Seattle Deck Builders Who Frame It Right Before They Make It Look Good
Deck replacement, new cedar and composite decks, elevated decks with stairs, covered porches and structural deck repair — built on proper footings, flashed ledgers and code-compliant framing, so your deck outlives the Puget Sound rain instead of rotting under it. Free site visit, written price within one business day.
- Fixed price in writing. Demo, footings, framing, decking, railing and permit fees — itemized before you sign.
- Permit and inspection handled. We pull the deck permit, meet the inspector, and fix anything they flag at our cost.
- 9 years in Washington. Licensed, bonded & insured. 4.9★ from 61 verified Thumbtack reviews.
Price my deck
Size, height and the material you’re leaning toward is enough to start. We ring back the same or next business day to set up a site visit.
Free, no obligation. The written price is yours whether or not you hire us.
A deck doesn’t fail from the top down. It fails from the frame up — and Seattle rain finds every shortcut.
Almost every deck we replace died of the same four causes. None of them are visible once the boards are on, which is why we photograph the frame before we cover it.
No ledger flashing
The ledger bolts to your house. Without proper flashing, water runs behind it for years, rots the rim joist and sheathing, and the deck lets go from the wall — usually with people on it.
Posts sitting in dirt or on pavers
Untreated post bottoms on soil or precast blocks wick moisture nine months a year. The deck sinks, tilts, and the railing goes loose long before the boards look bad.
Built without a permit
Any deck over 30 inches off grade needs a permit in Washington. Unpermitted decks stall home sales, void insurance claims, and get red-tagged when the neighbour’s new fence draws an inspector.
New boards on a rotten frame
The cheapest bid is often “just re-deck it”. Composite on a 20-year-old frame with 24-inch joist spacing sags, squeaks, and has to come off again in two years.
Footings, flashing and framing first. Then the part you’ll see.
- Poured concrete footings below frost line with post bases — never posts in soil or on blocks.
- Flashed, lag-bolted ledger or a free-standing frame if your siding can’t take a ledger. We show you the flashing before it’s covered.
- Joist spacing matched to the decking — 16″ for cedar, 12″ for composite and hot-tub zones — with joist tape and stainless or coated hardware.
- Permitted and inspected. Footing and framing inspections passed before a single deck board goes down.
Deck replacement, new construction and structural repair across the Puget Sound
Cedar, pressure-treated or composite — ground-level to elevated — with the stairs, railings, privacy screens and covers that make it usable in a Seattle winter.
Deck Replacement
Demo of the old deck, new footings and frame, new decking and railing. The most common job we do in older Seattle, Renton and Tacoma neighbourhoods — and the one where the frame matters most.
New Cedar & Composite Decks
Ground-level and raised decks designed for how you’ll use them: dining zones, built-in benches, privacy screens, lighting. Western red cedar for the look, Trex/TimberTech composite for zero maintenance.
Elevated Decks & Stairs
Second-storey decks, split-level yards and walk-out basements. 6×6 posts, doubled beams, engineered guard-rail attachment and stairs with proper stringers and landings — the parts inspectors look at hardest.
Deck Framing & Structural Repair
Sagging deck? Soft spots? We replace rotted joists and beams, sister what can be saved, re-set posts on real footings, re-flash the ledger and reinforce for hot tubs — without replacing decking that’s still good.
Covered Porches & Patio Covers
Shed-roof and gable covers tied into your existing roofline, front and back porches, pergolas and patio roofs — framed to carry Puget Sound snow and wind loads, with the flashing detail done right.
Railings, Privacy Screens & Fences
Cedar and metal railings, horizontal-slat privacy walls, and fences that match the deck. Built into the deck frame — not screwed to the decking — so they stay tight for years.
What a deck actually costs in the Seattle area — before you call anyone
Ranges from our recent King, Pierce and Kitsap County jobs, installed, including demo where noted. Your fixed price comes after a free site visit.
| Project | Typical range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated deck, ground levelInstalled, per sq ft, new footings & frame | $35–$50 / sq ft | 3–5 days |
| Cedar deck, ground levelWestern red cedar decking & railing | $45–$65 / sq ft | 3–6 days |
| Composite deck (Trex / TimberTech)12″ joist spacing, hidden fasteners | $60–$95 / sq ft | 4–7 days |
| Deck replacement, 12×16 ft cedarDemo & haul-away, footings, frame, decking, railing | $9,500–$15,000 | 4–6 days |
| Elevated deck with stairs, ~200 sq ft6×6 posts, doubled beams, stairs, guardrail | $18,000–$32,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Covered porch / patio coverFramed roof tied into house, per project | $12,000–$30,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Structural repair: ledger, joists, postsRot replacement, re-flash, new footings | $1,500–$8,000 | 1–3 days |
| Old deck demolition & disposalWhen done alone | $1,000–$3,000 | 1 day |
Which decking should you choose?
| Western red cedar | Composite (Trex / TimberTech) | Pressure-treated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $45–$65 / sq ft | $60–$95 / sq ft | $35–$50 / sq ft |
| Maintenance | Clean + stain every 2–3 yrs | Wash once a year | Stain every 2 yrs, checks & splinters |
| Life in Puget Sound rain | 15–25 yrs if maintained | 25–50 yrs | 10–15 yrs |
| Look & feel | Real wood, warm, weathers silver | Consistent colour, cooler underfoot on grey days, hot in full sun | Utility |
| Best for | Owners who love wood and will stain it | Rentals, ADUs, shaded lots, “never again” owners | Budget, short-term, under a cover |
From site visit to the first barbecue — five steps, no surprises
Most deck horror stories start with “the guy stopped answering”. Here’s exactly who does what, and when, on our jobs.
Quick call
Ten minutes on the phone: rough size, how high off the ground, cedar or composite, and whether there’s an old deck to remove.
Same or next daySite visit & deck check
We measure the yard, probe the existing ledger and posts, check where concrete and lumber can come in, and sketch two or three layouts with you.
Within 2 daysWritten, itemized price
Demo and disposal, footings, framing lumber, decking, railing, stairs and permit fees — each on its own line, with a start date and duration.
Next business dayPermit, demo, footings
We file the deck permit, tear out the old deck, dig and pour footings, and get the footing inspection signed off before any framing goes up.
1–4 weeks for the cityFrame, inspect, finish
Frame goes up, framing inspection passes, then decking, stairs and railing. You get photos every evening and a swept yard when we leave.
3 days – 2 weeksThree decks, three different problems — and what each one cost
A replacement, a covered porch and a hot-tub platform. We photograph every deck at the framing stage so you can see what’s holding it up.
Two-level cedar deck with stairs and a privacy fence, in place of a rotted 10×12
The homeowners wanted somewhere to eat outside without the neighbours in view. The old deck came out in a day; new footings, an upper landing off the kitchen door, a stair run down to a lower dining deck and a 6-ft horizontal cedar privacy screen went in over the following week. Cedar throughout, sealed on completion. Cost band: mid-$20k range including demo, permit and fence.
A dry, covered entry where there used to be one wet concrete step
A back door that opened straight onto a cracked step in the rain. We added a shed roof tied into the existing eave on two posts, a low composite landing with a picture-frame border, and a step down to the path. Grey composite was chosen so it needs nothing but a rinse. Cost band: low-to-mid teens, permit included.
A multi-level deck rebuilt to carry a spa and a stone outdoor kitchen
The owners had already bought the hot tub; the deck under it was never built for 5,000 lb of water. We kept the layout they liked, stripped the decking, rebuilt the beams and joists at 12-inch spacing under the spa zone, added footings, and re-laid composite with a diagonal inlay as the centrepiece. Cost band: upper $30k range with the structural work.
Six things every Inreal deck contract includes
WA-registered, bonded, insured
Our L&I registration, bond and liability certificate go in the folder with your quote, so you can verify us before you sign anything.
Inspections pass or we fix it free
Footing and framing inspections are on us. A correction the inspector asks for is never billed to you.
One price, held for 30 days
What’s on the quote is what’s on the final invoice. If you add a bench or a gate mid-build, you see the cost before we buy the lumber.
Framing photos before the boards go on
Footings, flashing, hangers and joists — photographed and sent to you. Handy for the inspector now and for the buyer when you sell.
Yard left the way we found it
Old decking hauled off the same day it comes down, beds and lawn boarded over where we walk, sawdust and offcuts gone every evening.
12-month workmanship warranty
A board that cups, a baluster that loosens, a stair that squeaks — call us and we come back and sort it, no charge.
Homeowners on how the job actually went
They built steps for our back deck and also a fence and gate. Alex is great to work with and Gary and the crew did a fantastic job! We are definitely having them come back.
They did excellent work. Exactly what I needed. Flexible for work add-ons as well. I would recommend them and use them again.
We had a great experience with Inreal — they were responsive and took full ownership of the project and completed everything as per plan.
Bohdan takes his job seriously and goes above and beyond. Friendly and professional.
Seattle neighbourhoods, the Eastside, Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula
Ballard, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Shoreline and Renton keep our deck crew busiest — older homes, older decks. We also cross the bridge to Bellevue and Redmond, and take the ferry or drive round to Bremerton and Port Orchard. Anywhere within about 50 miles of Seattle is in range.
King County
- Seattle
- Bellevue
- Redmond
- Kirkland
- Renton
- Kent
- Issaquah
- Federal Way
- Shoreline
- SeaTac
Pierce County
- Tacoma
- Gig Harbor
- Puyallup
- Lakewood
- Fife
- Key Peninsula
Kitsap County
- Bremerton
- Port Orchard
- Silverdale
- Poulsbo
- Bainbridge Island
- Olalla
- Burley
- Wauna
Questions Seattle homeowners ask before hiring a deck builder
How much does it cost to replace a deck in Seattle?
A full replacement of a 12×16 ft deck — demolition, new footings and frame, cedar decking and railing — typically runs $9,500–$15,000 in the Seattle area. The same deck in composite is $13,000–$20,000. Elevated decks with stairs start around $18,000. You get a fixed, itemized price after a free site visit.
How much does a new deck cost per square foot?
Installed, including footings and framing: pressure-treated $35–$50, cedar $45–$65, composite $60–$95 per square foot. Stairs, railings, height and site access move the number; we list each one separately in the estimate.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Washington?
Yes, for almost every deck. In Seattle and most King, Pierce and Kitsap County cities, any deck more than 30 inches above grade, attached to the house, or over about 200 sq ft requires a building permit and inspections of the footings and framing. We pull the permit and attend the inspections — it’s included in the price.
Cedar or composite — which is better for the Seattle climate?
Composite (Trex, TimberTech) wins on maintenance and lifespan in nine months of rain — wash it once a year and it lasts 25+ years. Cedar costs 25–35% less, looks and feels like real wood, but needs cleaning and stain every 2–3 years or it greys and checks. Both need the same properly framed, 12″-or-16″-on-centre structure underneath.
Can I just replace the deck boards and keep the frame?
Sometimes. If the joists, beams, posts and ledger are sound, dry and correctly spaced for the new decking, re-decking saves 30–40%. We check the frame on the site visit and tell you honestly. Putting composite on a 24″-spaced or partly rotted frame is the most common mistake we get called to undo.
How long does it take to build a deck?
A ground-level deck takes 3–6 working days once the permit is issued. Elevated decks with stairs run 1–2 weeks; covered porches 1–2 weeks. Permit review adds 1–4 weeks depending on the city. You get a dated schedule with the estimate.
Can my deck hold a hot tub?
Only if it was framed for it. A filled hot tub weighs 3,000–6,000 lb, which needs 12″ joist spacing, doubled beams and extra footings under the tub zone. We reinforce existing decks or frame new platforms specifically for spas — engineering included.
What are the signs my deck needs replacing rather than repair?
Soft or spongy spots, a ledger that’s pulling away from the house, posts you can push a screwdriver into, rusted or missing hangers, and a frame with 24″ joist spacing under composite. One or two of these can be repaired; three or more usually means the frame is done and replacement is cheaper long-term.
Is Inreal a licensed deck contractor in Washington?
Yes. We hold an active Washington State L&I contractor registration, the required surety bond, general liability insurance and workers’ compensation for the crew. You can look us up on the L&I “Verify a Contractor” page, and we attach the certificates to every deck quote.
Do you also do house framing, additions and porches?
Yes — decks are one part of our structural work. We frame additions, ADUs, garages, roofs and covered porches across the Puget Sound. See our frame construction services.
Ready for a deck that’s still solid in 2046?
Send us the basics and the person who’ll build it calls you back — not a call centre. The quote is free, line-by-line, and holds for 30 days.
(425) 474-3124Monday to Saturday, 8 am – 5:30 pm · Seattle and the greater Puget Sound
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