Deck Builders in Graham, WA

Deck builders in Graham, WA often plan for larger projects. Graham's households are big, averaging 3.17 people, and 82.2% of homes are owner-occupied. A lot on the rural edge can have space for a wraparound deck, a second level, or a covered outdoor room big enough for the whole family. We design and build decks of all sizes in Graham, from a simple platform off the kitchen to a multi-level deck with stairs down to the yard, and we repair and refinish older decks too.

A fast-growing place

Graham went from 8,739 people in 2000 to 23,491 in 2010 and 32,658 in 2020. Housing units more than tripled over those two decades. With that much new construction, plenty of homes came with a small stoop or no deck at all, which makes a first deck a natural project. On any house, the siding and trim where a ledger attaches need careful flashing so water does not get behind the siding.

Planning around septic and wells

Parts of Graham are semi-rural; the Census counted 18.8% of residents in rural areas in 2020. Some properties have on-site septic systems or private wells. Pierce County requires a Level 1 pre-application screening for residential projects with on-site septic, private wells, critical area indicators or other special site restrictions. Footings cannot go just anywhere on those lots, so we locate the drain field, tank and well before laying out the deck.

How Pierce County reviews a deck

Graham is unincorporated, so decks go through Pierce County. The county's exempt-structures list covers decks no more than 30 inches above grade at any point and not over a story or basement. Above that, a permit is needed. The predesigned deck guide posted on the county's residential permit page sets limits worth knowing about:

• It does not cover decks taller than 14 feet, covered decks, or decks within 5 feet of a property line
• It assumes a 60 psf live load and does not support a hot tub, jacuzzi or pool
• Footing sizes in its table assume soil that bears 1,500 psf
• All lumber, including the ledger, must be naturally durable or preservative-treated, and hardware must be hot-dipped galvanized or stainless

Larger, covered or hot-tub decks are designed outside that guide with full drawings. We handle either path.

Hot tubs and covered rooms

A hot tub full of water and people weighs far more than a deck's normal design load, which is why the county guide excludes it. If you want one on the deck, we frame a dedicated section with its own beams and footings, or set the tub on a pad and build the deck around it. Covered decks make sense here for the same reason as across the South Sound: long wet seasons. A roof over the main seating area means the deck gets used in March, not just July.

Higher ground, same rain

At about 830 feet, Graham sits higher than Tacoma's hills and the valley-floor towns, but the rot risks are the same. Posts stand on footings rather than in soil, joist tops get tape, ledgers get flashing, and board gaps stay open so needles and leaves from nearby trees do not trap moisture. On wood decks, a regular cleaning and stain schedule keeps the boards from turning gray and soft.

Let's look at your property

Call (253) 525-5245 to book a free estimate. We walk the lot, locate septic and well features, measure grade from the house out, and give you a written, itemized quote covering size, materials, railings, stairs, any hot tub framing and county permit work.

Call (253) 525-5245