Deck builders · Coquitlam · Burnaby · Port Moody
Cedar and composite decks, stairs and railings, designed for your yard and built by our own carpenters. We handle the drawings and the permit.
Side view · Typical 12 × 16 ft deckWhat goes into every deck
Every deck is drawn for the yard it sits in. No kits, no subcontracted framing.
Western red cedar on a pressure-treated frame, with built-in benches, planters and picture-frame borders.
Low-upkeep boards with hidden fasteners, so there is not a screw head in sight. No staining, ever.
Powder-coated aluminum pickets, glass panels or cedar. Built to code height and solid enough to lean on.
Even rises, deep treads and a proper landing at the bottom, with a graspable handrail where code calls for one.
Roofed sections, pergolas and slatted screens that make a deck usable through a wet coastal spring.
Soft boards, wobbly railings and rotted stairs. If the frame is sound, new decking can go straight on top.
The honest answer depends on sun, budget and how much you like staining. Here is how the four options compare on a typical 12 × 16 ft deck with stairs and railing.
| Decking | Installed cost | Lifespan | Upkeep | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated | $45 to $60 / sq ft | 15 to 20 years | Stain every 2 to 3 years | Tight budgets, rental properties, a frame that will be covered later |
| Western red cedar | $55 to $75 / sq ft | 20 to 25 years | Oil or stain every 2 years, or let it grey | A natural look and feel underfoot, shaded yards |
| Composite | $75 to $105 / sq ft | 25 to 30 years | Wash once a year | Full sun, busy families, no staining ever |
| PVC | $90 to $120 / sq ft | 30 years or more | Wash once a year | Poolsides, hot tubs and decks over living space |
Example prices for this sample site. Height, stairs, railing style and site access change the number. Your written quote is a fixed price.
Move the sliders. The framing plan and the count update as you go.
Framing plan16 × 12 ft
| Deck area | 192 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Ledger at the house | 16 ft, flashed |
| Joists | 13 × 2×10 at 16 in. |
| Beam | 1 × 3-ply 2×10 |
| Posts and footings | 3 of each |
| Deck boards | 26 rows, 416 lin ft |
| Guard, three sides | 40 lin ft |
A rough count for planning. Final sizes come off the span tables after we see the site. Example prices for this sample site.
Each job lists where it was, its size, the decking and how long we were on site.
Upper levelWide stairsPlanter boxesBurke Mountain, Coquitlam
A sloped yard turned into two usable levels, with wide stairs down to the garden and built-in planter boxes along the edge.
Glass panels keep the view of the yard open. The frame is wrapped in matching fascia boards.
Built around two mature firs, with the footings hand dug to protect the roots.
Replaced a failing 1990s deck. New frame, light grey composite and a black picket railing.
A low deck set on helical piles over a cracked concrete patio, level with the door sill.
The frame was sound, so we replaced the boards and railing and saved the owners about a third of the cost.
A low cedar deck along the side of the house, set close enough to the ground that it needs no railing.
Example projects for this sample site. On a live site, these are the owner's own job photos.
They drew three layouts at the first visit and priced each one. The permit was approved in two weeks and the deck was done before the long weekend.Homeowner, Burke Mountain
Our old deck was pulling away from the house. They showed us exactly what had failed and built the new one properly. You can feel the difference.Homeowner, Capitol Hill
Tidy site every night, no surprises on the bill, and the stairs are the first deck stairs I have not tripped on.Homeowner, Port Moody
These are sample reviews written for this demo. On a live site, they are the owner's real Google reviews.
Deck boards can be replaced in a weekend. The frame cannot. This is what goes into every deck we build.
Concrete footings at least 18 inches deep, sized from the span tables, not guessed.
Where the deck meets the house, the ledger is through-bolted and flashed so water never sits against the wall.
Closer spacing stops composite boards from sagging between joists on hot days.
Butyl tape over the joist tops keeps water out of the screw holes, which is where frames rot first.
Railings at 36 inches, or 42 inches when the deck is more than 6 feet off the ground.
Joists, 16 in. o.c.Flush beamJoist hangers
Permits handled
Most cities here require a building permit when a deck is more than 60 cm (2 ft) above the ground or attached to the house. We draw the plans, file the application and meet the inspector.
Most decks take two to four weeks on site. The permit comes first, so winter is a good time to start planning a spring build.
We measure, look at the grade and the house wall, and sketch a layout with you on the spot.
A written price within three days, with material options side by side. Permit drawings are included.
Footings poured, ledger flashed and frame built. The city inspects before any boards go on.
Boards laid with even gaps, stairs cut to equal rises, railings anchored through the frame.
We walk the deck with you and the inspector, then hand over the warranty and care sheet.
We work out of Coquitlam and build across the Tri-Cities and beyond.
We know the permit desks in each of these cities, which keeps approvals moving.
| Mon to Fri | 7:00 am to 4:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | Site visits by appointment |
| Phone | (604) 555-0138 |
Most of our decks land between $12,000 and $40,000. A typical 12 × 16 ft cedar deck with stairs and railing runs about $11,000 to $14,500. The materials table above shows how the choice of decking changes the price.
Usually yes, if the deck is more than 60 cm (2 ft) above the ground or attached to the house. Low, freestanding decks often do not. We check the rule for your city, draw the plans and file the application.
Most decks take two to four weeks on site. Permits add two to six weeks before that, depending on the city, so winter is the best time to start planning a spring build.
Cedar costs less up front and feels great underfoot, but needs oiling or staining. Composite costs more and needs almost no upkeep. In full sun or for busy families, composite usually wins.
Sometimes. We check the joists, ledger and footings first. If the frame is sound and close to current code, resurfacing can save a third of the cost.
Yes. Framing and decking carry on in normal coastal rain. We only pause for concrete pours and staining.
A rough size and how high it sits off the ground are enough to start. Here is what happens next.