Every job below is one we do ourselves across Brooklyn.
We frame new decks with pressure-treated joists set on concrete footings poured below frost depth, so the structure doesn't heave in winter. Decking goes down over that in pressure-treated pine, cedar, or composite, depending on what you want to maintain later.
Soft spots, bouncy boards and rotted joists usually mean water's been getting into the frame for a while, not just the top boards. We pull the damaged sections back to solid wood, replace what's rotted, and check the ledger board and flashing while we're in there.
Wood decking wants restaining every two to three years in this climate, or the boards start graying and splitting. We pressure wash first, let the wood dry out fully, then apply a penetrating stain that soaks in instead of sitting on top and peeling.
Some yards need a deck that steps down a grade, wraps around a chimney, or squeezes onto a narrow row house lot. We draw it out, figure the load and footing plan for the shape you want, and file for permit before any lumber shows up.
Composite boards don't rot or splinter, but they require tighter joist spacing than wood because they flex more between supports. We frame accordingly and use hidden fastener systems so you don't see a single screw head on the finished deck.
A wobbly railing is usually a post that was never properly bolted to the frame, not a railing problem. We reset posts with structural screws or through-bolts rated for the load, then match railing style, wood, cable, or aluminum to whatever's already on the deck.
If the frame underneath is still solid but the boards are cupped, splintered or just tired looking, we can strip the old decking and lay new boards over the existing structure. It's a faster job than a full rebuild and costs a lot less.
Old decks come down board by board so we can check what's salvageable underneath, like footings that might still work for the new deck. We haul away the debris same day, no dumpster sitting in your driveway for a week.
A rooftop deck in Brooklyn means dealing with roof membrane protection, weight distribution across the existing structure, and usually a co-op or condo board sign-off before we start. We build with sleeper systems that keep the deck off the roofing membrane so we're not creating leaks by installing a deck.
If you're buying a house with an existing deck, or you just don't trust the one you've got, we'll check the ledger connection, footings, joist condition and railing height against current code. You get a straight answer on what's fine, what should get fixed soon, and what has to get fixed before anyone stands on it.
Four steps, and no surprises in any of them.
You tell us what you want doing, we look at what is actually there, and we ask the awkward questions early.
In writing, itemised, free. If something might add cost later we flag it now rather than at the end.
Same crew throughout. We cover your floors, keep the dust down and tidy up before we leave each day.
You point out anything you are not happy with and we fix it before the invoice, not after.
Deck work travels well within about 50 miles of Brooklyn.
Questions that come up once a project actually gets going.
Describe the problem and we will tell you what it probably is. No obligation.
