FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

YOU WILL NEED A BUILDING PERMIT to build a new deck or porch or REPLACE your deck boards and railing. According to IRC (International Residential Code) 2018, the exceptions are if the proposed deck is on the ground or less than 30″ in height, it is less than 200 SF, and it does not connect to the house.  

In all other cases, a deck or a porch is considered an addition to a home. It, therefore, requires permits and inspections to ensure compliance with the minimum standards set by the IRC Code for safety and to build correctly, in addition to county zoning regulations, easements, and HOA restrictions.

If a contractor tells you, “We are just changing the decking and railing over the existing deck” and “we do not need a permit” pay attention. Regardless, of what they tell you, these are structural modifications by changing the thickness and attachment of the floor decking and how the posts are attached to the deck. Find out more DO I NEED A PERMIT FOR A DECK OR PORCH? 

We are a full-service custom deck design firm, and deck design is an important part of our integrated design and build process. We will walk you through the design process, which will include 3D renderings of your proposed project.

We are knowledgeable and manufacturer trained to stay current on today’s products and the ever-changing residential building codes; you can be confident that you will receive a deck design that will last for many years. We will prepare CAD drawings, plans, elevations, details, and structural drawings based on our conceptual design in order to apply for a building permit.

• We plan first and then start with a design, no second guessing.
• We obtain all the necessary permits and pass all the required inspections.
• We make sure that utilities are marked down before digging for footers.
• We hand pick out all the lumber and only use KDAT (Kiln Dried After Treatment) No shrinkage, No Moisture – A better type of wood
• We do not bear posts in the ground – We use concrete footings, and/or reinforcing pads and pre-stressed concrete structural posts.
• We use nothing but the best materials in the industry.
• We use 3″ screws to fasten deck boards and pre-drill holes for each screw.
• We use 12″ on center joist spacing instead of 16″ for more stability and to avoid bouncing.
• We use double perimeter rim joists for more rigidity.
• We waterproof with joist tape and butyl membrame all horizontal surfaces and perimeter joists.

Composite decking is a catch-all term for a product composed of multiple components. It is made from a combination of wood fibers, plastic, and other additives. Depending on the brand of composite decking you choose, the majority of these ingredients are sourced from recycled materials, making it a more environmentally friendly option than other decking materials.

In general, you can choose between uncapped and capped composite decking; however, the capped option is far more popular. This is because capped decking has a strong cover that adheres to the material’s core made of an engineered, polymer core and synthetic cap.

Mineral-based boards and 100% PVC boards – specifically DECKORATOR’S VOYAGE and TIMBERETECH AZEK – are our top picks because they provide extra protection from fading, staining, mold growth, and pest infestations that uncapped decking does not. If requested, we can install TREX wood-composite decking and KDAT pressure treated Boards- Ready to Stain. 

Depending on how well-maintained your deck is, surfacing the frame may not be a good idea. We will not resurface nor guarantee a deck that is more than eight years old or it is in poor condition, for example.

The strength of a deck is determined by its weakest member. There are better long-term investments than replacing decking materials on an unstable foundation. If you choose this option, we recommend performing a Deck Inspection before beginning construction. Schedule your Inspection  here.

The main structure of a deck or porch is the framing, and you must ensure that it can support the new materials for as long as they will last. Using a composite material with a life expectancy of 20 to 50 years on a structure with a life expectancy of only a few years may end up putting your loved ones in danger due to an unsafe structure.

If the deck is a simple design and qualifies as a fast-track project, and everything goes as planned, the entire process, from conception to completion, could take anywhere from one to three weeks.

However, it frequently takes much longer. Waiting for permits and adding extra features to your deck can cause delays. As a result, we have seen more complex designs that could take a few months to complete a deck or porch project. 

Make sure your expectations are reasonable. Hiring a dependable contractor will allow you to complete your deck project efficiently, professionally, and with the highest quality possible without additional charges, poor quality, extra charges, or delays. Of course, we always add a week for weather-related conditions.

Yes, we do. We offer an unheard-of warranty in the industry: We have developed an innovative, step-by-step Process – Deck Shield System that comprises the best materials and construction techniques. See more information at 

Framing and Substructure Warranty: 10-year for framing and sub-structure when purchasing our Deck Shield System

Materials Warranties: The products we use offer strong manufacturer warranties. Timbertech Backed by an industry-best Lifetime Limited Product Warranty and our 50-Year Limited Fade & Stain Warranty. Deckorator’s 50-year Structural Warranty and 25-year Stain & Fade and 25-year Limited Removal & Replacement (depending on the product chosen). 

 Labor Warranty: 5 to 10-year for labor warranty.

For additional information and details, please visit the Warranties and Guarantees page.

The cost of resurfacing a deck 20′-0″ x 12′-0″ = 240.00 SF and a 4′-0″ x 4′-0″ landing with 5 or 6 steps, and assuming that 30% of its framing (joists) needs repair or replacement, change of brackets, hangers, and clips, provide blocking and waterproofing joist at all horizontal surfaces.

The decking considered for this exercise is a Best selection Timbertech Azek and Classic composite railing with aluminum balusters, deck fascia, and stair stringers wrapped with white PVC trim. It can cost, on average, $19,680 or about $82.00 per SF. 

Upgrades are lighting package, PVC wrap of posts and beams, and upgrade of Deckortors Voyage decking boards. 

The cost of building a new deck from zero, which could include demolition, design, and permit handling, and the use of our DECK SHIELD SYSTEM that will give you a 10-year warranty on framing and sub-structure for a new deck 20′-0″ x 12′-0″ = 240.00 SF and a 4′-0″ x 4′-0″ landing with 5 or 6 steps. On average, it can cost between $25,200 and $32,400, or about $105.00 to 135.00 per SF. Pricing may vary with deck elevation, multi-level decks, and decking boards and railing selection.

Standard Features – Design and permit, Kiln dried pressure treated wood, Deck Shield Sytem (10 years warranty) Reinforced concrete footings, upgraded hardware beyond code, joists and beams waterproof,proper flashing, PVC wrap at perimeter fascia, deck surfacing with concealed fasteners. 

We recommend and use as our standard decking – Deckorators Voyage – Long lasting durability, low maintenance, low thermal movement, water and ground contact, and heat resistant – that reduces the surface heat to skin contact, barefoot and dog friendly.

Standard – $25,200 –  Standard Features + Deckorators contemporary aluminum railing + minimum lighting required by code

Standard Plus/Enhanced – $ 28,800 – Standard Features + Deckorators Voyage Decking + Composite railing with aluminum balusters + lighting at stair steps + one at house wall required by code.

Premium – $ 32,400 – Standard features + Deckorators Voyage Decking +  Deckorators Cable railing + Dimmers + Low voltage cap lighting at posts + stair low voltage lighting at each step. 

Upgrades – Post and Beams PVC trim wrapped, Intricate decking patterns, angles at the perimeter of the decking, privacy screens, benches, multi-level decks.