April 20, 2016. My wife (decision maker) was not able to speak English, so my mother was translating for her.
After pressuring them into a signing contract, they put down a $ 4000 deposit to get the project started. My wife realized one day later that she had forgotten an important piece of the project (corners of our deck needed to be extended within the same budget) and immediately asked me to write to Jason and provide those details to see if they could be done without adding additional cost, and that we would ONLY proceed if it could be done. This was within ONE day of the contract signing. I provided all of the details of what we wanted included in the email, including a drawing. Jason briefly replied he needed to come to the house again, but his earliest time was the following week. (I’m sure he purposely suspended the conversation so it would be difficult to ask for a refund).
After coming out to the house and realizing that the project could not be completed according to our conditions, he simply remarked, «well it’s past the 3 days, so I can’t give you a refund, sorry. That’s not definitely not happening.» The project would actually cost us an additional several thousand dollars, which he could have simply told us over the phone on the day I provided questions about viability. I would have cancelled it then. But he delayed the conversation until the following week and used «contracts» as an excuse.
Again, on another request by phone for refund because we really felt the project could not be accomplished by Deck Helmet, Jason remarked «That’s not happening.» After telling him that I need to file a complaint to the company, he simply said, «I own the Deck Helmet. So be my guest.» «We have contracts for a reason.»
I kindly asked him for a refund again, in exchange for a good review for customer service, and he simply said, «not happening. just relax and get your deck fixed.»
This is a company that doesn’t care about the customer, but just wants to lock-​in the bottom line. I would avoid them at all costs if possible, and especially the so-​called «CEO.» He would rather burn relationships with customers than refund a few thousand dollars.

Way cheaper than a whole new deck, and I like the composite way better anyhow! No more splinters, only beautiful summer barbecues. Thank you, Deck Helmet!

I absolutely love this company and their great customer service. The workers were awesome from start to finish. They were friendly, cheerful, and seemed to enjoy their job. They worked long days to powerwash my deck, buff chemicals into the remaining wood to cure it, replace rotted boards, and paint my deck. They were careful to put up plastic over my siding so that paint would not get on my house. There were several boards after painting where the grain of the wood raised up and would have been a problem for splinters. The company sent a crew out to pull up those boards and repaint the entire deck the next day! They used two different colored paints… one for the railing and one for the flooring. The colors were true to the samples they had me look at. I signed my contract on October 9, 2015 and the deck was completed on October 31, 2015.
The carpentry crew was kind enough to remove some heavy planters and a table off my deck before painting. After the deck cured for 3 days, they came back to my house to put the table back on the deck for me. I am truly amazed by the fabulous customer service this company provides.
My deck looks brand new even though it is 25 years old. I am getting so many compliments from family and friends about how beautiful my deck looks once again. I highly recommend this company.

Deck Helmet was great to work with. Their team were on time, very professional and not very salesy like most contractors are.

Major issue is lack of communication. All calls go through a call center. Call center rep takes all the information and puts you on hold saying they are trying to contact the «Customer Service Manager» and of course that person is never available. That is the most frustrating thing about my experience with Deck Helmet. Now the work was good, but dirt is almost impossible to remove. I had the deck done in mid-​june. I walked on the deck five days after completion and dirt was tracked on. Tried to wash off with hose, no luck, tried soap and brush, no luck, tried Fantastic, no luck. Even with all the rain we have had the dirt remains. I did send an email to the customer service assistant and was told to use Moldex from Home Depot but they no longer carry that in the stores, only online. I mean there has to be a way to get dirt and stains off this deck. If someone from Deck Helmet reads this please let me know how to clean this damn thing. Also I checked the Not Helpful button on the photos because if your deck looks like that after they are done, you are either very lucky or they replaced all the boards on your deck.

I signed a contract with Deck Helmet on 23 April, understanding that they have 90 days to complete the work. I have tried for over three weeks to discuss scheduling or a refund and all I get is a call center. Customer representative will not return my calls. This is the worst customer service I have ever experienced with a contractor, especially after taking $ 6000.00 dollars. What is the problem with this company? Take a customer’s money and run? They need to keep their customers up to date and answer their questions.

DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE!!!
We had them out for an estimate and they tried the hard sell «This deal is only good until I walk out the door» crap. We didn’t bite … so the next day they called us to give us the deal we wanted (half off the original estimate). They guaranteed to have the work done within 30 days (in writing). That’s when the nightmare began. We paid $ 1500 up front with the remaining $ 1500 due upon completion.
The first guy out who sprayed the deck with some sort of stripper solution and promptly power washed it off didn’t do a thing to get rid of our existing paint. When the paint crew came, they puttied all rotted holes in the deck (instead of replacing the wood as they promised) and then painted over the existing paint. Two days later the entire deck had bubbled over. We demanded they fix the issue … strip ALL paint completely off down to the wood and then repaint, like they should have done to begin with. They also left paint foot prints on the top of our fence from walking along the fence to reach the deck, and didn’t bother sanding down any splinters — they painted over the splinters on all of the rails and left a HORRIBLE looking mess in their wake.
We lost track of how many times they came out … they’d schedule for one day and then we wouldn’t hear anything for a week. They tried sanding down the entire deck with a large sander but brought a floor buffer instead (idiots) and wasted a day buffing our deck. Then they started sanding everything by hand and spent a couple of weeks attempting to remove the paint. They barely made a dent. By that point we were so frustrated with their shoddy work we called corporate and canceled the job. Evidently they had never had someone try that before…
We submitted a claim with our credit card to receive the money we had paid back. We ended up stripping the deck ourselves (not too hard) and replaced 6 pieces of 16′ boards that were rotted through and should have been removed to begin with. I’m pleased to say our deck looks fantastic now — no help at all from Deck Helmet.

We signed a contract with Deck Helmet on March 3, 2015. The contract states that they had 90 days (until May 31, 2015) to complete the deck resurfacing. We gave them a 50% deposit. The work has not been completed to date. (Not only has the work not been completed by the date on the contract, Egor Ferucci, the salesperson promised to have the work completed in April or the beginning of May because he knew that we were expecting a baby mid-​May and wanted the work finished before the baby arrived.) The contract specifically states, «In the event that temperatures fall below 35 f. Your Project will be transferred to Spring 2015 and will be completed by May 31, 2015.» Temperatures have been constantly above 35 degree Fahrenheit since at least mid to late March.
When the work was not completed in a timely manner as spelled out by the contract, I reached out to Deck Helmet. Initially I attempted to reach Saul Meneces on several occasions with no success. Finally when I did get a hold of him, he made it very clear that he understood my frustrations and assured me that a full refund would be issued. There were no questions, it was just a straight, «I will talk with the accounting department and get the refund issued.» I then received an email with a refund request form attached. As previously stated, Saul had stated that he would talk with their accounting department and have the amount refunded. There was no mention of me needing to fill anything out. I suspected something was awry and that Saul provided me with a false promise to get me off of the phone. I went along with filling out the form because I could not get Saul back on the phone. Now, two weeks later, I got an email response signed by Jason Apter (their CEO based on a web search, as the email itself was simply signed with his name, not his title) stating that the refund request was denied. I had already been told that they would refund the deposit because they had not completed the work in the time promised by Saul. Additionally, I have called Deck Helmet at least 4 times since my initial refund conversation with Saul on June 1^st and cannot get a representative to call me back.
Deck Helmet’s customer service is abysmal. It is impossible to get a live person, outside of their call center, on the phone. What generally happens is you call the number, and it rings through to a call center, even though Saul told me that he was giving me his direct line. They collect an extensive amount of information about you, the caller, every time that you call, and create a new ticket with each call. They then claim to attempt to transfer you to the person that you are calling to speak with. That person, in this case, Saul Meneces, is never at his desk, a request is sent to him to call you the customer back, and you, the customer, never get a call back. I have, on several occasions, in my attempts to speak with someone, asked to speak with a supervisor, or just a live person, and those requests have been denied every time. I have never dealt with such poor customer service as I have with Deck Helmet. Do not use them. Stay far away.
My wife and I decided to go with Deck Helmet because a neighbor had a good experience with them. Unfortunately our experience is the complete opposite. STAY AWAY FROM DECK HELMET!

I just wanted to give the young salesman that came out to my house Saturday (5.30.15) a thumbs-​up. He drove to my home clear across town on a very hot humid day. He was presentable in a neat Deck Helmet uniform and he was very pleasant & affable. He presented very well and gave me all the information I needed without a lot of filler. As much as I appreciated the salesman, I regret that I won’t be using this product — for 2 reasons — the near $ 6000 quote was the exact same price I paid to have the 23′ x 8′ deck installed 8 years ago was a huge factor; the other reason — I was hoping for a clear coating. I don’t want the deck painted any particular color, I don’t like the painted look, I love and prefer the original natural color of the wood after I deep powerwash it and I really didn’t like any of the colors offered. They looked nice on other decks but again I prefer the natural appearance of the original wood. But the salesman worked hard to get my quote lowered and he did get it lowered to $ 4500 but that was the «today» price, which I wasn’t expecting frankly. I simply wanted to get an idea of what their service costs, an estimate. I had no expectation nor the inclination to buy or sign anything that day. But I can’t fault the salesman for trying to do his job. I frankly just had no idea it would cost THAT much. But I wasn’t surprised. I’ve come to realize that any company that can afford to advertise on WTOP is usually going for the high-​end market. I live in Capitol Heights, I could build a deck of goldleaf cherry wood and it wouldn’t raise the value of the home. I can put $ 4500 somewhere else in the house. In the meantime I’ll just powerwash it as I usually do and put a couple of coats of clear sealant on it and I’m okay with that. It’s not like I have a great view, it’s a very private elevated deck with privacy fencing around it and I’m pretty much the only one who uses it. The salesman was great though and I really appreciated him coming over and for his high level of professionalism. This review was NOT to say it’s a bad product, I’m sure it is a fine product, just not suited for my preferences. Thanks again.

Holy crap — had these guys out for an estimate (way high) and now call my cell phone literally 3 times per week. Have asked them not to keep calling — but alas, continue to call they do! Had to actually put their number on auto reject. Bunch of clowns. Maybe a friendly Unilocal review will finally do the trick. Regardless — you take a single call from these guys and you have a «friend» for life.

A year since my last review and the deck still looks great and no issues with boards or the sealant that Deck Helmet applied. Still continues to be a job well done a year later.

I couldn’t even get passed the initial phone call. They won’t work around your schedule, and not willing to answer basic questions. Operator kept pushing to have someone come out and take a look. Once I gave my info I told her I need a Saturday date, she insisted that they come out on a Friday or Thursday — despite me telling her I need Saturday because I am not home during work hours. If the initial call was this bad, I can only imagine the actual service.

I was visiting a friend in Maryland for a long weekend of cookouts and leisurely poolside chats. When I visited last year we had to grill out in the yard because the deck was in such bad shape. It was cracked in lots of places, full of splinters and looked pretty shaky. This year their deck was perfect. We grilled out on the deck and sat out in the sun with no need for sneakers to get down the stairs to the patio area, then to the pool. I asked them how much it cost to put the new deck on and they told me that it was the same deck as before — that they’d hired Deck Helmet to refurbish it. I didn’t even know that was possible. I would have thought the old deck ended up in the fire pit last year. I was telling a local friend about them the other day and lo and behold, they will travel to you. That’s pretty cool. I was very impressed with their work and would recommend them to anybody who wants to improve the appearance and functionality of their deck.

My experience with Deck Helmet was great! From booking to the completion of my deck repair the process was smooth. I loved being able to schedule my appointment online independent of speaking to a representative. The team arrived on time and were pleasant. I didn’t even see them take a break. A few hours went by and my deck rustic looking deck was finished to a nice mahogany color. The drying process was even quick! I would certainly recommend this company, the work was solid.

I found Deck Helmet online and booked an appointment online for them to come out and give us an estimate (and let us know if our deck was even salvageable!).
The representative arrived a few minutes early, assured us that they could restore the deck and replace any rotted boards/​posts, and gave us a reasonable estimate. They offered to begin work that afternoon and had the job done by the third day. The Deck Helmet team was respectful, professional, and very tidy. Wish they could do all my interior jobs, too!
We now have a lovely deck that we can have BBQ’s on without the fears of falling through or getting splinters!

I had heard about Deck Helmet, after getting ads in the mail, hearing their commercials on the radio, and having them come up on my Google search. Another consideration was the fact that my uncle used them for his deck. He was very impressed with the job they did. So I scheduled an appointment to get a free estimate. Our deck was in sad shape so I went to their website and scheduled an appointment. I received an email confirmation the next day for my appointment with Team Egor.
They confirmed my suspicion that the floor boards needed replacing. They also said that they could coat the wood, but didn’t really recommended it. They seemed sincerely concerned about creating a long term relationship with me as a customer. So, about an hour after I agreed to the work and the price with the associate, a crew came out and power washed the deck and the rails.
They gave me several options, and I appreciated that they took the time to explain every step, and deliver exactly what they promised. The Deck Helmet system restored my deck like new at half the cost of replacement, and they completed the work in one day. Egor and his team were very friendly, polite and did an excellent job!

I only have good things to say about Deck Helmet — my cousin used them and raved about the job they did. They are a very professional company that works hard to impress their customers and make sure that the work they do is helpful, efficient, safe and nicely done. Getting your deck redone is an important decision, and you want to pick the right company for the job. Deck Helmet is a great choice for anyone who is looking to get fast and reliable service.

Was told by several contractors that I should have my old deck demolished and replaced. The quotes I was given were extremely high. I contacted Deck Helmet after seeing their advertisement in the Washington Post. Was very pleased with the quote — fraction of the cost to rebuild. Was even more pleased with the results. Looks better than when it was new. Was also very impressed with the professionalism of the crew.

I scheduled an appointment to receive a free estimate from Deck Helmet, after hearing their ads on the radio, receiving advertisements in the mail, and having them come up on an internet search. I scheduled the appointment online, and received an email confirmation the next day for my appointment with Team Egor.
One week later, I received an email stating that my appointment had been canceled because I was out of the service area. I could call and receive an estimate over the phone, but couldn’t get an in-​person estimate. I found this particularly annoying because they heavily advertise in my area (Herndon, Va), including creating a webpage that specifies Herndon as an area they service:

I never received a phone call or anything. I will be looking for another company and will never do business with Deck Helmet. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone. if they treat potential customers this way, I can’t imagine how bad they would treat me after they have my money.

Was very happen with Sean & Jason who were more than helpful in my decision to either redo my deck or to scrape it all together. After a mild winter this year it was pertinent to decide how much time I want to spend outside this summer doing BBQ’s and parties for the neighborhood. Having a solid deck that is attractive looking was essential but also making sure that it’s stable was a concern of mine. Thanks to their help they guided me through the process and over delivered on the deck repair job for my house!