- 01
Consult
Review goals, budget priorities, and how the space will be used.
- 02
Design
Develop the layout plan, material direction, and project scope.
- 03
Select
Finalize decking material, railings, stairs, and finishes.
- 04
Build
Complete framing, decking, railings, and finish work.
- 05
Complete
Review final details, address closeout items, and turn over the finished space.
1. Consult
We look at the deck with you: the surface, the framing from underneath, the ledger where it meets the house, the posts and footings where we can see them, and the stairs and railings. You tell us what's bothering you and how you use the deck. If you've noticed soft spots, wobbly railings or a deck that bounces, point them out. Photos of problem areas taken over time help too.
2. Design
For a repair, the design step is a written scope: which boards, joists, railings or stairs are replaced, and what stays. For a replacement, it's a layout plan and a scope that covers footings, framing, ledger, decking, railings and stairs. This is also where we identify the permit path: Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon, Fairfax County plus Town of Vienna zoning, or Loudoun County's building and zoning permits. Your job: check HOA rules and tell us about anything that limits access to the yard.
3. Select
You choose decking (pressure-treated wood, or composite from Trex or TimberTech), railing style and material, stair layout and finishes. For repairs, the main question is how new boards will blend with the old ones, or whether to resurface so the whole deck matches.
4. Build
Demolition, framing, decking, railings and finish work, with the county or town inspections at the stages the permit requires: typically footings, framing and final for a new or replacement deck. Hidden conditions, like rot under boards that looked fine, are documented and discussed before the scope changes.
5. Complete
We walk the finished deck with you, handle any closeout items and clean up. Keep the written scope, permit records and material information together; they're useful for maintenance and if you ever sell the house.