Service
Decks and outdoor living
Cedar, composite and screened porches built on footings that survive a Missouri freeze cycle.
- Sample range
- $28 to $95 per square foot
- Time on site
- 2 to 7 weeks
What we are actually solving
Decks fail at the connections. The ledger board bolted through siding instead of flashed to the rim joist, footings poured above frost depth, and joist hangers with the wrong nails are the three failures we see most often when we tear one out.
We flash every ledger, pour footings to 30 inches, use structural screws rated for the connection, and get the framing inspected before a single board goes down. The finish you see is the easy part.
Typical crew: Exterior carpentry lead plus two, concrete sub for footings
Line by line
What is included
This is the scope you would see in your proposal, written the way we write it rather than the way a brochure does.
Footings to frost depth
Poured piers below the frost line, sized for the load, inspected before framing starts.
Flashed ledger connection
Siding cut back, ledger through-bolted to the rim joist and flashed so water never reaches the sheathing.
Framing and hardware
Treated framing with hot-dip galvanized or stainless hardware, blocking at every span, and hidden fastener systems where the decking allows.
Decking and railing
Western red cedar, ipe or composite, with cable, aluminum or wood railing built to code height and spacing.
Screened porches and pergolas
Roof framing tied into the house, screen systems that can be re-screened in a panel, and ceiling fans wired for exterior use.
Lighting and power
Low-voltage stair and post lighting, GFCI outlets and switching planned for how you actually use the space at night.
Why it matters
Three things that change the outcome
Inspected before it is covered
Framing inspection on every deck, so the structure is signed off before decking hides it.
Hardware that outlasts the wood
Stainless or hot-dip hardware only. Electroplated screws have no business outdoors in Missouri.
Built for August and January
Expansion gaps, drainage and ventilation detailed for a climate that swings 100 degrees.
- 01
Phone call
15 minutes, no visit yet
- 02
Site visit
About an hour, free
- 03
Design and selections
Paid agreement, credited back
- 04
Fixed-price proposal
Line-item scope, no vague lumps
- 05
Permits and pre-construction
The part nobody photographs
- 06
Construction
Weekly meetings, daily photos
- 07
Punch list and follow-up
Be picky, that is the point
Where the money goes
What moves the price on this work
Compare these against any other bid you are holding. If a line is missing from one of them, the prices are not comparable.
- Height off grade and whether guardrails and stairs are required
- Decking material: treated pine, cedar, composite or hardwood
- Roof structure for a covered or screened porch
- Soil conditions and how deep the footings have to go
- Electrical, gas lines for a grill, or a hot tub requiring reinforced framing
- Existing deck removal and disposal
Case study
A Clayton cedar deck and screened porch
An 18 by 22 screened room plus a 400 square foot deck, tied into a hip roof.
- Budget
- $132,000 to $141,000
- Timeline
- 7 weeks
- Neighborhood
- Clayton
Decks and outdoor living questions
Something not covered here? Call us, it is a two minute answer most of the time.
All questionsComposite if you want to stop maintaining it, cedar if you want the look and you will actually clean and oil it every other year. Composite costs more up front and saves you a weekend most springs. Both are good products when the framing under them is right.
In nearly every municipality around St. Louis, yes, once the deck is more than 30 inches off grade or attached to the house. We pull it and schedule the footing and framing inspections.
Often yes, with sleepers or a floating frame, provided there is drainage and enough height at the door threshold. If the concrete is heaving we will recommend removing it first.
A properly flashed, properly footed treated frame lasts 25 years or more. Cedar decking gets 15 to 20 with maintenance, composite surfaces carry manufacturer warranties in the 25 to 50 year range. The frame is what determines the real answer.
Often booked together
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Ready to price your decks and outdoor living
A free site visit, measurements and photographs, then a written ballpark range within three business days.
742 projects since 2009 · 3 year workmanship warranty · Licensed, bonded and lead-safe certified (sample figures)