Boston Porch and Deck Co.
Local business · 387 Atlantic Ave, Marblehead, MA 01945, USA
Their work
28 photosVerified record
Highlights
- Porch-to-deck rebuilds — a 2020 customer praised the finished deck's quality
- Staircase work — a 2016 Lynn homeowner praised front and back staircases
- Unrefunded money — a 2021 customer said $8,550 went unreturned, case filed
- Materials not supplied — a 2020 reviewer alleged money taken, materials withheld
- Judgments alleged — a 2020 reviewer reported finding several against the company
- Loose job supervision — a 2019 deck ran seven weeks without drawn plans
Three of the five written accounts of Boston Porch and Deck are about money that did not come back. In a review posted in November 2021 and updated two years later, a customer wrote that the company owed them $8,550, that a certified letter was ignored and returned to them, that an attorney was ignored as well, and that a case was eventually filed in court. In October 2020, another customer wrote that the company took their money and then refused to supply materials, and said that while looking into legal proceedings they found several judgments against the company and were contacted by other former clients — that is the reviewer's own account rather than a verified fact, but it is a specific and serious one. The building work has drawn praise and a process complaint in roughly equal measure. In a February 2020 review, a homeowner described John Serven and his crew coming in the previous summer to take out an older, smaller porch and put in a deck the whole family uses, and rated the quality highly. In September 2016, a Lynn homeowner said the company installed both front and back staircases and that visitors kept complimenting the result. Against that, a July 2019 reviewer wrote that their back deck ran from the day after Memorial Day to the middle of July, that no clear plans were drawn for the carpenters to follow so they had to babysit the job, and that at one point the company was down to a single employee. The written history runs 2016 to 2021 and is dated throughout. Google's page shows 3.7 stars from nine ratings, which sits above what those five written accounts alone would suggest. If you are considering this company for a deck, porch or staircase, settle the money questions first. Ask directly about outstanding judgments or litigation, keep any deposit small and tied to materials actually delivered, and get a drawn plan and a schedule written into the contract before anyone starts cutting.
Read the comments
Most recent comments
- 1.0Nov 23, 2021
Owes me 8550.00 dollars and will not refund. Been pursuing this for 8 months. Sent certified letter which was ignored and returned to me. Retained an attorney whom was also ignored. Seems necessary to file a lawsuit-update 2 years later-case filed in court. He is a liar-beware-if he takes your money you'll have one hell of a time getting it back. Very bad person-very bad....
— Marie EslerView on Google Reviews ↗ - 1.0Oct 7, 2020
Have contacted john several times to refund me. This company took my money and refused to supply materials. In looking into legal proceedings I found out there have been SEVERAL judgments against this company. Multiple former clients of Johns contacting me because he ripped them off too. Was told the job would take 3-4 weeks. Had every excuse in the book, gave me at least three other deadlines. 5 months later I gave them one more deadline which they failed to meet (gave him another three weeks). Brutal lying throughout the process. He also told me he couldn’t afford materials to finish the job after I had already paid 75% of the cost. Asking him now to pay for the materials but he won’t respond. Had angry ex clients of his come to my house on the weekend to warn me that the owner was a con artist (their words) but it was too late for us to do anything about it. Didn’t even know this couple, they just showed up to warn me! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Only good reviews on here are from the company’s owner.
— Robert GoodwinView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Feb 24, 2020
John Serven and the crew from Boston Porch & Deck came in last summer and really went to work. Taking out our old smaller porch and put in a beautiful deck that the whole family can and does enjoy! Great quality work and truly invested in his product Boston Porch and Deck Co. upped the value of our home and made it more of a pleasure to be in! Thanks guys!
— Marc MeltzerView on Google Reviews ↗ - 1.0Jul 22, 2019
Our new Back Deck is finally complete. That bieng said, this build took from the day after memorial day until the middle of July. There was no clear plans drawn for his carpenters to follow so I had to babysit the job. At one point during the build the only employee they had was 1 helper who had little knowledge of carpentry. Posts are not centered on footings and the concrete pad at the bottom of the stairs had to be repoured as the first time it was terribly done. Unreliable as they over extended themselves and had to listen to excuse after excuse why they couldn't show up or didn't show up as promised. I would not recommend these guys.
— Neil FabboView on Google Reviews ↗ - 5.0Sep 5, 2016
Boston Porch and Deck Co. installed both front and back staircase to my Lynn home. They were professional, responsive and I have received several compliments on the beautiful staircase.
— Linda TitusView on Google Reviews ↗
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Update history
Added 5 new comments, added 28 new photos, established rating 2.0
- behind the score: Money not returned — two customers describe paid funds never refunded
What does carpentry work cost in Greater Boston?
Typical Greater Boston range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Boston Porch and Deck Co.. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
A typical single-level deck is 12×16 — about 200 sq ft.
Estimated range
$7,750 – $14,500
Typical carpentry project around $11,100