Decks by Premier vs DRD – Done Right Decks vs Deck Pro Company (2026)
For a design-led Kitchener deck, Decks by Premier is our best overall starting recommendation among these three. DRD – Done Right Decks fits a wider renovation; Deck Pro Company merits a material-led quote. Comparable drawings and written scopes can change the final choice.
TL;DR
- Choose Decks by Premier as the first custom-design candidate for a feature-rich deck.
- Ask DRD to price a deck integrated with other outdoor or interior renovation work.
- Ask Deck Pro Company for a material-led proposal, particularly when cedar, treated lumber or composite options matter.
- Compare the same layout, structural assumptions, permit duties and written exclusions before selecting anyone.
- Public descriptions establish fit, not workmanship rankings or the best price for your property.
No company paid for placement or publication of this article. Its recommendation is a disclosed, criteria-based editorial judgment, not an independent site inspection. Company service descriptions were checked in September 2026. No site-specific bids, build quality tests or current crew schedules were compared.
Three companies, three useful starting points
| The decision you face | Best initial call | Published basis | Question that could change the choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| A distinct custom deck is the centrepiece | Decks by Premier | Consultation drawing, design package and project-management process | Are the exact design deliverables and features in the quote? |
| Deck construction must align with wider renovation | DRD – Done Right Decks | Custom decks plus outdoor living and interior renovation services | Is one team accountable for every interface and schedule? |
| Board material and practical deck details are central | Deck Pro Company | Cedar, Sienna lumber, composite, railings and privacy screens | Which product line and structural scope does its proposal include? |
The table is a shortlist, not a claim that any builder is incapable of the other work. Each company advertises custom decks. The meaningful distinction is how clearly its public process speaks to a particular homeowner's most difficult decision.
Our “best overall” designation is deliberately narrow: a deck-led, design-sensitive project that needs a coordinated layout, material choices and features before a contract is signed. Decks by Premier publishes a consultation-to-build sequence with a basic 2D drawing, optional 3D presentation, material selection and a dedicated project manager.
Those are relevant signs of fit, not proof that every proposal will be superior.
DRD describes an on-site consultation, 3D rendering, customized quote and handling of drawings, permits and locates. That is a substantive design-build process too. Its wider renovation scope makes it especially interesting where the deck is only one part of the work.
Deck Pro Company describes floor plans, estimates, cedar and composite decks, railings and privacy screens. It is a valid custom-deck contender, not a generic low-tier substitute.
Start with the same project brief
The fastest way to make this comparison useless is to request three different decks. Give each company the same measured sketch, photographs, approximate finished height, intended uses and list of must-have features.
Identify door positions, neighbouring sight lines, tree roots, drainage concerns and where people will walk between house and yard.
Separate fixed needs from preferences. “A safe route from the patio door to the lawn” is a requirement. “Black metal guard with a glass section” may be an option. “Space for six diners” requires actual furniture clearances, not just a square-foot target.
Invite each builder to correct an unsafe or unworkable assumption rather than silently pricing it.
Ask for one comparable base design and priced alternates for a screen, lighting, premium boards or another level. If the designs differ substantially, compare their reasons before comparing totals.
A smaller footprint can lower a quote without solving the same brief; an elaborate rendering can look persuasive while leaving structural details open.
Design resolution: what will actually be decided?
Decks by Premier says each consultation includes a basic 2D deck drawing and offers 3D renderings. It also describes a design package with quote options and later tweaks.
For a complex deck, ask whether the supplied drawing locates stairs, furniture zones, privacy elements and adjacent structures, or merely outlines the platform. Optional 3D work should have a stated price and purpose.
DRD says its proposal includes a 3D rendering and customized quote. Ask whether that rendering is conceptual or tied to final dimensions and material specifications. When a deck connects to an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, room alteration or other renovation, demand one drawing set that shows the interface.
A beautiful view cannot replace the section or detail needed to build it.
Deck Pro Company says it provides floor plans for custom deck projects. Ask what these plans contain: dimensions, stairs, guard positions, footing locations and material notes, or only a top-down layout. That question is fair to all three companies.
The value of any drawing lies in how much ambiguity it removes before construction, not whether it is labelled 2D or 3D.
Materials: compare assemblies, not labels
Deck Pro Company publicly emphasizes cedar, Sienna lumber and composite, with railings and privacy screens as related options. That range makes it useful for a homeowner undecided between a natural wood appearance and a lower-upkeep surface.
Its public pages do not establish that any one board will be best on your particular site.
Decks by Premier discusses wood, composite and vinyl choices in its process. DRD promotes custom decks and names product partners on its company pages. Each can discuss multiple materials, but the quote must move beyond a category word.
Ask for brand, product line, profile, colour, fastening method and any manufacturer installation conditions that affect the frame.
Wood entails maintenance planning, but even composite and PVC decks require cleaning and attention to the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid promises that a deck is maintenance-free. Request care information for the exact products quoted, and ask how the builder will treat wet leaves, shade, ventilation and drainage on your site.
Construction and permitting: make responsibility visible
The City of Kitchener says a deck or porch needs a building permit when it is at least 24 inches above grade at any point or has a permanent roof. Its residential permit guidance lists site-plan and construction-drawing requirements.
A homeowner should confirm the project's actual zoning and permit path with the City.
DRD's published process says it handles drawings, permits and locates. That is a promising starting point; the contract should identify who submits documents, pays fees, answers municipal comments and books inspections.
Decks by Premier and Deck Pro Company should receive the same questions, even if a sales conversation suggests the process is routine.
Ask each bidder to describe the proposed footing strategy, framing, house connection, stairs and guards. Do not treat a conceptual rendering as structural documentation. If a covered area, hot tub or unusual span is contemplated, ask who determines whether professional design or separate approvals are needed.
The safest answer is a documented path, not a confident guess.
Ontario One Call's homeowner locate guidance explains the need to request utility locates before digging. State who will request and confirm them. If a service line, root, buried concrete or other obstruction changes the footing plan, require a documented revision and cost discussion before installation proceeds.
Guard products deserve particular care. Kitchener's permit page lists accepted systems and explains that product approvals vary. Give every builder the same guard preference, then ask for the exact system proposed. A photo of a glass or metal railing cannot show whether that specific assembly is appropriate for your project.
Who manages the interfaces?
Decks by Premier's public process identifies a project manager alongside its construction team. For the design-led brief, this is useful because one person can track decisions about materials, custom features and site changes. Ask for the role and response process in writing.
A named contact is most valuable when that person can authorize or escalate decisions promptly.
DRD's wider service menu may reduce handoffs for a project with outdoor living or interior work. Yet “one contractor” does not automatically mean one crew or one warranty across every trade.
Ask whether the deck, roof, kitchen and any electrical or plumbing work sit under one agreement, who supervises them and where responsibilities split.
Deck Pro Company presents a deck-centred offer that may be easier to scope when the project is primarily decking, railing and privacy. If landscaping, drainage or an accessory structure is also involved, ask how those outside tasks will be sequenced.
A clean boundary between contractors can work well when the owner knows who coordinates it.
Normalize the quote before discussing price
No current public source gives a fair, site-specific price comparison for these three builders. Ontario's renovation consumer guidance recommends written estimates from at least three contractors. Give all three the same brief and compare inclusions line by line.
List demolition and disposal, site protection, excavation, footings, framing, decking, fascia, stairs, guards, permits, inspections, tax and cleanup. Mark each line as included, excluded, allowance or unknown. An allowance is not an included fixed price; it needs a defined amount and an adjustment method.
Then compare payment schedules, change-order rules and workmanship terms. Do not infer the duration or coverage of a warranty from promotional language; ask for the written terms applicable to your job. Ask what happens if a manufacturer product fails versus if an installation detail needs correction.
If one bid is materially lower, identify the exact scope difference first. Perhaps it uses a smaller platform, fewer stairs or different guard. If its scope truly matches, ask the bidder to explain assumptions without insisting that a lower price signals poor quality.
Equally, a higher bid requires a clear added benefit, not only a more elaborate presentation.
A fair bid worksheet for this three-way decision
| Item to obtain | Decks by Premier | DRD | Deck Pro Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensioned base layout | Request | Request | Request |
| Exact surface and guard products | Request | Request | Request |
| Footing and framing assumptions | Request | Request | Request |
| Permit and locate owner | Request | Request | Request |
| Change-order method | Request | Request | Request |
| Comparable local project references | Request | Request | Request |
| Written workmanship terms | Request | Request | Request |
Fill the cells with actual documents, not sales promises. “Request” means the item has not been assessed here. This worksheet deliberately avoids speculative scores. A homeowner can attach each proposal and write a page or clause reference beside every answer.
What if the strongest proposal changes the ranking?
It should. Our recommendation is an entry point, not a commitment on your behalf. Decks by Premier leads this shortlist for a custom-design-centred deck because its published design and project-management process directly addresses that reader job.
A detailed, well-priced DRD or Deck Pro Company proposal could still be the better contract for a particular property.
If you need a coordinated deck-plus-renovation project, DRD's broader services may become decisive. If your layout is settled and you want a focused comparison of cedar, treated wood and composite assemblies, Deck Pro Company may answer the most valuable questions. Neither alternative is a consolation prize.
Conversely, Decks by Premier should not win just because the project sounds “custom.” Ask it to document design deliverables, product choices, permit responsibilities and the person managing the site. A claim of bespoke work must become a buildable scope and a contract you can understand.
Verdict: choose the proposal that resolves your risk
Decks by Premier remains our best overall recommendation for a Kitchener homeowner whose need is a feature-rich custom deck. DRD – Done Right Decks is the most relevant comparison for a deck embedded in wider renovation.
Deck Pro Company is a worthwhile material-led contender for a clearly scoped deck and its finishing details.
Give all three the same brief. Select the builder whose drawings, specifications, permit plan, price inclusions and project accountability best fit the property. That evidence is more decisive than any general ranking.