Every job below is one we do ourselves across Bolingbrook.
A new deck starts with the footings, not the boards. We dig below the frost line, which in Illinois means around 42 inches, so the posts don't heave when the ground freezes. Framing goes in with pressure-treated joists on 16-inch centers, built out to whatever layout fits your yard.
Soft spots, bouncy stairs, and railings that wiggle usually trace back to rot at the ledger board or a loose joist hanger. We pull up the decking to see what's actually going on underneath before we quote anything. Sometimes it's a few boards, sometimes it's half the frame.
UV and standing water do more damage to a deck than foot traffic ever will. We sand down graying boards, let the wood dry out, and apply a stain that actually penetrates instead of sitting on top. Oil-based holds up longer around here, but we'll walk you through the options.
Multi-level decks, built-in benches, hidden fastener boards, whatever you want it to look like, we draw it out before we cut anything. Some clients want a simple rectangle off the back door. Others want something closer to an outdoor room.
Composite boards like Trex or TimberTech don't rot, splinter, or need restaining every couple years. They cost more upfront than pressure-treated lumber, but if you don't want to think about maintenance again, it's worth the difference.
Illinois code calls for a 4-inch sphere rule on baluster spacing and a specific railing height, and a lot of older decks don't meet it. We replace wobbly rail posts, fix spacing that's too wide, and can match wood, cable, or composite railing to whatever decking you've got.
If the frame underneath is solid but the boards are cupped, splintering, or worn out, we don't tear the whole thing down. We strip the old decking off the joists and lay new boards on the existing structure, which saves you the cost of rebuilding footings that are still good.
A screened porch keeps the bugs out without closing off the view, and we frame them to tie into your existing roofline instead of looking bolted on. Good for anyone who uses their deck less than they'd like because of mosquitoes in July.
A pergola takes the edge off a deck that gets full sun all afternoon. We anchor the posts into the existing deck frame or set new footings, depending on what's there.
Old decks with rotted ledger boards or failing footings sometimes aren't worth saving. We'll tear it out, haul off the lumber, and leave the site ready for a new build or just grass again.
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.
We bring the same crew and equipment to every town we cover.
Questions that come up once a project actually gets underway.
Describe the problem and we will tell you what it probably is. No obligation.
