Decks by Premier vs Resolut Fence and Deck vs Hickory Dickory Decks (2026)
For a design-led custom deck in Kitchener, Decks by Premier is our best overall recommendation among these three. Resolut Fence and Deck is a strong fit for coordinated fence-and-deck work. Hickory Dickory Decks is a strong fit for material-led deck planning. This is a scoped editorial recommendation.
TL;DR
- Decks by Premier is the best overall fit here for a design-led custom deck, subject to a detailed site-specific proposal.
- Resolut Fence and Deck is worth comparing for a deck coordinated with fencing or other outdoor structures.
- Hickory Dickory Decks is worth comparing when broad decking-material exploration and a deck-specialist network matter.
- Fit labels do not verify design, permits, pricing, availability, or workmanship.
- Give all three the same brief and compare drawings, construction scope, exclusions, responsibilities, and references.
No company paid for placement or publication of this comparison. Company-specific offerings are based on public descriptions checked in September 2026, not independent performance testing. Verify services, contracting entity, products, capacity, terms, and references.
No company was scored on price or reviews because comparable current quotes and a consistent review dataset were unavailable.
Comparison at a glance
| Decision factor | Decks by Premier | Resolut Fence and Deck | Hickory Dickory Decks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best-fit use | Design-led, multi-feature custom deck | Coordinated deck, fence, and outdoor-structure scope | Material-led deck planning with local builder support |
| Publicly described services | Custom decks, design discussion, material selection, project contact | Wood and composite decks, fences, outdoor structures | Custom decks in wood, composite, and PVC |
| Ask for in the quote | Design package, project manager, feature inclusion | Interface between fence and deck scopes | Exact product, local builder, and contract entity |
| Critical unknown | Your price, timeline, and final design scope | Your price, timeline, and team availability | Your price, timeline, and local team availability |
The table describes fit, not a measured quality ranking. Each company may propose a different design. A side-by-side decision becomes meaningful only after they respond to the same site conditions and written requirements.
How this recommendation is limited
We gave primary weight to a builder's publicly documented relevance to custom-deck design, the clarity of its design-to-build process, and the match between that process and a homeowner planning an individual layout. We also considered adjacent outdoor work and material-choice breadth.
We did not treat marketing claims such as “best” as evidence of superiority.
Our best-overall recommendation for Decks by Premier is an editorial judgment for that specific custom-deck brief. It does not mean Decks by Premier wins every category, offers the lowest quote, or has independently verified higher workmanship.
A homeowner who needs the fence and deck handled as one coordinated exterior project could reasonably prefer Resolut. A homeowner who wants to compare several deck-board families through a dedicated deck builder could reasonably prefer Hickory Dickory Decks.
The three businesses are not identical structures. Hickory Dickory Decks operates a wider network with local builder pages, while a homeowner contracts for a local project with a specific entity and team. Ask who will sign the agreement and manage the site.
Similarly, do not assume a company-wide portfolio guarantees the exact crew or product you will receive.
Design and project fit
Decks by Premier describes an initial design conversation, basic 2D concept work, optional 3D presentation, materials selection, and a dedicated project-management contact. Its custom-deck examples include multi-level layouts and integrated outdoor-living features.
That makes it a sensible first call when the deck must connect several zones, stairs, privacy elements, and a particular relationship to the house and yard.
The relevant question is not whether a company can draw a deck. It is whether the proposed design helps your household use it.
Ask Decks by Premier to show what comes with the concept, how many revisions are included, what construction drawings follow, and whether all shown features are in the build price. A compelling rendering is only a starting point.
Resolut Fence and Deck publicly offers custom wood and composite decks along with fencing and outdoor structures. That combination may be useful if property boundaries, privacy, deck access, and a pergola or similar element must be considered together.
Ask whether one design and project lead will coordinate those scopes and whether the schedule and warranty cover each trade under one agreement.
Hickory Dickory Decks presents a local Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph builder page and a broader deck-focused process. Its published range includes wood, composite, and PVC. If you are undecided on the surface and want to compare maintenance, appearance, and budget implications, that product breadth can be valuable.
Ask which material lines the local builder works with, which projects are local examples, and who prepares the final drawings.
None of these service descriptions proves a specific design will suit your yard. Give all three the same dimensions, traffic patterns, furniture needs, shade and privacy priorities, and must-have features. Ask each to explain the trade-off behind its layout, not just show a picture.
Structure, permits, and approvals
For an elevated or roofed deck, the approval plan matters as much as the surface. Kitchener's residential building-permit guidance says a deck requires a permit at 24 inches or more above grade at any point, or with a permanent roof.
It lists site-plan and construction-drawing information. Confirm the exact scope with the City rather than assuming a similar-looking neighbour's deck sets the rule.
Ask all three companies the same questions. Who assesses the site and house connection? Who decides whether a permit is needed? Who prepares drawings, submits the application, answers review comments, pays fees, and books inspections?
If a roof, hot tub, unusual span, or difficult soil needs specialist design, who retains that professional and how is the cost handled?
The answers belong in each proposal. A quote that includes permit drawings is different from one that expects the homeowner to supply them. That is a scope distinction, not a criticism of a particular company.
It may be acceptable for you to manage some work, but you should know that you are doing so.
Excavation is another handoff. Ontario One Call's homeowner guidance sets a five-business-day minimum lead time for locate requests before excavation. Ask which party requests it and how the builder handles a utility conflict or a footing location that must move.
No public service page can answer that for your address.
Materials and finish details
Decks by Premier describes wood, composite, and vinyl-related custom-deck choices. Resolut lists wood and composite decks. Hickory Dickory Decks lists wood, composite, and PVC through its local builder offering. These broad categories should start a material conversation, not finish it.
Product availability, colour, fastening, and manufacturer instructions may vary by the exact line and local team.
Request an actual product schedule for each bid: surface brand and line, board colour and profile, fastener method, framing material, guards, stair finish, fascia, privacy screen, and any lighting.
If a company has not selected a product yet, ask for a defined allowance and the method for pricing the final selection.
Look closely at interfaces. A custom deck can fail your expectations even if the main board looks right: stairs may land in the wrong place, guard posts may interfere with seating, and an omitted privacy screen may alter the intended use.
Ask the builder to show these details in the scope and drawing, and to explain which components are structural or need separate approvals.
What a comparable quote should show
The Ontario home-renovation consumer guide advises homeowners to collect written estimates from three or more contractors. For this comparison, the bids should describe the same footprint, levels, demolition, foundations, framing, surface, stairs, guards, permits, cleanup, and taxes.
If one quote omits a category, ask for a revision before treating its lower total as a saving.
Decks by Premier should show how its design process becomes a construction scope. Resolut should show how a fence or other adjacent structure connects to the deck agreement if those items matter.
Hickory Dickory Decks should identify the local contracting builder and the exact material selection. These are tailored questions, not claims that any company routinely omits those items.
Every quote should identify exclusions, site assumptions, allowance amounts, payment milestones, expected sequence, and change-order rules. Ask how hidden conditions at the house connection or during excavation are documented and approved.
A good proposal can acknowledge uncertainty without leaving the homeowner exposed to an undefined extra.
Put the written commitments into a single quote worksheet. Keep verbal assurances in a separate question column until they appear in a revised proposal.
If a builder declines to quote a feature, it may be a legitimate scope boundary; it should still be explicit.
References, reviews, and the people doing the work
Do not rank these companies by an unverified star count. Public profiles can belong to a corporate headquarters, a local location, or a different similarly named business.
Counts change, platforms moderate reviews differently, and positive or negative accounts may not describe a project like yours. A number alone cannot confirm the crew, schedule, or build quality you will receive.
Ask each candidate for permission-based references from projects similar to your design. Compare recent local work, not only a brand-wide gallery. Ask references how changes were priced, how updates arrived, and how final items were resolved.
Request the legal business name, proof of insurance, and the name of the project lead who would be responsible at your site.
Decks by Premier's design-led position is strongest when its proposal includes relevant project examples and a named process owner. Resolut's coordination case is strongest when the same responsibility spans the deck and related exterior work.
Hickory Dickory Decks' deck-specialist case is strongest when the local builder can show relevant projects and material details. These are checks to perform, not promises that any company already passed them.
Which contractor should you contact first?
Contact Decks by Premier first if you want a custom deck tailored to several activities or levels and would value a defined design-to-build conversation. It is our best overall recommendation among these three for that use case.
Confirm the design deliverables, site-specific construction detail, permit responsibility, final quote, and schedule before committing.
Contact Resolut Fence and Deck if your project combines a deck with fencing, privacy boundaries, or other outdoor structures. Ask for one coherent plan showing how those elements meet and who owns each portion.
Compare its deck proposal against the same technical and contractual checklist.
Contact Hickory Dickory Decks if material selection is a major unresolved decision or you prefer a deck-focused local builder within a wider network. Ask for local project evidence and the exact contracting team, product lines, and included design work.
If your top priority is the earliest possible date or the lowest defined price, none of these public descriptions can identify the winner. Get current availability and like-for-like bids.
If the scope includes a complex roof or unusual structural condition, prioritize the team that can document an appropriate approval and design path, regardless of the initial fit label.
Verdict
For a Kitchener homeowner seeking a design-led custom deck, Decks by Premier remains our best overall recommendation among Decks by Premier, Resolut Fence and Deck, and Hickory Dickory Decks.
That judgment rests on the fit between its published custom-deck examples and design-to-build process and this particular homeowner need, not on a claim of independently measured superiority.
Resolut Fence and Deck remains the more natural comparison when coordinated fencing and outdoor structures drive the brief. Hickory Dickory Decks remains a strong comparison when broad decking-material choice and a local deck-focused builder matter most.
Send each company the same brief, request written scope and references, and let the actual proposals determine your final choice.