Deck Installation in Austin, TX
Deck installation is most of what we do at Austin Deck Builders – Design & Installation. Since 2011 our own crew has built more than a thousand decks for Austin homes and businesses, from low platforms off the back door to decks that step down a hillside.
Every new deck starts the same way: we see the yard before we quote the deck. Call (512) 354-7633 or ask for a deck building estimate, and we’ll come out, walk the space with you and give you a number based on what’s actually there.
Request For Free Quote
1. Site Visit
We look at the slope, the soil, the trees, the drainage and the wall the deck will meet. That’s where the size, height and shape get settled, and it’s where we tell you if something about the yard changes the plan. If you’d like help working out the layout, our custom deck design page shows how we do it on site.
2. Permit
Most new decks in Austin need a building permit. We coordinate permits through third-party permit partners, so the paperwork moves while we get the materials lined up.
3. Footings and Posts
Footings carry the whole deck, so they’re sized for the load and set below the soft topsoil. Posts sit on concrete, never in the dirt, which keeps them dry and keeps termites out.
4. Framing and Ledger
Beams and joists go in next, level and square. If the deck attaches to the house, we bolt a ledger board to the house framing and flash it so water can’t get behind it. If attaching isn’t a good idea, the deck stands on its own posts instead.
5. Decking
Boards go down with the right gaps for drainage and for the way each material moves with heat. We use the fasteners each board maker calls for, so the boards stay flat and tight.
6. Stairs and Railings
Stairs get even risers and solid stringers, and railings go on wherever the deck sits high enough to need them. They’re the parts people grab and lean on, so they’re built to take it.
7. Final Walkthrough
We walk the finished deck with you, check every board, step and rail, and clean up before we leave. Your deck carries our 1-year craftsmanship warranty.
Custom Decks We Install
Most decks we build are custom, because most Austin yards aren’t flat, square or empty. We build backyard decks, floating decks on level ground, balconies and second-story decks, and decks that wrap around a tree instead of cutting it down.
Some builds have their own page. Our above-ground pool decks are framed so water runs off and away from the pool, and multi-level decks step down a sloped lot so every level gets used.
On a flat roof, rooftop decks start with the roof structure and how it drains. For people who want boards that look and smell like wood, see our real wood decks.
If the deck you have now is past saving, start with old deck replacement instead, since tearing out and rebuilding changes the job.
Materials You Can Choose
We install composite boards from Trex, TimberTech and Fiberon, plus PVC, aluminum and real wood: ipe and other hardwoods, cedar, redwood, pressure-treated pine and modified wood.
- Composite mixes wood fiber and plastic. It holds its color and needs little more than a wash.
- PVC is all plastic, so it doesn’t soak up water and won’t rot.
- Aluminum stays cooler underfoot in full sun than wood or composite and won’t rot or warp.
- Ipe and other hardwoods are dense and hard-wearing, and they last for decades when they’re oiled on schedule.
- Cedar and redwood have natural oils that resist rot and insects, with a warm color that grays if it isn’t sealed.
- Pressure-treated pine is treated against rot and insects, and it’s the usual framing lumber under most decks, whatever goes on top.
- Modified wood is real wood treated to hold its shape and shed water.
Wood decks need cleaning and sealing on a regular schedule in Austin sun; our wood deck staining crew can keep that on the calendar.
What Austin Ground Changes About the Build
Austin doesn’t have one kind of ground. East of I-35, clay swells when it’s wet and shrinks when it’s dry, so footings go deeper and the frame is built to stay level through both. West of MoPac, limestone often sits a few inches down, and pier holes get drilled into rock.
Older Austin houses often have brick veneer, and a deck can’t hang off brick. We attach to the framing behind it or build the deck freestanding. Big oaks and pecans are protected, and their root zones decide where footings can go. It’s all part of making a deck that’s built for every Austin season, from August heat to the odd hard freeze.
Do You Need a Permit for a New Deck?
Usually, yes. The City of Austin’s Austin building permit exemptions only cover a deck that’s 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the house, not used as an exit and outside a flood hazard area. Most decks miss at least one of those.
We coordinate permits through third-party permit partners, and our deck permit requirements guide explains what the City asks for.
Decks for Businesses
We also install decks for real estate companies, restaurants and bars. Commercial decks take steady foot traffic, outdoor seating and furniture that moves around, so we plan the framing, railings and stairs for that load from the first visit.
Commercial work has its own permit and inspection steps, and we build them into the job. Our own crew does the work, the same as on our residential decks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a new deck in Austin?
Usually. The City only exempts a deck that’s 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade, freestanding, not used as an exit and outside a flood hazard area. Most new decks need a permit, and we coordinate it through third-party permit partners.
Can you attach a deck to a brick house?
Not to the brick itself. Brick veneer isn’t built to carry a deck, so we fasten the ledger to the house framing behind it or build the deck to stand on its own posts.
Should I choose composite or wood?
Composite and PVC hold their color and need little upkeep. Wood looks and feels natural and needs cleaning and sealing every few years. Aluminum stays coolest in full sun. We’ll talk through the options at the site visit, based on how much sun the deck gets and how much upkeep you want.
Do you build decks for businesses?
Yes. We’ve built decks for real estate companies, restaurants and bars, planned for steady foot traffic and outdoor seating, with the commercial permit and inspection steps built into the job.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. We come out, look at the yard and the house, and then give you a written estimate at no cost. We don’t quote a deck before we’ve seen where it’s going.
Book Your Site Visit
Tell us where you want the deck and how you’ll use it, and we’ll set a time to come out. Call (512) 354-7633, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, see finished work in our deck gallery, or send the details through our contact form.
