Can you repair my deck or does it need replacing?

If the footings, beams and ledger are sound, new boards and railings on the old frame can be a good job. If the ledger or joists are soft, we recommend rebuilding the frame. We probe it and show you before you decide.

Do you build patio covers and balconies too?

Yes. Patio covers, pergolas and second-floor balconies are part of the same work. A balcony over living space needs a waterproof deck membrane and careful drainage, which we design in from the start.

Which fasteners do you use near the ocean?

Stainless steel screws and connectors, or connectors with a heavy zinc coating rated for coastal exposure, depending on how close the deck sits to the water and what the plans call for.

Decks and Patios Built for Fog, Salt and Sun

Most deck failures start where nobody looks: the ledger against the house, the fasteners and the footings. We build those parts first and pick boards second.

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Where coastal decks give out

A deck near the ocean is wet more often than it is dry. Standard galvanized screws and hangers corrode years ahead of schedule, and the ledger board bolted to the house rots from the back if it was never flashed. Boards cup and split in the sun, and railings loosen as their posts swell and shrink.

The parts that fail are usually hidden. When we inspect an older deck we look underneath before we talk about boards.

Wood, composite or a mix

Redwood and cedar look right on a beach house and take stain well, but they need cleaning and sealing every year or two near salt air. Composite boards hold color longer and do not splinter, though they get hot in direct sun and need the right joist spacing. One option is composite for the walking surface, with wood or painted trim for the fascia and railing.

Framing under either one is pressure-treated lumber rated for ground contact where it is close to the soil, with stainless or coated connectors throughout.

Permits, footings and the ledger

Most decks attached to a house or more than 30 inches off the ground need a permit in Los Angeles County cities. The plan shows footing sizes, beam spans, the ledger connection and the guard height. We draw that up, file it, and build to it.

The ledger gets a membrane and metal flashing behind and over it before the first joist goes in, because that one joint decides whether the wall behind the deck stays dry.

Decks & Patios: questions

If the footings, beams and ledger are sound, new boards and railings on the old frame can be a good job. If the ledger or joists are soft, we recommend rebuilding the frame. We probe it and show you before you decide.
Yes. Patio covers, pergolas and second-floor balconies are part of the same work. A balcony over living space needs a waterproof deck membrane and careful drainage, which we design in from the start.
Stainless steel screws and connectors, or connectors with a heavy zinc coating rated for coastal exposure, depending on how close the deck sits to the water and what the plans call for.

Decks & Patios by city

Send the deck size

Rough dimensions and where the deck meets the house are enough for us to plan a visit and a written quote. If photos would help, we ask for them when we reply.

Request a call back Ask for a written quote