Deck Construction and Repair

A deck is where a lake house earns its keep, and it is also the structure on the property that takes the most abuse from weather and people at the same time. Rain, sun, foot traffic, furniture, a grill, and ground that goes from soup to concrete through the year. We build decks the way we build fences: posts on footings set below the soft soil, a frame that is square and level and bolted rather than nailed, and decking and rails fastened with hardware that does not rust. We also repair decks, and we will tell you honestly which yours needs.

What we build

• Attached and freestanding decks off the back of a house, at a lake house, or out in the yard around a fire pit.
• Multi-level decks and steps that follow a sloped lake lot down toward the water.
• Railings, stairs and gates built to code heights and spacing, including gates that keep kids and dogs on the deck.
• Pergolas and shade over all or part of a deck. See pergola construction.
• Skirting to close in the space underneath. See skirting.
• Repairs: boards, rails, steps and the occasional post.

How we build a deck that stays level

1. Footings below the soft soil. Lake-area ground swells and shrinks with the seasons. Posts sit on concrete footings dug below that movement, so the deck does not heave in spring and drop in August.
2. Treated frame, bolted. Pressure-treated posts, beams and joists, connected with through-bolts and galvanized or coated hangers, never just nails. A ledger on the house is flashed and lagged into framing, not siding.
3. Square, level, and sized for the span. Joists sized and spaced for the decking and the load, so the deck does not bounce.
4. Decking fastened to last. Coated screws or hidden fasteners, boards gapped for drainage, cut ends sealed.
5. Rails and stairs to code. Rail height, baluster spacing, stair rise and run and a graspable handrail, built the same whether or not anyone will inspect it.

Materials

The frame is always pressure-treated pine. For decking, treated pine is the value choice and takes stain well; cedar looks best and resists rot naturally; composite costs more up front and needs the least care. We will price the options so the choice is yours. The right fence and deck materials for Livingston and Onalaska compares how each one ages here.

Keeping it up

Wash it and stain it every two to four years, keep leaves and pine straw from piling in corners, and look under it once a year. We do pressure washing and staining as standalone jobs. Major causes of fence and deck repairs covers what to watch for.

What affects the price of a deck

Square footage sets the base, but height off the ground, the number of levels and stairs, railing length and the decking material move it more than people expect. A low platform deck on a flat yard is the simplest build; a two-level deck stepping down a lake lot with forty feet of rail and two sets of stairs is not. Composite decking costs more than wood up front. A pergola, skirting or a privacy screen are priced as part of the same job when they are built together, which is usually cheaper than adding them later.

Decks on lake lots

Most of the decks we build are on sloped lots near the water, and that changes the job: footings dug deeper in sandy soil, posts sized for the height, stairs that follow the grade, and rail built so it does not block the view from the chairs. We look at where the water runs in a hard rain before we set the first footing, because a deck that channels runoff against the house causes problems the deck gets blamed for. See lakefront fencing for the fence side of the same lot.

Frequently asked questions

What wood do you build decks from?

Pressure-treated pine for the frame and posts, always. Decking is treated pine for value, cedar for looks and natural rot resistance, or composite where the owner wants the lowest upkeep. We will price the options.

Does a deck need a permit here?

Inside city limits and in some subdivisions, often yes, especially for a deck attached to the house or above a certain height. On unincorporated county land, usually not. We confirm what applies during the estimate.

Can you repair my deck instead of replacing it?

If the frame and posts are sound, yes: new boards, new rails, new steps. If the posts have rotted at the ground or the ledger is pulling off the house, a repair would be throwing money at a deck that is about to fail, and we will say so.