Deck Design in Austin, TX
Austin Deck Builders – Design & Installation handles deck design and construction for Austin homes and businesses. Design is the first stage of every deck we build: we work out what the deck should be, then our own crew builds it.
Call (512) 354-7633 or ask for a free on-site estimate. We’ll walk the yard with you, listen to how you want to use the space and talk through what would fit.
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How Deck Design Starts
We see the yard before we quote the deck. A good design starts with the ground it sits on, not a catalog photo, so the first step is always a visit to your property.
At that visit, we look at the slope of the yard, where the doors and windows are, where the sun hits in the afternoon, which trees need room, and how water drains. We’ll also ask how you’ll use the deck: grilling, dinners outside, a quiet spot in the shade, room for kids, a place by the pool.
What Gets Decided in the Design
By the end of the design stage, you know what you’re getting and why. We settle:
Size and shape:
how big the deck should be and how it fits the house and yard
Height and levels:
one level or several, and how they step down a slope
Stairs and landings:
where they land and how they connect the deck to the yard
Railings:
where they’re needed and what style suits the house
Materials: the decking, railing and finish that fit your budget and upkeep plans
How an Austin Yard Shapes the Design
Austin yards aren’t flat, empty lots, and that’s what makes design matter here. Many have limestone a few inches down, clay soil that swells and shrinks, or old oaks with protected root zones. Some homes have brick veneer where a deck would usually attach. Each of these changes where posts can go and how the deck connects to the house, so we design around them from the start instead of finding them during the build.
Deck Types We Design and Build
Every type of deck we build starts with the same design stage. Most of our work is backyard decks off the kitchen or living room, built by our deck installation crew.
If your yard slopes, our multi-level deck layouts page shows how a deck can step down in levels. If you’ve got a pool, our pool deck layouts page covers decks around above-ground pools and beside in-ground ones.
For a flat roof on a home or a commercial building, see our rooftop deck builders page. We also design floating decks on level ground, balconies, and commercial decks for restaurants and bars.
Choosing Materials in the Design
Materials are part of the design, not an afterthought, and they’re easier to choose once you’ve seen the yard with us. We install composite from Trex, TimberTech and Fiberon, PVC and vinyl decking, aluminum, and real wood: cedar, redwood, pressure-treated pine, ipe and other hardwoods, and modified wood. We’ll talk through how each one looks, how it handles Austin sun and how much upkeep it needs. Our wood deck choices page covers the woods in more detail.
Redesigning an Existing Deck
Sometimes the deck you have is in the wrong place, too small or doesn’t fit how you live now. We redesign existing decks too, keeping what’s sound and changing what isn’t. When the frame is past saving, a full deck replacement lets us start the design fresh.
From Design to Build
Because we design the decks we build, the people who plan your deck are the same crew that builds it. There’s no hand-off to a different company. Nothing gets lost between a designer and a builder. Our own crew has built decks in Austin since 2011, with more than a thousand residential and commercial projects. We don’t subcontract the work, we’re fully insured, and every deck carries a 1-year craftsmanship warranty. It’s a deck designed and built for every Austin season.
Permits
Many decks in Austin need a City building permit, especially decks that are attached to the house or sit more than 30 inches off the ground. We coordinate permits through third-party permit partners. Our deck permit process guide explains when a permit applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does deck design work with Austin Deck Builders?
It starts with a visit to your property. We look at the yard, the house and how you want to use the deck, then work out the size, levels, stairs, railings and materials with you before we build.
Do you design decks that someone else builds?
No. Design is the first stage of the decks our own crew builds, so the same team plans and builds your deck.
Can you design a deck for a sloped yard?
Yes. We design multi-level decks that step down a slope, with stairs and landings between the levels.
Can you redesign my existing deck?
Yes. We can rework an existing deck, keeping what’s sound, or replace it and start the design fresh if the frame has failed.
Does a new deck need a permit in Austin?
Many do, especially decks attached to the house or more than 30 inches off the ground. We coordinate permits through third-party permit partners.
Start Your Deck Design
Tell us about your yard and the deck you have in mind, and we’ll set a time to come out. Call (512) 354-7633, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, see our finished deck layouts, or send our design request form.