Deck Construction & Repair in PA & NJ

A deck is a structure people stand on, so the parts you cannot see matter most: footings below the frost line, a ledger flashed to the house, joists sized and spaced for the span. As a licensed deck contractor, Underhill Lions LLC builds and repairs decks across Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties and South Jersey, from rowhome back decks to full backyard platforms with stairs and railings. We are a licensed contractor, PA HIC #PA203239, and we pull permits under our own license.

What goes into a new deck: footings, framing, boards and railings

Every new deck starts with a site visit and a drawing. We measure the yard, check where the deck meets the house, look at drainage and grade, and talk through how you plan to use the space: a grill and a table, a place for the kids, a landing off the kitchen door. That drawing becomes the permit set and the written scope, so what you approve is what gets built.

The structure comes first. We dig and pour footings below the frost line, set posts and beams, and frame with pressure-treated lumber, with joists sized and spaced for the span. Where the deck attaches to the house, the ledger is bolted to the framing and flashed so water runs off instead of into the wall. That connection is where many older decks fail, and it is the part an inspector looks at closely.

On top of the frame you choose composite or wood decking. Railings and stairs are built to the code the local permit office enforces, for height, baluster spacing and stair geometry. Lighting, a gate, a bench or a pergola can go in during the same build, which is simpler and cheaper than adding them later.

Composite decking or pressure-treated wood

Both are good decks when the frame under them is right. Composite costs more up front, needs no staining, does not splinter and holds its look for decades. Pressure-treated wood costs less and can be stained any color, but it needs a stain or seal every couple of years to stay in shape. Either way, the framing is pressure-treated lumber, so the choice is about the surface you walk on and how much upkeep you want. We bring samples to the site visit and explain the trade-offs for your yard and budget.

Deck repair or deck replacement

Soft boards, a wobbly railing, a bouncy section, stairs that have pulled away from the frame: most of these are repairable if the posts, beams and joists are sound. We probe the framing before we quote anything, because new boards on a rotting frame are wasted money. When the frame itself has failed, we say so and quote a deck replacement instead of patching it.

• Boards and joists: we replace damaged decking and sister or replace weak joists.
• Railings and stairs: we reset loose posts, replace railings and rebuild stairs that have shifted.
• The ledger: we re-flash or rebuild the connection to the house when water has gotten in.
• Finish: we clean, sand where needed and stain or paint, so the repair blends with the rest of the deck.

If the ledger is rotted, the footings are heaving or the framing is soft throughout, replacement is the safer choice, and we will say so. When the call is close, we quote both options so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.

What drives deck cost

No two decks are priced the same, but the same factors set the total every time:

• Size and shape: more square footage, more corners and more levels mean more framing and more labor.
• Height off the ground: a taller deck needs longer posts, more bracing and longer stairs.
• Decking material: composite costs more than pressure-treated wood up front.
• Railings and stairs: the railing style and the number of steps add up quickly.
• Removal of an old deck: tearing out and hauling away an existing structure is part of the job.
• Access: a tight rowhome yard with no side entry means materials come through the house or over a fence by hand.
• Add-ons: lighting, gates, benches and pergolas.

You get a written, itemized estimate after the site visit, so you can see where the money goes and adjust the scope if you need to.

Permits and inspections

A new deck or a structural repair needs a permit. We prepare the drawings, file the application and schedule the inspections with the local permit office, whether the house is in Philadelphia or in one of the townships in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. You do not have to deal with the paperwork, and the finished deck has a passed inspection behind it.

Around the rest of the house

A deck often comes with other outdoor or exterior work. We can repaint trim, doors and siding at the same time through our interior and exterior painting service, and handle smaller fixes around the property with turnovers and small repairs. To see finished decks we have built and rebuilt, browse our recent projects.

Send us a photo of your deck or your yard and request a free estimate.