Free Deck Safety Inspection, Deck Repair & Replacement in Fairfax and Loudoun

Who we are

Deck Defenders is one of Kenney Construction's specialty divisions. Kenney Construction was founded in 2019 by Frank Kenney, who has worked in construction since he was 14, and is licensed, insured and bonded in Virginia (DPOR #2705187519). We're based in Herndon and work across the Fairfax and Loudoun County communities around it: Herndon, Reston, Vienna, Great Falls, McLean, Oakton, Chantilly and Centreville in Fairfax County, and Ashburn, Sterling, South Riding and Aldie in Loudoun County. This site is about one subject: keeping the deck behind your house sound, whether that takes a few boards or a new deck.

Start with a free deck safety inspection

Fairfax County's building official recommends that owners evaluate their deck every year and have it inspected regularly by a licensed contractor, more often as it gets older. Deck Defenders is a licensed Virginia contractor, and our deck safety inspection is free for homeowners in the communities we serve. It's a visual check of the parts that matter most for safety, each tied to what the Fairfax and Loudoun county deck details and the Virginia Residential Code require. If something needs work, you get a repair or replacement estimate; if not, you get peace of mind. Either way, there's no obligation.

To be clear about what it is: it's not a county building inspection (those are done by Fairfax County, Loudoun County or Town of Herndon inspectors on permitted work), it's not a licensed home inspection, and it doesn't certify that a deck meets code.

Deck repair you can see: a Sterling project

In Sterling, a homeowner's deck had damaged and worn boards. Rather than tearing the whole thing down, Deck Defenders replaced the bad boards and resurfaced the deck, handling the work directly instead of subcontracting it. These are photos from that project, not stock images.

Repair or replacement? It's decided underneath

A deck's walking surface is the part you notice, but the decision is made by the parts you don't: the ledger board bolted to the house, the joists and beams, the posts and the footings below grade. If those are sound, new boards, railing and stair repair, or a refinish can give an old deck years more use. If the ledger is attached the wrong way, the footings are shallow, or the framing is rotting, new boards would only hide the problem, and a deck replacement is the honest recommendation.

Our free deck safety inspection is built around those parts. Our homeowner guides also walk through what to look at yourself, and what county inspectors check when a deck is built or replaced.

Why county matters for a deck

Deck work in this area runs through three different permit offices. Most Fairfax County homes are permitted by Fairfax County Land Development Services, which publishes a Typical Deck Details handout based on the 2021 Virginia Residential Code. The Town of Herndon runs its own building inspections and requires a permit for all decks. Vienna homes go through Fairfax County for the building permit and the Town of Vienna for zoning review. In Loudoun County, the county says a building permit and a zoning permit are required for all decks. Our Fairfax County and Loudoun County pages lay out the differences.

What to expect when you call

• A free deck safety inspection of the whole deck: ledger, posts and footings, framing, boards, railings, stairs and connectors, not just the surface you asked about.
• A straight recommendation: repair, resurface, or replace, and why.
• A written scope listing what's included, what isn't, and how hidden damage found during the work will be handled.
• A clear note on permits: who applies, and which office (Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the Town of Herndon or the Town of Vienna) is involved.
• Decking from manufacturers the division actually installs: Trex, TimberTech, and AZEK trim, or pressure-treated wood.
• One licensed company from estimate through cleanup.