Decks, porches and outdoor living
What each deck, porch and patio service involves, from footings to the last board, and what to expect from a certified company.
Outdoor living is the part of the house that stands in the weather. The pages below describe each service: what it is, how a builder or mason approaches it, and what separates a deck or patio that stays sound and level from one that does not.
After a storm, a fallen tree or a fire that reached the back of the house, decks, porches and patios are often part of the rebuild. A certified company assesses what can be kept, rebuilds what cannot, and pulls the permit where the local code requires one.
13 services
Deck building
A new deck from the footings up, framed to code and attached to the house with care.
Composite decking
Low-upkeep boards fastened from below, with joists spaced for the product.
Deck repair
Rot, loose railings and failing framing found and fixed, not covered over.
Deck resurfacing
New decking and railing on a frame that is still sound.
Porch building
A covered porch built to the house, from the footings to the ceiling.
Screened porch construction
A roofed room with screen walls, built to keep the bugs out and the breeze in.
Paver patios
Concrete or clay pavers laid on a compacted base, with a border and locked edges.
Concrete patios
A poured slab formed to drain, finished to your choice and jointed to control cracking.
Flagstone patios
Natural stone fitted piece by piece, dry-laid on gravel or mortared on a slab.
Pergola building
An open roof of beams and rafters on posts, for shade and structure over a patio.
Gazebo building
A freestanding roofed structure with its own floor, built like a small house.
Outdoor kitchens
A grill, counters and appliances built into a weatherproof base, with the utilities run to them.
Fire pit installation
A built fire pit, wood or gas, on a level base with seating planned around it.
Need a certified company?
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed.