Deck Builders in Auburn, WA

Deck builders in Auburn, WA work in a city with two very different kinds of ground. Downtown and the older neighborhoods sit on the floor of the Green and White River valley at about 92 feet of elevation. Lea Hill, West Hill and Lakeland Hills rise above it, and Lakeland Hills at the south end is one of the city's major newer residential areas. A deck on a flat valley lot and a deck on a hillside lot in Lakeland Hills call for different footings, heights and stairs. We build composite and wood decks across Auburn, plus covered decks, railings, repairs and refinishing.

The valley neighborhoods

On the valley floor, lots are mostly flat and decks are often low, close to the back door. That keeps stairs short and structures simple, but low decks dry out slowly. With little air moving underneath, moisture lingers on the framing. We leave room for airflow, keep posts on concrete footings above the soil, tape the joists and choose ground-contact lumber for anything near grade. Flooding along both rivers was once common; it largely ended after the Mud Mountain Dam on the White River and the Howard A. Hanson Dam on the Green River were completed.

The hill neighborhoods

Lea Hill and West Hill were annexed in 2008, adding about 15,000 residents. Lakeland Hills is a master-planned community at the south end of the city, where construction began in 1985 and parts in Pierce County were annexed in the late 1990s. Hillside lots can mean walkout basements, sloped back yards and second-story decks. Taller decks need larger footings, bracing, guards and longer stair runs, and once a deck's base is more than 30 inches above grade, it is over the city's permit threshold.

Auburn's permit rule of thumb

The City of Auburn's permit FAQ is direct: a deck whose base is more than 30 inches above existing grade needs a building permit regardless of size, and a structure connected to another building needs one regardless of size. An unattached accessory structure under 200 square feet likely will not, but setbacks still apply. In practice, almost any deck attached to an Auburn house needs a permit. We draw the plans, file through the city, and book inspections with the permit center.

Composite or wood?

Auburn averages about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year, with November, December and January each bringing more than 5 inches and July less than one. That long wet season is the main argument for composite decking: capped boards do not rot or need staining, and a wash once or twice a year keeps them clean. Wood, usually cedar or pressure-treated lumber, costs less up front and can be sanded and refinished, but needs a regular cleaning and stain schedule here. Either way, the framing underneath is treated wood, so we build it to shed water.

What goes into an Auburn deck project

• A site visit to measure, check slope and look at the house wall where a ledger would attach
• A drawing and written quote listing size, decking, railings, stairs and permit work
• Permit submission to the City of Auburn and inspection scheduling
• Concrete footings and framing sized for the height and load
• Flashed ledger, joist tape, corrosion-resistant hangers and fasteners
• Cleanup and a final walk-through with you

A county line runs through it too

Most of Auburn is in King County, with a small portion in Pierce County, including parts of Lakeland Hills. Permits inside city limits still go through the City of Auburn, whichever county the parcel is in. Call (253) 525-5245 to set up a free estimate.

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