Structurally Speaking
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina
Address: 8817 Katharina Ct, Raleigh, NC 27613, United States
Phone: +1 919-786-4825
Rating: 4.1
Services
- On-site services
- Online estimates
- Appointment required
Categories
- Deck builder
- Contractor
- Gazebo builder
- General contractor
Photos
Latest Fire Recovery & Restoration Services
Comments
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Review 1 (2022-08-30 - Rating: 5)
Very happy with the results of our new deck and porch replacing our old deck which was destroyed by a fallen tree. Want to say that communication about the details from design to estimate to implementation was fantastic. Jim Brennan(and his staff) took the time to answer all our questions before, during, and after the project was completed. Would recommend Structurally Speaking to anyone wanting a new deck and or porch. -
Review 2 (2023-04-25 - Rating: 5)
6-7 years ago we contacted Jim with Structurally Speaking to replace our basic rectangular builder grade wood deck. Jim came up with a phenomenal design to improve not just the deck, but the way we use our outdoor living space. He added a fan shaped pergola to create visual interest as well as some shade on the hot sunny end. He is a wonderful designer.Jim’s construction crew were great! Between demo and construction they were here for a week. They passed the City of Raleigh’s inspection the first time. The crew cleaned up everything - we didn’t even find a single nail left. They were especially careful not to damage any of our landscaping.About 6-7 months later, we were frustrated with the deck because the majority of surface boards had cupped slightly. Every time it rained, we had to blow off the deck before we could use it. I called Jim and he agreed that it wasn’t supposed to be like that. He contacted the lumber yard and they did NOT stand behind their wood products. But Jim didn’t leave us hanging. He said he would stand behind his work and he did.Jim paid for both the materials and the labor to replace every single surface board on our deck. This time the lumber performed as it should - no cupping.But that’s not the end of Jim standing behind his product. Fast forward to 2023 when our deck is 6-7 years old. Over time the end cuts on a few boards had swollen, causing them to curve up, creating a trip hazard. I asked Jim to replace these boards. Because this was routine maintenance work, not warranty work, I fully expected to pay for the materials and labor. Not only did Jim’s crew replace the boards we pointed out, but they saw a few others they thought were starting to curve and replaced those too! I asked Jim to send me a bill, but he said he stands behind his product.Jim is definitely a man of his word! Standing behind the deck he delivered 6 months later is expected. But doing so 6+ YEARS later is the hallmark of a craftsman who is proud of his work. He is a fantastic designer and when he says he stands behind the product he delivers, he means it!!! -
Review 3 (2022-11-07 - Rating: 5)
We cannot say enough about Structurally Speaking and are more than pleased to write Jim Brennan and his workers a 5-star review. His many years of experience make Jim extremely knowledgeable in his field. He worked with us to build a deck and screened porch that met our specialized needs. He was thorough in his explanations and prompt in his communications. Everyone on his crew was experienced, courteous, detail-minded, and hard-working. We are delighted with our new back yard addition and very grateful to Jim and Structurally Speaking! -
Review 4 (2022-10-08 - Rating: 5)
We had a large project; decoupling portion of original wrap around deck and then building large screened in porch and somenew deck area as well. Jim gave us really insightful focus on where in our this could work. He laid out really beautiful plans that were representative of how the finished product looked but honestly, the finished product is even more amazing than we had realized it would be. Jim is experienced and knowledgeable. Jims team is excellent and very hard working and he and his team are responsive to concerns. As with any project, unexpected things arose, and they all got dealt with. The finished costs were within ten percent of the estimate, which having had several other large projects done on our house, is within what I expect as reasonable, especially in context of providing estimates during times of rising building costs and supply chain delays. He was accurate in timeline of how long project would take and was honest.In terms of the quality of the work... Months later we are still AMAZED at how well it came out. We, at Jims suggestion to consider, elected EZE breeze windows to make it a 3 season Carolina room that will be usable during pollen season. We spend time out there everyday and eat a lot of meals out there and will for decades to come.Years ago, we got good advice from a contractor who is going to remodel our bathroom. He told us there would be times during the project where we would all be angry with each other, which is normal when you are spending a lot of money to do something to your most important financial investment, which is also where you live. That advice helped us through bathroom renovations. It also helped at the couple of times when I was upset with Jim about things that are pretty typical during a project. We communicated with Jim rather than let things fester and things got handled very smoothly.I would advise anybody was asking to strongly consider using Structurally Speaking to do a deck or porch project and, whether you hire them or someone else, communicate clearly when you have concerns. If you hire Structurally Speaking, Jim will make sure to address your concerns and you will be thrilled with how your project comes out. -
Review 5 (2022-08-31 - Rating: 5)
Structurally Speaking added a custom screened-in porch for our home. We had a wonderful experience with Structurally Speaking and use our screened-in porch all the time!! Jim has a great eye for design and included touches that make the space unique and extremely usable. He always responded promptly and dealt incredibly fairly when discussing details and costs. His crew was efficient and detail oriented. I asked him a ton of questions along the way and he was always responsive, candid, and kind. We highly recommend Structurally Speaking as a fantastic option for high-quality design and function!! -
Review 6 (2022-05-07 - Rating: 5)
Jim was fantastic to work with. He was detailed oriented, his team worked quickly, and we are so happy with the outcome of our porch. We wanted to tear down our existing back deck and build a screened porch. Jim built us a 16x22 screened in porch with rope lights, skylights, and all of the other little things we were hoping to get out of a deck. We have spent so much time on the deck since it was finished. Jim is great with communication and let us know the status of things that he had ordered and was up front about costs. In the end, we have a porch that we going to be happier with and would recommend Jim to anyone. We already have one neighbor that is having him build their deck and have passed his contact info to multiple other people. -
Review 7 (2022-09-01 - Rating: 5)
Being in the US Navy, we are trained to pay close attention to detail, and Structurally Speaking did just that. Every minor detail received special attention, from initial design to finished product. Jim and team acted professionally and generally seem to care about their customers and their satisfaction. After about 4 years of enjoying our deck, we had a 4x4 rot out. We called Jim, and he came out and replaced the rotten 4x4 at no charge to us. This is the level of customer service that every business should strive for. I would recommend Structurally Speaking to anyone looking at adding that perfect addition to their home. -
Review 8 (2022-09-01 - Rating: 5)
Jim was great to work with for construction of my screened-in porch. During the estimate phase he listened to what we wanted and then provided some advice on changes he would make such as a knee wall and rope light (he was correct!). Once construction started everything was on time with no delays. There were two small issues with things that got missed during construction and Jim came out promptly and got them corrected. Its been about 5 years now and weve had no issues with the porch and everything still looks great! -
Review 9 (2023-11-18 - Rating: 5)
We recently had a screened in porch built by Structurally Speaking and are over the moon about it. Working with Jim Brennan and his crew made the process easy and quick. Everything came together seamlessly due to the professionalism of all involved and the focus on making our new porch look as if it was always a part of the original build of our home. -
Review 10 (2021-12-23 - Rating: 5)
I’m an attorney and needed an expert regarding a construction/zoning issue case. I was referred to Mr. Brennan by a friend who had used his services before. I have to say that Jim’s expertise was critical to winning our case. He is extremely knowledgeable about both zoning and construction issues, and crafted several pages of building code and Raleigh City zoning ordinances analysis. I have dealt with many contractors over the years, and especially post-covid it is really difficult to get them to even call you back because they are all so busy. In the course of working with Jim, I found him to be honest, hardworking and timely in his responses. I can highly recommend that you consider Structurally Speaking for your construction project. -
Review 11 (2022-08-29 - Rating: 5)
Jim and his crew from Structurally Speaking turned our back deck into a screened in porch (with Eze-Breeze windows). Jims design was great, making the most efficient use of our space. The crew was really efficient, the product is amazing. We basically gained another room for our home, which we can use 10 months out of the year. The craftsmanship is really good, with everything working great after 2+ years of heavy use. And all of that at a very reasonable price! I would definitely higher Structurally Speaking again, and I have recommended them to tons of people over the last 2 years. -
Review 12 (2022-09-26 - Rating: 5)
My experience with Structurally Speaking was marvelous. Jim Brennan is an experienced, knowledgable contractor who is honest, attentive and wonderful to work with. He gave us a price and stuck with it. Inevitably, additional costs arise but Jim clearly explained them and didnt proceed without our approval. He also know the local building code and did a great job of heading off any problems. I would hire him again in a heartbeat.