Decks and Outdoor Structures
Wood decks in Lancaster and Chester County, PA
Composite and PVC are most of what we build, and wood is still the right answer for some people: the ones who like the look of real boards, who do not mind a coat of oil every couple of years, or who want Ipe, which is a different thing altogether. We build wood decks in pressure-treated pine, cedar, and Ipe, on the same frame and footings as every deck we build.
Three Woods
- Pressure-treated pine: the workhorse, the least expensive board, and fine for decades when it is sealed and kept clean. It moves as it dries, so we let it season before the finish goes on.
- Cedar: naturally rot-resistant, light, and beautiful when it is new. It silvers if it is left alone and stays warm with a stain. Softer than treated pine, so it dents.
- Ipe: a Brazilian hardwood so dense it sinks in water and lasts fifty years with no finish at all. It is drilled for every screw, it is heavy, and it is the best-looking deck there is.
Wood or Composite
Wood costs less to buy and more to keep. It needs cleaning and a stain or oil every two or three years, it can splinter, and it will gray if it is left alone. Composite and PVC cost more up front and are washed with a hose. Ipe sits between: no finish is needed if you accept the silver, and it outlasts all of them. We tell you which we would put on our own house for the way you use yours.
Built to Last
A wood deck fails at the frame long before the boards, so the frame gets the most attention: footings below the frost line, a ledger bolted through and flashed, joist tape on the tops of the joists so water does not sit in the screw holes, stainless or coated fasteners, and railing to the code. We walk you through the permit, and the footings, framing, and final are inspected.
Questions
Questions We Get
How often does a wood deck need to be stained?
Every two to three years for pine and cedar, depending on sun and shade. Ipe can be oiled once a year to keep its color or left alone to go silver.
Is Ipe worth it?
If you want a wood deck that outlasts the house, yes. It is the most expensive board to buy and the slowest to install, and it is the deck people stop to look at.
Can we have a wood deck with composite railing?
Yes, and it is a common pairing: wood boards underfoot and an aluminum or composite railing that never needs paint.
Process
How We Work
- We visit, measure, and talk through the scope before anything is priced.
- You get a written proposal, and we build to it.
- Where the work needs a permit, we walk you through it every step: the application, the drawings the township asks for, and the inspections.
- We are on site from the first day to the last, and the house stays clean while we work.
- We walk the finished job with you, fix anything on the list, and clean up.
Decks and Outdoor Structures
More Kinds of Decks and Outdoor
Service area
Where We Work
Based in Christiana, we work across Lancaster County and Chester County.
Lancaster County
- Christiana
- Gap
- Quarryville
- Strasburg
- Lancaster
Chester County
- Parkesburg
- Coatesville
- West Chester
- Kennett Square
- Downingtown
- Malvern
- Chester Springs
- Frazer
We recently had Kings Remodeling complete a front portico, a garage apron, and patio door covering on our home, and are very pleased with the quality of the work. The team was professional, communicated well throughout the project, and was responsive to our questions. They also followed up after the work was completed to make sure everything was done to our satisfaction. Overall, a great experience and we would definitely recommend Kings Remodeling.
— Jennifer HaynFront portico, garage canopy, and patio door cover5 stars on Google
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