We Love Deck Builders

The most successful deck builders don't just price higher. They know exactly what every job needs to cost to be worth doing. Most builders match the going rate, underestimate their labor burden, and end the year busy but not much richer. Brad Huebner is a Marine turned contractor turned coach who spent 11 years running his own construction business, 2,500 projects deep, before going full time...

The most successful deck builders close jobs at the job site. They draw the deck on a tablet, generate the material takeoff, and present a branded proposal before they leave the driveway. Most builders are still losing the deal in the 24 to 48 hours it takes to follow up. In this episode, April sits down with Ryan Weiss, Director of Partner Business Development, and Patrick Caldwell, Director of P...

FutureScape USA brings deck builders into a bigger conversation with landscape professionals, designers, suppliers, manufacturers, and outdoor-living leaders. Join April Edwards, FutureScape USA Event Director Tom Glasby, and DBM’s Jack for an honest conversation about what builders can learn from that room—and why the strongest partnerships often begin online but become real in person. Why deck b...

What does it take to build outdoor spaces that hold up in Hawaii’s demanding climate while earning lasting trust from homeowners, crews, vendors, and the local community? In this episode of We Love Deck Builders, April Edwards talks with Chad and Liana Hilweh of Hawaii Deck Builders / Hilweh Builders LLC about the realities of building in Hawaii, climate-aware durability, and the values that guide...

If your pricing is even slightly off, it’s costing you—on every single job. Most builders don’t see it until it’s already cutting into their margins. In this episode, Brian Miller breaks down what was actually holding his deck company back, how estimating became the bottleneck, and what changed when he fixed it. If your quotes take too long, your profits feel tighter than they should, or you’re no...

The most successful deck builders in our world do not spread themselves across five services. They pick one and get exceptional at it. Most builders never make that call. Jayson Rybak, owner of Deck Crafters in Monmouth County, New Jersey, walked away from a secure job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to build decks full time, and turned that decision into a deck-only company wit...

On June 24th, NADRA hosted a networking event in Carlsbad, CA, bringing together builders, manufacturers, suppliers, lenders, and outdoor living professionals from across the region. Join me and my special guest, Jenn Zedaker of NADRA as we recap the event and discuss how much of this industry still moves through relationships, conversations, and in-person connection. Because while marketing, syst...

A lot of deck builders are trying to grow a business that was never really designed to grow beyond them. The owner is often the best salesperson, the best problem solver, the quality control person, the scheduler, the customer relationship person, and the final decision maker. That works in the beginning. But at some point, the business has to stop running through the owner’s head. In this episode...

The deck builders who are growing right now have two things running: a front-end sales system that automates follow-up and keeps the pipeline full, and JobTread managing every job on the back end. Most builders have one or neither — and the gap between those two things is costing them more than they realize. April sits down with Philip Sessions of Refined VA, the company that implements JobTread f...

No script. No fluff. Just real conversations around what’s actually happening right now—and what deck builders need to be paying attention to. If you're serious about growing your business, this is one you won’t want to miss. What to expect: Topics that deck builders should be paying attention to right now Insights and conversations you won’t hear anywhere else Real talk around what’s working...

Paid ads aren’t what they used to be—and if you’re running Google Ads the same way you did even a year ago, you’re already falling behind. In this episode, April sits down with Vinita Swami, PPC Specialist at Deck Builder Marketers, to break down what’s actually changing in paid ads right now. From AI-driven campaigns to automation inside Google Ads, they unpack what’s working, what’s not, and whe...

Most builders focus on doing great work—but in today’s market, that’s only part of the equation. In this episode, Wes Kain shares how he’s built a career that goes beyond the job site, combining construction experience with branding, visibility, and opportunity. From TV to racing to industry partnerships, his perspective challenges how most builders think about growth. In this workshop, we’ll brea...

Most deck builders do not have a lead problem. They have a system problem; and proof is one of the biggest pieces they are missing. In this solo episode, April breaks down why your best work is not selling your next project, what serious homeowners are checking before they ever call, and how Builder Story Day fixes the proof gap in one focused day. What you will walk away with:Why "more leads...

In this episode, Phil Parsons from KP Homescapes shares the shift from high-output construction to a more structured, engineering-driven way of building—where planning, performance, and systems drive every project.  What we'll cover: What actually breaks when you scale without systems in place Why narrowing your focus leads to better execution and stronger projects How thinking like an enginee...

As a deck builder, it’s easy to get stuck handling everything yourself—from leads to customer service to operations. But what happens when those tasks start piling up and slowing down your growth? In this episode, we sit down with Michael Allen, VP of Sales at Sphere Rocket VA, to discuss how deck builders can leverage virtual assistants (VAs) to solve their biggest bottlenecks. Whether it's c...

If you feel like you’re working just as hard—but the jobs you’re getting aren’t the ones you actually want—this is for you. A lot of deck builders think they have a lead problem. But in reality, it’s a positioning and system problem. The way your business shows up, your website, your messaging, and your follow-up directly impacts the type of clients you attract. In this episode, April breaks down:...

What does building a successful business really look like behind the scenes? In this episode of the We Love Deck Builders Podcast, April Edwards brings on her husband, Isaac, for an honest conversation about the reality of growth—what it takes, what it costs, and what actually matters along the way. They will cover: • The unseen challenges of building a business while raising a family • The hardes...

Most deck builders think free estimates are just “part of the business.” But what if they’re actually the reason your calendar is full — and your profit isn’t? In this episode, Brad Huebner — Marine veteran, former contractor, and founder of Hammer & Grind — breaks down why free estimates keep builders stuck in the grind and how to shift into a real sales process that protects your time and in...

What if the people supplying your materials see growth signals in your business before you do? In this episode, April Edwards chats with Lainie Sleppin and Trisha Holman of Decks & Docks to unpack what suppliers and manufacturers are seeing across the market right now—and what separates the builders who are scaling from the ones who feel stuck. From professionalism in 2026 to co-op marketing d...

The builders who have strong seasons don’t wait until April to fix what’s broken — they tighten up the systems now. In this live episode, we’ll cover: • What to review on your website before demand picks up • Why lead quality matters more than lead volume • The sales gaps that quietly hurt your close rate • How strategic builders prepare differently If you want spring to feel intentional instead o...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dan Antonelli, CEO of KickCharge® Creative, to talk about how branding directly affects the quality of leads deck builders attract. We break down why solid craftsmanship isn’t enough if your trucks, website, and visuals don’t build trust fast — and how homeowners decide who feels “legit” before ever reaching out. Dan Antonelli shares what he sees holding builders b...

We’re breaking down why momentum often drops right after a builder decides to grow, including what gets underestimated early on, and what separates builders who gain traction from those who stall. Hosted by April Edwards, founder of Deck Builder Marketers and host of the We Love Deck Builders Podcast. Learn more about April Edwards https://deckbuildermarketers.com/april-edwards/ ------------------...

In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Boswell from Boswell & Associates , a leading marketing and consulting agency specializing in retail space optimization. Michael shares his expertise on designing showrooms that can maximize ROI for deck builders. With years of experience helping businesses in the outdoor living industry drive sales through strategic space design, he offers actionable i...

In this episode, we chat with David Settlemyer, lead designer at Under The Sun Concepts (UTS Concepts), a luxury design and build firm known for its stunning custom outdoor living spaces. Recently, David and UTS Concepts partnered on multiple projects recognized at the 2025 NADRA National Deck Awards, including top honors for Open Porch and Product Display. He shares his design process, how UTS br...

Dr. Decks has an incredible reputation for sharing  real-world insights  and  practical tips  that will elevate your deck-building game. Whether you’re looking for business strategies, tech tips, or just some  honest, builder-to-builder conversations , you’ll want to tune in.