Every job below is one we do ourselves across Milwaukee.
We build new decks from the ground up, starting with footings poured below the frost line so the structure doesn't shift every winter. Framing lumber is pressure-treated, joists run 16 inches on center, and we use joist hangers rated for the load instead of just toe-nailing everything. You pick the decking, we handle the rest.
Soft spots, wobbly railings, and a ledger board pulling away from the house are the three calls we get most. We replace the framing member that's actually failed instead of covering it with a new board on top. If the whole substructure is shot, we'll tell you that instead of patching something that's going to fail again next season.
Wood decking gets a fresh coat of stain every two to three years around here, less often if it's shaded most of the day. We power wash and let the wood dry for a couple days before staining, because sealing over damp wood traps moisture underneath. We use penetrating stains rather than film-forming ones on older wood, since film finishes peel once the wood starts moving.
Some yards have a slope, a septic line, or a tree nobody wants to lose, and a standard rectangle off the back door doesn't work. We design around what's actually there, including multi-level layouts, built-in bench seating, and stair placement that lines up with the yard instead of fighting it.
Composite boards don't rot, but they still need the framing underneath done right, hidden fastener systems, and proper gapping for expansion in summer heat. We install Trex, TimberTech, and similar composite brands, and we'll tell you honestly if composite is worth the extra cost for your situation or if pressure-treated wood makes more sense.
Wisconsin code requires guardrails on any deck over 30 inches high, with balusters spaced so a 4-inch sphere can't pass through. We build wood, cable, and composite railing systems, and we set every post into the framing itself instead of just screwing it to the rim joist.
If the framing underneath is still solid but the decking boards are cupped, splintering, or gray, we tear off just the surface and rebuild it with new boards on the existing structure. It costs less than a full rebuild and it's a good option if the deck is under fifteen years old and was framed correctly to begin with.
A screened porch keeps the bugs out and adds a roofline over part of your outdoor space, and we frame it off the same deck structure instead of building it as a separate project. We handle the framing, screen panels, and door, and coordinate the roof tie-in to your house.
Sometimes the only fix for an old deck is taking it down to the footings and starting over. We tear out the old structure, haul away the lumber, and check whether the existing footings are deep enough and sound enough to build on again before we reuse them.
A sloped backyard usually calls for two or three deck levels connected by stairs instead of one long ramp up from the house. We work out the height changes and stair stringers so the levels feel connected instead of like separate projects bolted together.
Four steps, and no surprises in any of them.
You tell us what you want doing, we look at what is actually there, and we ask the awkward questions early.
In writing, itemised, free. If something might add cost later we flag it now rather than at the end.
Same crew throughout. We cover your floors, keep the dust down and tidy up before we leave each day.
You point out anything you are not happy with and we fix it before the invoice, not after.
Deck construction and repair available throughout the greater Milwaukee area.
Questions that come up once a project is actually underway.
Describe the problem and we will tell you what it probably is. No obligation.
