Deck Builders in Parkland, WA

Much of the work deck builders in Parkland take on involves decks that already exist. Parkland is a long-settled Tacoma suburb with 23,355 residents counted back in 1980, so plenty of yards have a deck that has been through decades of wet winters. Some just need cleaning and a fresh coat of stain. Others have soft posts, loose railings or stairs that were never built to today's rules. We repair, rebuild and refinish decks in Parkland, and we build new ones too.

Owners and landlords both

Parkland is close to an even split between owners and renters. The Census puts the owner-occupied rate at 51.8%, and 82.5% of residents lived in the same home a year before. With Pacific Lutheran University in the middle of the community and Joint Base Lewis-McChord less than half a mile west, many of those rented homes have decks too. For landlords, a deck is a safety item first: guards, handrails and stairs that hold up to heavy use and a turnover of tenants. For owner-occupants, it is outdoor space they intend to enjoy for years. We quote both the same way, with a written list of what is wrong and what it takes to fix it.

Stairs and railings to the county handout

Because Parkland is unincorporated, decks fall under Pierce County. The county's exterior stairs and deck handout lays out several points to check on any older deck:

• A guard is required where the walking surface is 30 inches or more above grade
• Stairs with four or more risers need a handrail on at least one side, running from the top riser to the bottom one and returning to the guard or wall at each end
• Every stairway needs a landing at the top and bottom at least 36 inches deep
• A single flight cannot rise more than 12 feet 7 inches between landings
• Exterior stair materials must be treated, naturally decay-resistant or approved composite; untreated wood is for indoor use only

Old decks often miss one or more of these. When the railing or stairs are the only problem, we can usually rebuild them without touching the rest of the deck.

Repair or replace?

We start with the structure. On a site visit we probe the posts near the ground, the ledger where the deck meets the house, the tops of the joists and the beam connections. If the framing is sound, new boards, railings or stairs can go on top of it. If rot has reached the ledger or several joists, a rebuild is usually the safer and more economical choice over time. With about 155 days of measurable rain a year in nearby Tacoma, rot is the first thing we look for.

Prairie oaks, shade and moss

Early settlers named Parkland for its park-like look: Garry oak and blue camas prairie crossed by small creeks. Where mature trees shade a lot, shade plus rain is how decks turn green and slick. Keeping board gaps open, trimming back plants that hold moisture against the frame and cleaning once or twice a year all help. When we refinish a wood deck, we clean it at low pressure and let it dry before any stain goes on.

Close to PLU and Pacific Avenue

Parkland borders Tacoma near 96th Street and runs south to about 152nd Street at Spanaway. Pacific Lutheran University's 156-acre wooded campus sits in the middle of it, and Pacific Avenue (State Route 7) is the main road through. That puts the whole community within easy reach of our Tacoma base.

Get a written repair estimate

Call (253) 525-5245 or send photos of the deck, close-ups of the stairs and railings, and anything that looks soft or loose. We will look at it in person and give you a written, itemized quote. If you only want to handle the safety items now and the boards later, we can split the work that way.

Call (253) 525-5245