Decks & Patios in Mar Vista
Mar Vista decks, balconies and patios built for fog and salt air, with stainless connectors, flashed ledgers, low-upkeep boards and city permits handled.
Mar Vista sits on the Westside close enough to the ocean that morning fog and salt air reach most decks, and a damp board dries slowly when the marine layer hangs on. That steady moisture is hard on steel and on the joint where a ledger meets the house. We build decks, balconies and patios with stainless or heavily coated connectors, flashed ledgers and boards that tolerate long wet stretches followed by bright afternoon sun.
Fog, salt and the hardware underneath
Salt carried in fog settles on joist hangers, post bases and screw heads, then stays wet overnight. Thin galvanizing gives up quickly in that setting, and once a hanger rusts through, the joist it carries has little left holding it. Near salt we use stainless screws and connectors, or hangers whose zinc coating is rated for marine exposure. Behind the ledger goes a peel-and-stick membrane, with metal flashing lapped over the top, and only then is a joist hung. On an existing deck we look at all of this from below, probe the framing, and show the owner the results before suggesting a fix.
Boards, balconies and ground-level patios
Capped composite and PVC shrug off damp air and do not feed mildew the way bare softwood can. Redwood and cedar still suit a Westside house, but near the water they need cleaning and a fresh sealer on a tight schedule. A balcony over a living room needs a walkable waterproof membrane, a slope to a scupper and flashing where it meets the wall. On the ground, pavers on a compacted base let storm water drain and are easy to lift if a line underneath needs work. Every item gets its own figure on a written quote, so you can decide what to build now.
Decks & Patios in Mar Vista: questions
When the posts, beams, footings and ledger test solid, fresh boards and rails over what is there can be sensible. Rust-scaled hangers, soft ledger wood or rot at joist ends mean the frame comes apart and is rebuilt. Salt damage hides on the underside, so we inspect from below, probe each member and show you what we found.
Near fog and salt, capped composite or PVC boards on stainless hidden fasteners need the least upkeep and resist mildew. Dense hardwoods such as ipe last well if oiled. Redwood looks right on many Westside houses but needs regular cleaning and sealing this close to the water. Whatever the board, the framing hardware matters as much as the surface.
We do. Deck, balcony and patio cover plans for a Mar Vista lot go to Los Angeles building officials for review, as the neighborhood falls within city limits. If the lot is in the coastal zone, coastal review may be required as well, and we check that before design. We draw the plans, submit them and handle plan check and inspections.
Decks & Patios nearby
More we do in Mar Vista
Talk to us about your Mar Vista project
Ask for a written quote or a call back. If photos would help, we ask for them when we reply.