A well-built deck changes how a home lives. It extends the kitchen to the backyard, creates a morning coffee perch, and turns family gatherings into full-on alfresco dinners. I have designed and built decks through Midwest winters and humid summers, and the same questions come up every time: What should we build it from, how should it look, and what will it cost? The right answers depend on your climate, maintenance appetite, safety considerations, and the way you actually use your space, not just the Pinterest board you started three years ago.
This guide walks you through the trade-offs with the kind of candor I give clients during design consults. If you’re searching for Decked Out deck building near me, trying to compare materials without getting lost in brand marketing, or evaluating a Decked Out deck building company against a few local quotes, you’ll leave with the key decisions and the cost realities that separate a pretty render from a deck that lasts.
How to Think About a Deck Before You Choose Materials
Start with use, not looks. A deck that hosts big barbecues needs different structure and layout than a quiet reading porch. I ask homeowners to picture a typical Saturday: how many people, where will furniture go, do you grill near the house or farther out, and do you want shade at midday. Those answers drive footprint, joist spacing, and railing choices. Elevation matters as well. Ground-level platforms behave differently from second-story walkouts, both structurally and in how water moves around the house.
Local code is your guardrail. If you’re in northern Illinois, for example, frost depth and snow load figure into footing size and beam spans. A smart design works with these realities instead of fighting them. Finally, think lifecycle. A low upfront cost that requires heavy upkeep can become the most expensive deck you ever own. Some clients genuinely like seasonal maintenance, sanding and oiling a wood surface as part of their spring ritual. Others travel every summer and want to close the door and forget it. Be honest about where you fall.
The Material Landscape, From Traditional to High-Tech
There are four broad families for decking surfaces: pressure-treated softwoods, naturally durable hardwoods, composite boards, and full PVC. Railings and frames add another layer of options, but the deck surface dictates most of your maintenance and cost.
Pressure-Treated Pine
This is the workhorse you see in many subdivisions, chosen for price and availability. Modern pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine gets infused with preservatives to resist rot and insects. It’s cost friendly, especially for large platforms or when you’re stretching a budget to include a pergola or privacy screen. Expect checking and splitting over time as the boards dry, and anticipate some movement. With pine, the finishing strategy is the difference between shabby in year three and handsome for a decade. Use a penetrating oil or high-quality stain, allow for seasonal maintenance, and don’t trap moisture with plastic rugs or planters that never move.
I steer clients toward higher-grade treated boards for the visible areas and accept lower grades for hidden structure. Even with careful selection, you’ll encounter knots and some cupping in sun-exposed spans. If you love the warm, classic deck look and you’re comfortable refreshing stain every 1 to 2 years in harsh climates, pine remains a valid choice.
Cedar and Redwood
Western Red Cedar and Redwood raise the baseline for beauty and stability compared to treated pine. They offer natural rot resistance without chemical treatment and are more dimensionally stable. Cedar is easier to source in the Midwest than Redwood and typically costs less. Both weather to a silvery gray if left unfinished. If you want to keep color, plan on UV-blocking stain and regular maintenance. These woods can dent from heavy furniture if you skip protective pads.
The best results come from using clear or premium grades for visible surfaces. I often combine cedar rails with a composite surface for clients who want the warmth of wood where they touch it and low maintenance underfoot.
Tropical Hardwoods
Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, and similar species are the tank treads of decking: dense, durable, and stunning. Properly installed, an Ipe deck can outlast your mortgage. The density makes it highly scratch and wear resistant. Left unfinished, these woods also weather to gray. With oiling once or twice a year, they hold a rich tone that looks like a boutique hotel terrace. The trade-offs are weight, cost, and the need to predrill fasteners to avoid splitting. Not all suppliers follow responsible forestry practices, so insist on verifiable sourcing.
I recommend hidden fastener systems made for hardwoods and stainless screws where face-fastening is necessary. Because of their weight and density, these projects benefit from a crew that has built with hardwoods before. Build time is typically longer.
Composite Decking
Composite boards blend wood fibers with recycled plastics, then cap them with a durable polymer shell. The result resists rot, staining, and many of the splinters and checks that come with wood. Modern capped composites look far better than early-generation products. You can find subtle grain patterns, multi-tonal boards, and matching fascia that finish cleanly. The best composites have a dense cap that resists sauce spills, sunscreen smears, and rust from the grill. Board temperature in full sun varies by color and brand, so test a sample on a warm day if heat is a concern.
Some clients assume composite is maintenance-free. It isn’t, but it’s close. You still wash it a couple times a season. Mold can grow on dirt and pollen that sits on any surface, including composite, so plan for an occasional scrub. I like composites for families that want a long-service deck without sanding or staining, and for shady yards where a wood deck might struggle with mildew. Check span requirements, as many composites prefer tighter joist spacing than wood.
PVC Decking
All-PVC boards are lighter than many composites and typically offer excellent stain resistance and color consistency. They can run cooler in sun, though color matters more than chemistry for heat underfoot. PVC is dimensionally stable, doesn’t absorb moisture, and holds up in damp or coastal settings. It can sound a bit hollow without correct framing, so follow the manufacturer’s support recommendations. For intricate designs with inlays or curved perimeters, PVC can be thermoformed, opening design options you can’t easily match in wood.
I steer clients toward PVC when they want very low maintenance and a clean, contemporary aesthetic, or when a site has frequent water exposure. The price is typically at the top of the range for synthetics.
Framing, Footings, and the Hidden Work That Protects Your Investment
Clients ask about the deck boards first, but the structure beneath determines how the deck will feel in year ten. Joist span, beam sizing, and post placement shape how solid it is underfoot. In snow country, helical piers or concrete footings must reach below frost depth. Poor drainage around posts invites rot, even with pressure-treated lumber. I insist on proper post bases that lift wood off concrete and allow water to drain and air to circulate.
Flashing where the deck meets the house is non-negotiable. A sloppy ledger connection is how you get water intrusion, rot, and the horror-story photos that building inspectors keep on their phones. I grew cautious after repairing a ledger that had been mounted over vinyl siding without proper flashing. The siding looked fine. The sheathing behind it was the color of compost. We rebuilt that connection, re-flashed it correctly, and saved the client from eventual structural repairs.
For longevity, consider joist tape. Applied to the top of joists and beams, it protects fastener penetrations and reduces water absorption where boards meet framing. It costs a bit more up front, and it’s the cheapest insurance you can buy for a wood-framed deck.
Railings, Stairs, and Details That Define the Experience
Railings are often the first thing your eye catches. Wood rails, cable systems, aluminum balusters, and glass panels each change the vibe. Wood rails are warm and customizable but ask for upkeep. Powder-coated aluminum systems are clean, sturdy, and low maintenance. Cable rail opens views, especially if your deck faces woods or water, though it needs occasional tightening. Glass panels protect wind-exposed spaces without blocking sightlines, but they show pollen and rain spots. On a two-story deck, consider belly rails or smaller baluster spacing if young kids will use it often. The goal is safety that reads as design, not a cage.
Stairs deserve real attention. A broad stair with a landing can feel like an outdoor room and solves grade changes gracefully. LED tread lighting adds safety without glare. If you grill on a patio below, align the stair to make carrying trays intuitive. Small choices like a deeper top tread or a wider handrail change how the deck lives every day.
Skirting and under-deck storage are usually afterthoughts. They shouldn’t be. Even a simple lattice demands airflow and critter management. If you plan to use the space for storage, consider an under-deck drainage system to keep items dry, and a more robust door than a loose panel that rattles all winter.
Planning for Sun, Shade, and Microclimate
The difference between a deck you stand on for ten minutes and a deck you live on for hours is comfort. Study your sun pattern. South and west exposures cook in late afternoon. A partial pergola positioned over the seating zone can move a family outside for dinner all summer. If large, deciduous trees shade your deck, material choice tilts away from wood unless you enjoy regular maintenance. In Chicago-area neighborhoods, I see mossy boards under maples more than anywhere else. Composites do better in persistent shade, provided you wash them.
Wind breaks matter on elevated decks. A privacy wall that blocks a neighbor’s view may also channel wind right at your table. The fix can be as simple as rotating the slats or adding a pergola beam that interrupts flow. On ground-level platforms near damp soil, put serious thought into drainage and grade before building. A compacted and sloped base around footings prevents the wet-corner syndrome that shows up every spring.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck?
Costs vary by region, site complexity, and design, but useful ranges keep expectations grounded. Labor rates and permit fees are real drivers, as are material choices and railing length.
- Entry-level pressure-treated decks with a simple rail and one set of stairs in the Midwest often start around 35 to 55 dollars per square foot. Add 5 to 10 for upgraded rails or fascia details. Cedar or better-grade treated with upgraded railing and modest lighting tends to land in the 55 to 75 range. Capped composites with aluminum or composite railings commonly run 70 to 110, depending on brand, layout, and stair complexity. PVC and tropical hardwoods with premium railing and custom features can reach 110 to 160 plus, and multi-level designs with steel frames or extensive lighting can exceed that.
Those figures include typical site prep, framing, decking, and railing, but not every contingency. Sloped yards requiring tall support posts, engineered steel for long spans, or complex helical pier work push budgets higher. Permits and inspections vary by municipality. In towns around Barrington, IL, plan for permit review windows and design to the local amendments of the International Residential Code.
What often surprises homeowners is how much railing affects price. A compact 200 square foot deck with three open edges can carry more railing lineal footage than a 350 square foot platform with one side against the house and one long edge open to the yard. Lighting adds cost but pays off in daily enjoyment. A half-dozen discreet lights can make a deck feel finished and safe without turning it into a runway.
Maintenance by Material and What It Actually Looks Like
Every deck deserves two simple rituals, regardless of surface: keep it clean and keep it dry. Sweep leaves before they decay into tannin stains. Move planters occasionally. If your grill throws grease, put a breathable mat under it, not a solid plastic sheet that traps moisture.
For pressure-treated and cedar, the maintenance cycle depends on exposure. South-facing decks in full sun may need stain every 12 to 18 months. Shaded decks pick up mildew and benefit from cleaning and a mildewcide additive in the finish. When you recoat, wash gently. Aggressive power washing erodes soft grain and ages a deck in an afternoon.
Composites and PVC want washing two to four times a season. Use mild soap, a soft brush, and enough water to rinse thoroughly. Avoid chlorine bleach. For tough spots, each manufacturer publishes a short list of approved cleaners. Follow it. Resist the urge to test a garage chemical because a forum recommended it. That’s how warranties get voided.
Hardwood owners either oil once or twice a year to maintain color or let boards gray naturally. If you choose the gray path, wash seasonally and oil handrails or benches that get constant hand contact. Stainless screws and hidden fasteners help prevent rust or staining on hardwoods. If you ever see black dots around fasteners on a hardwood or cedar deck, it may be a reaction between the wood’s tannins and non-stainless hardware. Fixing it later costs more than doing it right at the start.
Common Mistakes I See and How to Avoid Them
Undersized stairs lead the list. A narrow stair might pass code but feel tight in daily use. Give yourself another six inches of width if you can. Another frequent problem is skipping joist tape and ledger flashing. Five years later, you see it in soft spots and peeling boards near the house. I also encounter decks built with pressure-treated lumber still wet from the mill, then covered immediately with low-permeability stain. The boards check and peel as moisture tries to escape. Let wood acclimate and dry to a reasonable deck installation nearby moisture content, then finish with products meant for treated lumber.
On composite and PVC builds, the biggest error is ignoring manufacturer fastening patterns and joist spacing. These boards have specific expansion characteristics and need proper gaps. Don’t cheat clearances at the house to squeeze an extra board. I also see clients shave costs with a cheaper railing on an otherwise beautiful deck. It’s like putting budget tires on a performance car. The difference shows every day.
When a Builder Adds Real Value
A good builder does more than assemble boards. In design, we catch conflicts early. One client wanted a built-in bench on the windward edge of a second-story deck. On site, it was clear wind would make that seat useless half the year. We shifted the seating zone and layered a partial privacy wall that blocked wind and added a focal point. In another case, a homeowner requested composite decking but loved the feel of wood in hand. We combined composite flooring with a cedar drink rail on an aluminum system. Maintenance stayed low, yet the touch points felt warm.
Permitting is another place expertise pays for itself. Towns around Barrington have specific ledger requirements, railing details, and stair geometry rules that can catch a DIY plan. A seasoned crew moves through inspections without costly rework. If you’re vetting a Decked Out deck building company, ask about their permit process, how they handle change orders, and whether a project manager is on site regularly. Also ask to see a 3D concept. Most clients understand a project better when they can move around it on a screen.
For homeowners searching Decked Out deck building services near me, talk to references from at least two seasons back. Fresh builds always look good. The real test is how a deck weathers and how a builder responds if something isn’t right.
Budget Smart, Spend Where It Shows
If you need to trim, do it where it hurts least. Keep structure robust and railings safe. Reduce the footprint slightly rather than compromising beam sizing. Choose a simpler inlay pattern over a thinner frame. Add conduit for future lighting even if you install only a couple of fixtures now. Planter boxes can be portable at first and built-in later.
I encourage clients to mock up furniture on the lawn with tape or cardboard. You will learn more in 15 minutes of walking the layout than in two hours of comparing stain colors. If the grill path feels awkward in the mockup, it will feel worse on the finished deck.
Trends Worth Considering, Without Chasing Fads
Two trends have staying power: mixed materials and layered lighting. Mixing a composite field with a contrasting picture frame, then pairing it with a slim metal rail, creates a tailored look that ages well. In lighting, small, purposeful fixtures avoid glare. Stair riser lights, a couple of post caps, and warm under-rail washes make evenings comfortable without attracting every moth in the county.
Curved borders look great but cost more. If your budget is tight, spend on better railings instead. Dark gray and driftwood tones are popular on composites, yet medium colors hide dust and pollen best. For true low-maintenance, skip grooved tops on rails where water sits and choose a slightly crowned or sloped profile to shed water.
Who Builds It Matters As Much As What You Build
A strong product can be let down by weak installation. When I evaluate a builder, I look for clean ledger work, consistent fastener spacing, and thoughtful transitions at doors. Safety matters beyond code minimums. Child-friendly baluster spacing, grippy stair treads, and a landing aligned with a slider door prevent near-misses that never make it to the punch list but define how the space feels.
Local expertise is a bonus. In Chicagoland, freeze-thaw cycles and clay soils reward conservative footings and cautious drainage planning. That kind of judgment is learned. If you’re weighing bids from Decked Out deck building services against a general handyman price, ask each to describe how they’ll flash the ledger, what joist tape they use, and how they handle post-to-concrete connections. The answers will tell you who is building for year fifteen, not just the final inspection.
Your Next Steps
If you have a vision, start with a simple scope: size, elevation, preferred material, railing style, and any must-have features like lighting or a pergola. Gather inspiration photos, but be ready to adapt to your site. Set a budget range and share it. A good builder will guide you toward the best use of those dollars. If you are in or around Barrington, Illinois, and looking for Decked Out deck building services Barrington, work with a team that has real local experience with permitting and climate.
Below, you’ll find direct contact information for a local specialist who focuses on the details that make a deck last and feel right from day one.
Contact Us
Decked Out Builders LLC
Address: 118 Barrington Commons Ct Ste 207, Barrington, IL 60010, United States
Phone: (815) 900-5199
Website: https://deckedoutbuilders.net/
Working with an experienced team like Decked Out deck building company simplifies choices and execution. They can show you samples, lay out realistic timelines, and price options side by side so you see exactly what each decision buys. Whether you want a cedar platform with a classic rail, a composite entertainer’s deck with ambient lighting, or a low-profile PVC design that fades into the landscaping, the right partner makes the process predictable and the result something you look forward to using every week.
Quick Reference: Material Pros, Cons, and Care
- Pressure-treated pine: lowest upfront cost, regular staining, movement and checking likely, still a solid value when maintained. Cedar: warmer look, better stability, needs UV protection to hold color, good for visible rails and trim. Tropical hardwoods: premium longevity and strength, higher cost, predrilling required, either oil periodically or let silver naturally. Composite: low maintenance, wide aesthetics, follow manufacturer spacing, wash seasonally. PVC: very low maintenance, great in damp settings, premium price, ensure correct framing to avoid hollow feel.
If you match the right material to your lifestyle, design for comfort and safety, and invest in solid structure and proper flashing, your deck will pay you back for decades with morning sun, evening breezes, and the easiest decision you make on a Saturday: go outside.