Decks and Outdoor Living Spaces
Decks, patios and outdoor kitchens. On sloped ground, which is most ground around here, the excavation and wall work underneath decide whether the finished space works.
The part under the deck
A deck on a steep lot is a structural problem before it is a carpentry problem. Footings below frost, posts sized for the height, and often a retaining wall or regrading to make the space beneath usable rather than a mud slope.
That is the advantage of having the excavation and the build under one contractor. The footings, the grading, the wall and the deck are one sequence rather than three companies pointing at each other.
How we do it
Every job runs the same sequence. If something changes it, you hear about it the day we find it.
Design to the ground
Where the ground falls, where the sun is, how the space connects to the house.
Footings below frost
Dug and poured to depth. On a raised deck this is the whole structure.
Grade and wall as needed
Where the ground beneath needs shaping or holding, that happens now rather than later.
Frame and deck
Framing, decking, railing, stairs.
Finish the surroundings
The ground shaped back to meet the new structure, then topsoil and seed, so the deck does not sit above bare clay.
What it costs
What moves the number
Decks are priced by square footage, height, and material. Ground work is separate because it varies so much.
| Work | What changes the price |
|---|---|
| Pressure treated deck | Height, railing, and stairs |
| Composite deck | Board and railing selection |
| Raised deck on a steep lot | Post height, footing depth, and access |
| Paver patio | Base depth, paver choice, and edge work |
| Outdoor kitchen | Structure, counter, and appliances |
Excavation, retaining walls and drainage under or around a deck are quoted separately so you can see what the ground work actually costs.
We price off a site visit, not off a photograph, so you will not find a number on this page. You will get a written scope with a fixed price in it, and it will say what is included and what is not before you are asked for anything.
The work
Photographs from our own jobs.
Composite or pressure treated?
Treated costs less now and needs regular maintenance. Composite costs more now and mostly does not. On a large deck the maintenance difference is the real decision.
Do I need a permit?
Usually, and it varies by municipality. Height, size and attachment to the house are the triggers. We check your requirement rather than guessing.
Can you build on a steep slope?
Yes, and it is common here. It means deeper footings, taller posts, and often a wall or regrading underneath. It is worth doing properly because the loads are real.
Can you make the space under the deck usable?
Often, yes. That normally means grading, a wall, drainage, and sometimes a patio surface. That work is quoted separately from the deck.
Need decks & outdoor living in the North Hills?
Send a few photos and what you have in mind. You get a straight answer about scope and what the job involves before anyone asks you for money.