Wood Deck Builder in Austin, TX
Austin Deck Builders – Design & Installation is a wood deck builder for Austin homes and businesses. We build in cedar, redwood, pressure-treated pine, ipe and other hardwoods, and modified wood, for owners who want real wood underfoot.
Call (512) 354-7633 or ask for a free wood deck estimate. We’ll look at the yard, how much sun the deck will get and how you’ll use it, then talk through which wood fits.
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Choosing the Right Wood for an Austin Deck
Austin is hard on wood. Summer sun dries boards out, spring storms soak them, and termites are active in the soil most of the year. Every wood handles that a little differently, so the right choice depends on the look you want, how much upkeep you’re willing to do and how much sun the deck takes.
We see the yard before we quote the deck, and the wood is part of that conversation. Here’s how the woods we build with compare.
Cedar and Redwood Decks
Cedar and redwood are softwoods with natural oils that help them resist rot and insects. They’re lighter than hardwoods, easy to work with, and have a warm color and a smell people like.
Left bare, both weather to a silver gray. Most owners keep the color with a semi-transparent stain, which also adds UV protection. Cedar is the more common of the two in Austin, and it’s a good fit for a deck that gets some shade.
Pressure-Treated Pine Decks
Pressure-treated pine is the most common deck wood around. The treatment pushes preservative deep into the wood, so it holds up against rot and termites even near the ground. It’s also what most deck framing is built from, under any decking.
Treated pine comes wet from the treatment and shrinks as it dries, so boards are spaced with that in mind. Once it’s dried out, it takes a stain well, and a solid or semi-transparent stain evens out the color.
Ipe and Other Hardwood Decks
Ipe and other tropical hardwoods are dense, hard and heavy. They resist rot, insects and wear, and they hold up well in Austin heat. Because they’re so dense, they’re usually pre-drilled before fastening, and they take a penetrating oil made for hardwoods rather than a regular stain.
Left unoiled, ipe weathers to a soft gray, like cedar. Oiled on schedule, it keeps its deep brown color.
Modified Wood Decks
Modified wood is a softwood that’s been treated, usually with heat or a chemical process, so it takes on less water and moves less as the weather changes. That makes it more stable and more resistant to rot than the same wood untreated, while still looking and feeling like real wood.
Each modified wood product has its own care guidance, and we follow the maker’s directions on how it’s installed and finished.
How We Build a Wood Deck to Last
A wood deck lasts as long as the parts you don’t see. On every build:
- Posts sit on concrete, never in the dirt, so termites and standing water don’t reach the wood
- Boards are spaced so water drains through and the wood can move as it dries and swells
Our wood board spacing guide explains why the gaps matter for each wood. How long a wood deck lasts depends on the wood, the sun it gets and how it’s kept up, and a deck that’s looked after is one built for every Austin season.
Wood or Composite?
Wood looks and feels like wood, can be refinished and repaired board by board, and can be stained any color you like. It does need a finish and a yearly look. Composite and PVC boards don’t need staining but look and feel different underfoot. We build both, and if you’re leaning toward composite, our composite deck builds page covers Trex, TimberTech and Fiberon.
Keeping a Wood Deck in Shape
Every wood deck needs a finish and some care. We clean, stain, seal and oil wood decks through our wood deck finishing service, and we handle wood deck repair when boards loosen or rot.
A yearly wood deck check is free. It’s the easiest way to catch a soft board or a failing finish before it turns into a bigger job.
Why Austin Owners Call Us
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wood for a deck in Austin?
It depends on the look, the upkeep and the sun. Pressure-treated pine is the most common, cedar and redwood resist rot naturally and look warm, and ipe is the hardest and densest. We’ll help you choose at the estimate.
Do you build ipe and hardwood decks?
Yes. We build ipe and other hardwood decks and finish them with a penetrating oil made for hardwoods.
What is modified wood decking?
It’s a softwood treated with heat or a chemical process so it takes on less water, moves less and resists rot better than untreated wood. We install it following the maker’s directions.
How long does a wood deck last?
It depends on the wood, how much sun the deck gets and how well it’s kept up. A regular finish and a yearly check make the biggest difference.
Do wood decks need to be stained?
Most do. A stain or sealer slows sun damage and keeps water out. Ipe and other hardwoods take a penetrating oil instead.
Book a Site Visit
Tell us about your yard and the wood you’re thinking about, and we’ll set a time to come out. Call (512) 354-7633, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, see our wood deck photos, or send our wood deck request form. Every estimate is free.