Deck Builders in Spanaway, WA

Deck builders in Spanaway, WA work in a community of households who plan to stay. Census figures put the owner-occupied rate at 73.7%, and 88.5% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. Average household size runs close to three people, so a deck here is usually a family space: somewhere to grill, set up a table for six, and let kids get outside between showers. We design, build, repair and refinish decks in Spanaway with that kind of daily use in mind.

No city hall: Pierce County handles the permit

Spanaway is a census-designated place, not a city, so the building department is Pierce County Planning and Public Works. The county's exempt-structures list covers decks that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point and do not sit over a story or basement. A deck that is taller, or that sits over a story or basement, goes through the county's residential permit process. The county also offers a predesigned deck guide, and the assigned plans examiner can still request more information. We draw the deck, prepare the site plan, submit through the county and schedule each inspection.

Why rain shapes the framing

The South Sound averages roughly 40.8 inches of precipitation a year at nearby Tacoma, with about 155 days of measurable rain. That kind of steady wet weather rots decks from the inside: at the ledger board, along the tops of joists and at the bottom of posts. When we frame a Spanaway deck, we use treated or naturally durable lumber, flash and bolt the ledger to the house, tape the joist tops and set posts on concrete footings instead of burying them in soil. Hangers and screws are hot-dipped galvanized or stainless.

Common Spanaway deck projects

• A first deck off the slider on a home that only came with a small concrete pad
• Replacement of an aging deck whose boards still look fine but whose posts or ledger have gone soft
• Composite decking for people who do not want to stain every few summers
• A covered section so the barbecue and table stay usable from October to May
• New stairs and guards on a deck that has been out of code for years
• Cleaning, staining and sealing for cedar or treated wood decks

A short drive from Tacoma

Spanaway sits south of Parkland along Pacific Avenue South, which is also State Route 7, so we reach most streets in the area without crossing the city. The community started out as a lakeside recreation spot and later served as an early gateway for travelers headed to Mount Rainier. Where a yard is flat, a ground-level deck is simple to lay out; where there is room, a larger one fits.

Guards, stairs and the 30-inch line

Thirty inches above grade comes up twice on a Spanaway deck. It is the height where the county exemption stops, and it is also the height where a guard is required around the walking surface. Stairs with four or more risers need a handrail on at least one side, and there has to be a landing at least 36 inches deep at the top and bottom. Getting those details right on the drawings keeps inspections short.

Free estimates and a written quote

Call (253) 525-5245 or send a few photos of your yard and any existing deck. We come out, measure, check how water drains and look at the framing where a new deck would attach. You get a written, itemized quote that lists the size, materials, railings, stairs and permit work, and nothing starts until you sign off on it.

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