In-house Team vs. Professional Decking Installation: What You Need to Know

Why choose uPCV decking over other traditional materials? Because it is durable, low maintenance and long-lasting.

Once you have decided to add decking to your holiday homes, the next decision you face is whether you have an in-house installation team or outsource it to a professional team.

As uPVC decking specialists, Vinyl Solutions works with a range of holiday home park groups to provide quality decking solutions to fit a range of styles and spaces. In this article, we compare outsourcing installations with using an in-house team, providing you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

In-house uPVC Decking Teams

If you’re installing decking solutions across your holiday park, an in-house installation team is one option.

Benefits of an in-house team include:

• Cost-savings – an in-house team can be cheaper as you don’t have to pay for external labour.
• Use of existing workforce – you can train your existing maintenance team to install decking. This allows them to make efficient use of their time.
• Flexibility on timings – if handled internally, you can have flexibility on when they are installed, meaning you can get the work done in quiet times and avoid disruption for guests.

However, there are some considerations that you will need to bear in mind too:

• Required skills and expertise – uPVC decking requires intricate technical skills and specialised tools, which you will need to invest in. If using staff already on the team, you’re likely going to need to train them. This is important because it will mean each decking system is installed correctly and in line with safety regulations.
• Time-consuming – the installation process can be time-consuming, especially without professional experts on hand to help, which could lead to a loss of revenue if homes are out of action for extended periods.
• Potential for errors – pressure to get things done quickly could lead to errors, which could lead to costly repairs.
• Warranty concerns – some manufacturers may only honour warranties if the decking is installed by their team or certified professionals, meaning if something goes wrong, you could be left with an expensive repair bill.

Professional Outsourced Teams

Your other option is to hire a professional team, such as Vinyl Solutions, and outsource all the work.

The advantages of this are:

• Expert knowledge and experience – the team will specialise in decking installation, meaning they bring their expertise and experience to your projects. This can give you confidence that installations will meet health and safety standards, and the installation will be completed correctly so that it lasts.
• Efficiency and speed – professionals spend their days fitting uPVC decking, so know the process like the back of their hand. This makes them efficient and well-practised so they get the job done smoothly and swiftly, meaning you can avoid extended downtime and make the most of hiring each unit out for more revenue.
• High-quality finish – installations completed by a professional team can often be done to a higher standard as they work to keep you happy and satisfied. Their knowledge and experience add up, so they know what works and what doesn’t. This superior finish reflects well on the park and your overall appearance, offering an enhanced experience for guests.
• Warranties and guarantees – you can rest assured that any work done will come with a guarantee or warranty, so should something happen, you get it sorted quickly and without it being costly.

Of course, as with an in-house team, you need to think about the flip side too.

• Higher upfront costs – a team of professionals could mean a higher up-front cost as you will need to pay for their labour on top of the materials. However, this might save money in maintenance and repairs in the long run.
• Scheduling conflicts – you will have to work around their schedule, having decking fitted when they can fit it in their diaries, so there might be waiting times or work might be completed in peak visiting season.

It is important to balance these arguments up against each other when going through the process of deciding whether to employ an in-house team or outsource it to professionals.

Key Considerations

Overall, there are a few key considerations that will help you make the decision.

• Budget and long-term costs – you will need to set a budget for the installation and think beyond the initial payment. While uPVC decking is low-maintenance, you will need to consider how much it will cost to keep the flooring looking up-to-scratch and repair it where needed.
• Staff skills and availability – if using your own staff, you will need to assess how much time they realistically have to complete this work. Are they already over capacity and struggling to get everything done? If the answer is yes, adding decking installation to their job list might not be a good idea. Additionally, if they don’t have the skills, it will require training them, so think about how you will do this.
• Project scope – determine how many holiday homes you will add decking to and what your time frame is. Are you looking to get the job done in one winter and cover all holiday homes on-site? Or are you thinking about doing a few to offer them as premium homes? Matching this with the capacity of your team will likely provide a clear answer to your question.
• Operational impact – thinking about the project scope and time frame, you will also need to think about how the installations will impact guest experiences. Will it disrupt guests who are enjoying their time away?

Expert Outsourced uPVC Decking Installers

There are many pros to having your own in-house team, including schedule flexibility and lower costs. However, you will need to consider the training and tools required and their level of expertise in uPVC decking installation and how that will impact the quality of the job.

Additionally, there are pros and cons to outsourcing it to a professional team. Advantages will be access to knowledge and experience that will often translate into quality installations that you can be confident in. Plus, warranties and guarantees are usually provided, boosting confidence in the solutions.

On the other hand, the cons of outsourcing the jobs are that it could cost more upfront, and you’re at the mercy of their schedules.

Vinyl Solutions is a team of professional uPVC decking specialists who work with a range of holiday parks as outsourced decking installers.

We provide bespoke solutions for each holiday home, working new configurations, styles, options, balustrading and accessories to match each type of holiday home. This means you have design flexibility and could create levels of luxury for your park.

All our products are manufactured in the UK and come with a 10-year warranty, which we hope you don’t need as our team are highly experienced and skilled, producing high-quality work.

Speak to our team to learn more about the benefits of outsourcing uPVC decking installations by calling us on 01202 650 700 or completing our online contact form.