Deck Builder

Reviewed by Matan Four, Owner · Licensed & insured WA contractor, WA Lic. #DAWNCCW747K2 · Updated October 2026

Why a Professionally Built Deck Matters

A deck is a structure, not just a floor outside. It carries people, furniture, and snow, it’s attached to your house, and it sits in the rain most of the year. Built right, it adds living space you’ll use for decades. Built wrong, water rots the frame and the ledger where it meets the house, often where you can’t see it.

Dawn Construction builds decks and patios for homeowners in Renton, Bellevue, Kent, Seattle, Mukilteo, and across King and Snohomish counties. One team handles the design, permit, framing, decking, railings, and final walkthrough.

Signs It’s Time for a New Deck

• You never use the yard because there’s no comfortable place to sit or eat outside.
• The old deck is past saving: boards are split and gray, and refinishing no longer helps.
• You want less upkeep and are ready to move from wood to composite.
• The layout doesn’t work: too small, awkward stairs, or no shade.
• Getting ready to sell: outdoor living space is one of the first things buyers notice.

Warning Signs That Need Attention Now

Types of Decks

Here’s how the most common deck projects compare, so you can see where yours fits before the estimate.

Composite vs Wood Decking

Material is the biggest choice you’ll make, and in our climate it comes down to upkeep.

Full comparison: composite vs cedar vs pressure-treated decking.

Patios: Concrete and Paver Patios

A patio gives you a ground-level outdoor space without railings or stairs. It works on its own for a fire pit, outdoor dining, or a hot tub pad, and it pairs well with a deck: the deck off the house for dining, the patio below for a lounge area. We plan both together so the levels, drainage, and access work as one space.

Concrete vs Paver Patios

Deck or Patio?

Patios Built for Our Rain

• Slope away from the house so water drains away from your foundation, not toward it.
• A compacted base under pavers and slabs to limit settling in wet soil.
• Drainage planned with the deck so runoff from the deck doesn’t pool on the patio.

Ground-level patios usually need fewer permits than decks. In Seattle, for example, platforms and walks 18 inches or lower that aren’t over a basement don’t need a building permit. We confirm what your city requires at the estimate. More in our paver patio guide for Seattle and our guide to paver walkways and paths.

Our Deck Building Process

Step 1: Free In-Home Estimate

We measure the site, check the slope and the house connection, talk through your goals and budget, and send a detailed written estimate.

Step 2: Design & Materials

We finalize the size, layout, decking, railings, and stairs.

Step 3: Permit & Ordering

We file the permit your city requires and order all materials up front.

Step 4: Footings & Framing

Footings, posts, beams, joists, and a properly flashed ledger, inspected where required.

Step 5: Decking, Railings & Stairs

Boards, guards, and stairs installed to code.

Step 6: Final Inspection & Walkthrough

A final inspection and a walkthrough with you, plus care instructions for your decking.

Decks Built for Northwest Rain

Seattle-Tacoma averages about 39 inches of rain a year, spread over many damp days from fall to spring. Decks here fail from water long before they wear out from use, so we build every one to shed and survive it.

Deck Railing and Stair Guide

Deck Cost: What Affects the Price

Every deck is priced individually, because the site and the materials decide the cost. You get an exact price in writing after a free in-home estimate.

What’s Included in Our Service

• Free in-home estimate and a detailed written quote
• Design help and material selection
• All permits and inspections, handled for you
• Site protection and daily cleanup
• Final walkthrough with you before we call the job done
• One-year workmanship warranty on all completed work

Want to spread the cost? See our financing options.

Deck Permits in Washington

Permit rules depend on your city, and they differ more for decks than for most projects. We check your city’s rules at the estimate and handle the permit and inspections.

City guides: deck permits in Renton, deck permits in Seattle, deck permits in Everett, plus patio and deck covers in Renton and deck repair in Renton.

Deck Care and Maintenance

Not sure whether yours needs care or a rebuild? See how to refinish or replace your deck.

DIY vs Professional Deck Building

Good DIY deck projects include cleaning, re-staining a wood deck, and replacing a few surface boards on a sound frame. Anything structural, attached to the house, or raised off the ground is worth a professional.

What Makes Our Decks Different

• One team, start to finish: design, permit, framing, decking, and railings under one roof.
• Built for Northwest rain: ground-contact lumber, flashed ledgers, and drainage on every deck.
• Permits handled: we file, schedule inspections, and make sure the work passes.
• Clear pricing: a detailed written estimate before any work starts.
• One-year workmanship warranty: on every completed project.
• Licensed and verifiable: WA Lic. #DAWNCCW747K2.

FAQ – Decks & Patios

Other Services We Provide

Decks & Patios Across 9 Western Washington Counties

From our offices in Renton and Mukilteo, we build decks and patios in 45 cities, from Bellingham to Olympia. Cities with a link have their own page. See the full service area.

Don't see your city? Contact us or call (206) 672-1711.

Sources

1. City of Renton, Building Permits FAQ
2. Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Decks and Tip 312
3. Washington State Register, WSR 21-16-006 (Washington deck span tables, 60 psf deck load)