We build the structure. You finish it.

On a typical deck install, framing is roughly one-third of the cost, decking is roughly one-third, and railing is roughly one-third. Assisted DIY puts TUDS on the framing — the structural foundation a code-compliant deck depends on — and hands you the other two-thirds. That's where the ~2/3 savings number comes from. Same shape for patios (base prep ≈ 1/3, paver-laying ≈ 2/3) and fences (post-set ≈ 1/3, panel install ≈ 2/3). The structural third is where mistakes are expensive in year five. The finishing two-thirds is where DIY savings live. We split it where the math says split it.

Yes. The frame's already built — that's the structural part — so switching is straightforward. We'd bring our finishing crew in to take over the deck boards, railing, and lighting (or pavers, or panels). The change order quotes our standard Managed Install labour rate for the remaining work, and any unused materials get squared up. Most customers don't end up doing this, but knowing the option exists is part of why Assisted DIY works. The CAD plan means we can pick up exactly where you left off.

TUDS does the base. That's the structural third — excavation to the right depth, compacted gravel, screeded bedding sand. Done right, your pavers don't heave in year three. You lay the pavers — pattern, edge restraints, polymeric sand, final tamp. Paver-laying is methodical work that's well-suited to DIY once the base is right. Patios are an expanding 2026 service — call either yard to confirm your build window.

TUDS augurs the post holes and sets the posts in concrete, plumb, on the right spacing for your panel system. That's the structural part — a Prairie wind exposes any post-setting shortcuts fast. You hang the panels, set the post caps, install the gates and any finishing hardware. Panel install is straightforward once the posts are true. Fences are an expanding 2026 service — call to confirm.

Your call. TUDS will pull the permit for a small flat fee if you'd rather not deal with the paperwork. Or we'll hand you a permit pack — drawings, spec sheets, checklist tailored to your municipality (Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Warman, etc.) — and you submit it yourself and pay the city's fee. Most prairie cities require a permit for any deck over 10 sq m (108 sq ft) or higher than 600mm (24") off grade. Either way, the CAD plan we generate is permit-grade and walks the inspector through without questions.

Yes — every vendor we carry (Eva-Last, Trex, Fiberon, Deckorators, Fortress, Vista) warrants the boards regardless of who installs, as long as the install follows their published spec. That's part of why the CAD plan and fastener spec matter — they ensure your finishing install meets vendor requirements so the warranty stays in force. The vendor owns the material warranty process; TUDS doesn't file claims on your behalf (that has to come from the homeowner) but we know what documentation each vendor will ask for and we'll help you navigate.

Decks: 2–4 days on-site once piles are drilled and the frame goes up. Patios: 1–3 days for excavation and base prep depending on size. Fences: a day or two for auguring and post-set, plus a 24–48 hour cure on the concrete before you can hang panels. Schedule-wise, we typically schedule the structural work 1–3 weeks after sign-off (peak season is busier). You'd typically start your finishing work the weekend after we hand off.

Honest ballpark, Apex PLUS materials: a full Managed Install runs roughly $19,000–$22,000 all-in (materials + labour). Assisted DIY on the same deck runs roughly $13,000–$15,000 (materials + TUDS structural framing — you finish for free). DIY help — same materials, no TUDS labour at all — runs roughly $9,000–$10,000. The Assisted DIY savings vs Managed are the ~2/3 of the install labour you keep by finishing yourself. For a real number on your specific yard, get an instant estimate — these are illustrative, not committed.