Get Quotes Contact Us Sign In
Website
Call
Unique Deck Builders is the #1 Builders of Roof decks and Back Decks in Chicago, we are the #1 installer of Deckorators and Trex Composite Decking and Rails. Stop by our showroom at 172 Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park, IL displaying the Unique Colors available in low maintenance Composite Decking with Aluminum and Cable rails on display that Include a 50-year Material and 25-year Labor warranty. We can extend your outdoor living space with our decking, we turn your Garage or Homes Pitched roof into the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space.
Follow us
Services
Unique Deck Builders is the #1 Builders of Roof decks and Back Decks in Chicago, we are the #1 installer of Deckorators and Trex Composite Decking and Rails. Stop by our showroom at 172 Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park, IL displaying the Unique Colors available in low maintenance Composite Decking with Aluminum and Cable rails on display that Include a 50-year Material and 25-year Labor warranty. We can extend your outdoor living space with our decking, we turn your Garage or Homes Pitched roof into the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space.
We had a garage deck built including the stairs up to the garage roof. The team on site was good, fast, and clean (if that's important to you). The amount of progress that was made daily was incredible to watch. In fact, our neighbors all commented on how amazing the quality and the speed was that they built the deck.
Making your rooftop vision a reality for commercial, hospitality, and residential projects. Like many people during the pandemic, we were looking to expand our outdoor space to spend family time together. We had a fantastic experience with Joel and his crew at Unique Deck Builders. They worked with us on a difficult project with some complicated carpentry. We've been recommending them to our neighbors and friends, and I would say they should be your first call if you're considering a roof deck project!
Joel was the only supplier candidate who insisted that the support boards be 12 inches on center. They had been 24 inches. That suggestion proved invaluable. Eight years later, animal control couldn't put it back together. Joel checked it out and sent a team next day to repair. I highly recommend them.
Reviews (24)
Write a Review
Neel M.
Aug 20, 2021
Great experience. We hired Unique to build a deck, patio and pergola. Easy process with Joel giving a detailed estimate and drawing very quickly. The team was on budget, did fast work, had great communication and went the extra mile by providing a few extras out of the initial scope without charging. What more can you ask for. Matt and his brother who handled the carpentry were a pleasure to work with and worked hard despite blistering heat. Great group.
Jonathan Douglas
Aug 12, 2021
Working with Joel and his team a few years ago was a truly outstanding experience. He helped us design a deck, pergola and siding for unique space, provided really good recommendations and insight, and worked with us on tweaks, budget, architectural renderings and permitting. When it came to the work, his crew was outstanding. All of our neighbours complimented on their friendliness, professionalism and tidiness, which just made it all a low-stress endeavor.

Every day they kept the place immaculate and the nose to a minimum, which was important with young kids. But here's the difference: we had a few issues with the manufacturing of some of the composite posts and railings. Joel went out of his way to get the manufacturer to replace not just the few problem pieces, but all of it. He insisted that there had to be no safety concerns, and ensured that we had full confidence in the materials.

His crew redid nearly half of the original work, at no expense to us, because he stands by his work and his material partners. You hope you never run into issues, but it's great to know companies like Unique Deck Builders will really be there for you if things do happen. After all the work that was put in, we really enjoyed our deck for several years before we decided to move to a bigger place.

The deck his team built was the centerpiece of the unit during the selling process, and we got so many interested buyers because it made our place a little oasis. We got our money back and more on our deck. When we need more work done, Joel will be my first and only phone call. Because that is what you get with Joel: friendliness, honesty, flexibility, supreme craftsmanship, reliability, all at a reasonable cost. It's the best investment you can make in your place.
Arvin D.
Jun 10, 2021
Joel and his team are incredible. He was able to size and recommend everything after a visit. His team were amazing and with two weeks of construction time, we had the most beautiful deck ready. Joel made it incredibly easy and efficient. We can't recommend them enough!
Phil E.
May 25, 2021
We had a garage deck built including the stairs up to the garage roof. Joel and team were amazing to work with. Super transparent and communicative about the entire process. The team on site was good, fast, and clean (if that's important to you). The amount of progress that was made daily was incredible to watch. In fact, our neighbors all commented on how amazing the quality and the speed was that they built the deck. I would highly recommend giving Joel a call. You won't be disappointed.
Jacquelyn K.
May 25, 2021
I reviewed multiple deck builders and am beyond thrilled with Unique Deck Builders. Other companies are trying to get as much money from you as possible. This company was the opposite. They made many suggestions to save me money. The process of selecting what we wanted was very collaborative with the team and they had ideas that made our deck much better than we ever expected.

The design is much more creative and unique than we could even imagine. They suggested we connect our top floor to the deck which made an unused Juliet balcony now addition square footage of outdoor space. The update absolutely added value to our home. The team was so friendly and professional and finished the job at least a week faster than we expected. It was a fantastic experience. Could not recommend this company more!
Leon S.
Apr 16, 2021
I can not speak for their work. I had them come out for an estimate and met with Joel. He was friendly and after looking at the plans we had drawn he joked that a lot of others probably would run away from this project. He took pictures of the plans I had and told me he would get back to me. I told him I could send a PDF copy but he replied the pictures would be fine.

After hearing nothing for 2 weeks I contacted Joel who replied that I never sent him the PDFs of the drawings. Ok no problem, maybe I misunderstood. So I sent him the files. Never heard back from Joel again. I've tried to contact him twice since then and have gotten no reply. I didn't realize he would be the one running away. If you don't want to take on a project at least have the backbone to say you don't want to do it. Ghosting me like a teenager is not very professional.
Brian M.
Nov 21, 2020
From initial call to final installation, nothing but professional! Highly recommend! Crew was professional, followed COVID rules. We went with Vault Dusk that matched our grey brick and silver window casing. Looks GREAT! We can't wait to enjoy next summer! Thank you!
Craig Mitchell
Nov 06, 2020
Unique Builders is an amazing company! They recently completed work to remove our above ground pool, including heating equipment, the deck around the pool, and our back deck off of the house and put in a brand new composite deck with railings, gates and access doors for storage and to access our AC Unit. From the moment we met Joel during the initial assessment we knew we would be in good hands. Joel was extremely professional and honest when providing his recommendations for redesigning the deck and the quote provided was extremely reasonable and well below what most of the Chicago deck companies were going to charge for the work. Additionally, throughout the project Joel was great at communicating expectations to us regarding timing and payments and came to our house multiple times to review the progress of the work and to address any questions that we had and to troubleshoot issues that arose.

In addition to having a great experience working with Joel, we really enjoyed working with Enrique and his crew. They worked diligently on our project including on Saturdays which enabled our project to be completed ahead of schedule. They also went the extra mile to repair items that were left damaged by the original decking and pool structure as well as to move our furniture back into place once the deck was completed.

They left the project site spotless and even power washed the new deck and our garage to make everything pop. I would absolutely recommend Unique Builders to anyone! There is nothing negative I can say about this company and if I could I would give them 10 stars. We are so happy with our new deck and have received many compliments on the quality of the work that was completed and the details and finishes of the deck. Thank you Joel, Enrique, and team!
Bryan B.
Jul 27, 2020
I tried to contact Unique Deck Builders 3 times over the course of 1.5-2 weeks to talk about a new deck. Nobody ever answers the phone so each time I had to leave a message through their website. It's now been about a month and I've still not heard anything. I won't be contacting them again.
J. P. Fowler
Jun 15, 2020
My review is truly 'unique' because this is the story told 3 Summers after Joel and his team built our deck in Lincoln Park! When we worked with Joel to design the deck, he was both responsive and creative. We truly had fun working with him to design the layout of what would be ultimately built. When it was time to build (July 2018), his crew onsite was both timely and professional.

They worked with us to make small 'tweaks' as we saw the design put into place. They worked fast, were pleasant to deal with and cleaned up after themselves every day. The final product - now in our 3rd summer of living on the deck = Outstanding build quality! The deck is still beautiful to look at and we use it extensively! Joel's design allowed us 3 distinct 'zones', with each one having a different, pleasurable user experience. The quality of the build is exceptionally solid! Given my long term user experience, I can't recommend Joel Boyer & Unique Deck Builders highly enough!
Jarrett S.
May 29, 2020
Extremely detailed and meticulous throughout the process. Provided a complete outline of the project details at the quote stage and remained engaged throughout the process. Joel was always responsive and helpful as the process developed. His team completed a substantial job (full deck removal, replacement and extension) faster than promised with a great final project. Highly recommend.
Rachel G.
May 24, 2020
It was only a high of 10 degrees back in March but that did not stop Unique Deck Builders from stopping by! In the cold and blistering wind, Joel came out and measured my roof top deck. He answered all my questions and pointed out some water damage and other structures that may need to be addressed before building a new deck. He even followed up via email and provided a quote within 24 hours.

Unfortunately my deck project is on hold due to other home renovation projects that are taking priority. I will probably call him back in a year or two. Joel and Unique Deck Buikddeserve a 5 star rating for their commitment on keeping appointments, timeliness on email responses and quotes, and their overall professionalism, friendliness, and honesty. Update: Rooftop deck installation looks spectacular. Would use Joel again!
Christopher Monahan
Jan 28, 2020
We used Unique Deck Builders to redo the flooring of the roof deck on our 3-unit condo building (wood boards to composite boards) and could not be happier. Joel and his team were fantastic from beginning to end. We contacted many companies at the beginning of the process and found Joel to be the most responsive, knowledgeable, and professional. He was very reasonable and fair with the price (and the final product looked beautiful) and time frame of the project. Compared to other companies, he was extremely honest with our situation, budget, and recommendations.

He did not try to sell us more than we needed/wanted. He truly listened to what we wanted and offered solutions. We encountered multiple issues during the project (previous substructure installed incorrectly, rotting support boards, roof leaks), but Joel's team addressed each issue (without extra charges) while still completing the project on time. Joel's team worked through cold temperatures to make sure the deck was completed before any snow could delay the project. Joel was always available by phone or email to discuss any questions we had and accommodated a few last-minute updates to the original plan at again no extra charge. Highly recommend Joel and his team. The combination of price and quality cannot be beat!
Naomi A.
Oct 31, 2019
Look no further, you have found your guy! Joel and his team were amazing to work with from start to finish! We had a small project to take on, other companies we called wouldn't even take on our project because it wasn't big enough and we got burned by another contractor along the way that committed but pulled out 3 weeks after a deposit was put down. ***Insert Joel and Unique Deck Builders.*** Joel's response time with our initial phone call was phenomenal.

He gathered details over the phone, photos of the current state of the project were emailed real-time and we discussed details over the phone on the first call. A day and a half later he was at the house taking measurements and provided an estimate and a blue print for Village approval. Joel's turnover time with drawings and revisions were nothing but professional and done in a timely, respectable manner.

Our Village had a lot of red tape and hoops to jump through in order for us to get this project done. Joel was attentive and really paid attention to our needs as the customers. After the Village approved the permit, Joel's Team got to work and the project was completed in 3 days with all 3 inspections passed! We are insanely happy with Unique Deck Builders from start to finish! From the quality of work, professionalism, attention to details to respecting your time, I cannot say enough how GREAT these guys were!
Rob S.
Oct 04, 2019
We used Unique Deck Builders to rebuild our front and rear roof decks. We are very happy and satisfied with the service and result of the decks. They are beautiful! We love the materials used and appreciate the craftsmanship of the builders at Unique! Joel is fantastic to work with, he's very reasonable and easy to talk with. This project presented many unforeseen challenges and Joel's disposition did not change, overall he made this process much less trying. I would absolutely recommend Unique Deck Builders to my friends and family. They were very professional, experienced and a step above others we received quotes from.
Joe B.
Aug 20, 2019
Joel and Unique Builders are incredibly easy to work with. Joel was always very responsive, answering all calls and emails quickly. The contractors on site were always very friendly and personable. They just completed our garage deck, and it looks fantastic. They provided a modern design (at no charge) and allowed us to have input throughout the process. I highly recommend them as Joel kept everything very transparent and always had a positive, easy to work with attitude.
Jeff H.
Aug 05, 2019
UDB just finished my roof deck and I'm super happy with the job. I had them replacing all the wooden boards with the composite plastic decking. They also were able to coordinate a roofer to check the actual roof (as our building is about 15 yrs old). The roofer identified some problem areas and repaired the roof while the UDB guys continued to replace the decking.

I was happy they were able to bill this separately as this expense had to go through my association. They also went around and fixed a lot of the shoddy craftsmanship that was done by my original builder (Chicago Roofdeck and Garden). I'd recommend these guys to anyone. Joel was always really responsive to my texts during construction and Chon and the guys did a phenomenal job. The were also always on time and very respectful of my place.
Timothy C.
Jul 01, 2019
If you have any desire for customer service, go elsewhere. Don't waste your time. 3 1/2 weeks went by after the consultation (including follow up emails) with no proposal.finally get Joel on the phone, and he clearly doesn't even remember inspecting our project. He finally comes back with a quote for 14K for a refurbishment, when Lowe's had just quoted 6K for a ground up build. Not to mention Trex is a superior product to what Unique Deck uses. Not the first review here with this issue either.
Culinary P.
Jun 28, 2019
Joel and Chon were great to work with. There were a few out of the ordinary requests we had and some modifications we asked for in the middle of construction, none of which were ever a problem. They always made sure we were satisfied with their work every step of the way. They completed a backyard deck for us late last summer and it's been great to finally use it now that's summer's back. I would highly recommend this company and plan to use them again in the future when we have to update our front deck. Thanks Joel and Chon!
Trevor Turk
Mar 20, 2019
We had a fantastic experience with Joel and his crew at Unique Deck Builders. They worked with us on a difficult project with some complicated carpentry. They were patient and professional and did excellent work. We've been recommending them to our neighbors and friends, and I would say they should be your first call if you're considering a roof deck project!
Mike Mackin
Jun 09, 2018
Joel and his team at Unique Decks were fantastic to work with. From creating the initial plans to putting up the deck the whole experience was terrific. Joel responded to calls in a timely matter and made changes as necessary throughout the project.
Zac W.
Jan 16, 2018
Joel just came to my place to go over some options for a custom roof and/or arbour on my roof deck. He spent about an hour going through the various options with me. He both knows his stuff and also listens to what you want. I can say from our initial meeting that he seems a very good person to work with for this kind of stuff.
Steve R.
Aug 21, 2017
Had these guys out to give me a bid on a new deck and railings in the front & back of my house. The estimator showed up and measured and seemed to know what he was talking about. Told me I would have a bid by the end of the week. I didn't hear anything for a month and called to see what was up and they said that the estimator had pneumonia, but was back and would get me something by the end of the week. Almost another month has gone by and I haven't heard a word from anyone. I can't understand how these guys get good ratings with such terrible customer service.
Laura Yedinak
Feb 03, 2017
We are so happy with our new Deckorator deck and pergola. After getting estimates from multiple other contractors for replacing our old wood deck, we called Joel and Unique Deck on recommendation from our neighbors that had them build out their garage roof deck last summer. We were not disappointed. Bid was competitive, kept within budget, and there were no hidden charges: estimate given was price charged for the work. Joel and his team were professional, worked quickly, kept us in the loop during the whole project, and courteous to neighbors.

Highly recommend giving Unique Deck a call if you're looking to build, replace, or add on to your outdoor space. We are so happy we got our deck done so we can enjoy it all summer long.