When Tony and Jessica Perez founded Sagamore Fence and Deck in 2016, they were looking to fix a broken culture.
After years of watching homeowners navigate "construction trauma," a term they use for the poorly managed projects and communication breakdowns that spiked during the pandemic, they realized the missing ingredient wasn't better lumber but better humanity.
“We just knew that there was a space where this could be done better in terms of how we can communicate with customers, build relationships with them and do right by them,” Tony Perez said.
Since its beginnings in Georgetown, Sagamore has expanded across Central Texas, serving communities from Temple to Liberty Hill. For the Perezes, this growth is an opportunity to act as a guide in their customers' stories, helping them become the heroes of their own homes by providing a seamless, stress-free partnership.
Planning with intention
For Sagamore, every project begins with listening. Before a measuring tape comes out, the team focuses on understanding how the space is meant to be used and how the homeowner wants it to feel.
“[We ask,] ‘How do you want this deck to make you feel when you come outside?’” Tony Perez said.
That emotional intent becomes the foundation for everything that follows.
From there, Sagamore reverse engineers each project based on real-world use, evaluating whether a space is designed for a small family gathering or a high-capacity commercial environment, to ensure it meets the appropriate weight-bearing and safety requirements.
“We get a lot of [people saying], ‘I want this radius and these different designs,’” Perez said. “Then, as we start asking more questions about how they want to use the space, they find out that it’s not practical in terms of square footage. ... Our knowledge of the decking space really helps them make decisions or think about things that they didn’t know.”
That commitment to doing things the right way often means going beyond standard solutions.
In one high-elevation deck project, Sagamore required specialized hardware brackets that weren’t readily available. To keep the project on track without compromising safety, the team had the brackets custom-built and sent a staff member to Dallas to pick them up directly from the factory floor as they came off the machines.
In addition to decks, Sagamore’s team provides a full suite of outdoor solutions, including:
- Pergolas
- Outdoor kitchens
- Gazebos
- Pavillions
- More
A process you can trust
Sagamore avoids a common industry pitfall, where customers pay for the contractor's learning curve. Instead of figuring things out on the fly at the customer's expense, they rely on lean operations and repeatable, daily processes.
Every staff member is trained in set, repeatable steps for everything from the first phone call to the final installation and invoicing. This efficiency allows them to keep pricing fair, without needing to use cheaper materials or rush the construction process.
Another cornerstone of their reputation is accountability. In an industry where trust is often fragile, Sagamore is fully committed to accurately delivering the final result.
“We build it right; we price it fairly; we plan it well, and you can trust that we’re not going away,” Tony Perez said.
This commitment extends long after the project is finished. Sagamore views every project as a long-term relationship, whether it’s following up with cards, honoring warranties or even stopping by years later to fix a few pickets broken by a neighbor’s dog.
“We really build relationships with our customers,” Jessica Perez said. “There have been plenty of times that they’ve called us back for additional projects, or recommended us to their neighbors or people that they know.”
Building community beyond the fence
For the Perezes, Georgetown isn't just a market; it's home. They are deeply invested in the community, from attending Friday night football games to supporting local schools where their children are enrolled.
To further support the local economy, Sagamore is launching a new podcast specifically designed to highlight other local trades, such as roofing companies and contractors. By stepping into the role of a community guide, they aim to contribute back to the area that has supported them for nearly a decade.
Click here to experience a different kind of construction journey or to learn more about their work today.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.