06
Additions & Framing
Per sq ft of new or altered structure
Same framing crew, same footing discipline, for additions instead of decks.
View tradeTrade 07 of 08 — Decks & Fences
A deck builder in Austin who pours real footings and won't sell you a fence that leans by August.
Pressure-treated frame underneath, composite or cedar decking on top, footings poured to code depth rather than a shortcut four inches down. Decks price per square foot of deck surface. Fencing prices per linear foot run. It's the same home renovation crew that frames additions across Austin, holding decks and fences to the same footing standard a residential framing contractor would use on any structural job.
What this covers
New deck construction, deck rebuilds on existing footings where the footings pass inspection, and fence runs in wood, composite picket or chain link where a client asks for it. Gate hardware, stair stringers and railing to code are part of the build, not an add-on.
- Price basis
- Per sq ft (decks) / per linear ft (fencing)
- Frame
- Pressure-treated pine, joist hangers, hot-dip screws
- Footings
- Poured to the depth the Austin permit calls for
- Typical lead time
- 2 to 3 weeks from signed scope, weather-dependent
Footing depth is not a number we make up on the phone
Frost heave and soil movement are what crack a deck loose from the house in year two. We don't guess at it.
Every deck attaches to the house at a ledger board bolted through the sheathing into framing, flashed above and below so water sheds away from the wall, not into it. The posts holding the outer edge sit on footings poured below grade to the depth the Austin permit office requires for the load and soil on that lot — that number comes from the permit, not from us quoting it over the phone before anyone has looked at the ground. A deck more than 30 inches off grade, or attached to the house rather than freestanding, needs a permit in most cases, and we pull it as part of the scope rather than build first and hope.
Composite decking costs more than pressure-treated pine up front and needs zero refinishing for the ten years after. That's not a sales line, it's the tradeoff we lay out before you order material: pine is cheaper today and wants a re-stain every two to three years in Austin sun; composite costs more at delivery and then you leave it alone.
Fencing runs on the same logic without the footing depth question — post holes get set in concrete at a depth that holds against wind load for the fence height, cedar or pressure-treated posts either way, and we set every post plumb before the concrete goes in, not after.
Material comparison
Decking material, side by side
| Material | Upfront cost | Upkeep | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | Lowest of the three | Re-stain or seal every 2–3 years | 12–15 years before boards need replacing |
| Composite decking | Highest upfront | Wash down, no refinishing for a decade | 20-plus years, fades slightly, doesn't rot |
| Cedar | Mid-range | Oil or seal yearly to hold color | 15–20 years with upkeep, less without |
Fence pickets follow the same three materials at a linear-foot price instead of square-foot. Chain link prices separately and isn't in this table since it isn't a decking material.
What a deck or fence build looks like
From layout to final walk
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Layout and utility check
We mark the footprint on the ground and call for utility locates before any post hole gets dug. This takes a couple of days to clear and we don't skip it to save time.
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Footings and posts
Holes dug or augered to depth, concrete poured, posts set plumb and braced while the concrete cures. Nothing gets framed on top until the concrete has had its cure time.
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Framing
Pressure-treated joists on hangers, ledger bolted and flashed at the house connection, beam and post sizing matched to the span so the deck doesn't bounce underfoot.
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Decking, stairs and railing
Boards run and fastened, stair stringers cut to consistent rise, railing set to code height and baluster spacing so it passes inspection the first time.
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Final walk and sign-off
We walk the finished deck or fence line with you, point out anything you should know about upkeep, and get sign-off before we call the job closed.
What's ours, what isn't
A deck or fence build stays in-house except where it legally can't.
We handle
- Footings, framing, decking and railing to code
- Stair stringers and gate hardware
- Fence post setting, picket and rail install
- Permit pull where the deck height or attachment requires one
We don't touch
- Running new electrical for deck lighting — a licensed electrician does that, named on the estimate
- Survey work to confirm a property line for a disputed fence — that's a licensed surveyor's job
- Structural decks over a habitable room below without an engineered plan first
Questions we get before a deposit
The ones that come up on almost every call, answered straight.
Can you build over an existing concrete patio?
Sometimes, if the slab is sound and drains correctly, but we still set independent footings for the structural posts rather than resting weight on the slab itself. We check this on the walk-through before quoting.
Do you replace old footings or just build on them?
We inspect existing footings before reusing them. If they're undersized, cracked, or set too shallow for current code, we replace them — reusing a bad footing to save a day of work isn't a trade we make.
How long does a standard backyard deck take?
A typical 300 to 400 square foot deck runs 2 to 3 weeks once the permit clears and material is on site. Rain adds days — concrete and pressure-treated framing both want dry weather.
Is this a quote or an estimate?
Everything on this page is a planning basis, not a binding number. The written scope we hand you after the walk-through, with square footage, material and linear feet of fence confirmed, is what the job is actually priced against.
Tell us the footprint and the fence line
Run it through the Scope Builder for a planning number in minutes, or call the shop and describe the yard.