Deck Building & Rebuilds in Chicago
When restoration is not enough: new decking, new stairs and railings, or a full rebuild on the deck you already have
Most of the decks we build replace one that has reached the end of its life. We rebuild on the existing footprint, to code, with a written spec that names the posts, the framing and the fasteners, handle the permit, and finish the new wood at the right time. New decks and porches are built the same way.
Written Spec
Footings, framing, fasteners and decking named before we start
Permits Handled
We file, schedule inspections and build to the inspector's checklist
Finish Included
The first stain or seal, timed for when the new wood is ready
2-Year Warranty
Written cover on construction against failures caused by our workmanship
When to rebuild instead of restore
A deck with sound framing and tired boards is a restoration. A deck whose posts, joists or ledger have rotted, whose stairs are unsafe, or whose railings will never meet code without starting over, is a rebuild. On the first visit we look underneath and tell you which yours is, with the numbers for both.
Rebuilds come in two sizes. A re-deck keeps the framing and replaces the boards, stairs and railings: the look of a new deck at well under the cost of one. A full rebuild replaces everything from the footings up, usually on the same footprint so the permit is straightforward and the yard stays as it was.
Everything we build follows Chicago code: footings below the 42-inch frost line, pressure-treated framing sized for the span, hot-dip galvanized hangers and connectors, guardrails at the required height, and decking in cedar, pressure-treated pine or composite. The spec you sign names each of them.
Restore, re-deck or rebuild?
Three answers to the same question. The framing decides which one applies to your deck.
Restore
Repairs, a strip and sand, and a new finish. The deck you have, brought back. The most common answer.
See deck restorationRe-deck
New decking, stairs and railings on the existing joists. A new-looking deck for a fraction of a full rebuild.
What a re-deck includesFull rebuild
New footings, posts, framing, boards, stairs and rails, on the same footprint or a new one. Permit, inspections and finish included.
What a rebuild includesDeck Problems That Call for a Rebuild
These are the signs that patching will not hold. When we see them, we quote a rebuild honestly rather than a repair that will not last.
Rot in Posts or Joists
Soft framing cannot carry weight safely and cannot be patched. New pressure-treated framing on proper footings is the fix.
Bounce and Sag
A deck that flexes underfoot has undersized or failing joists. Re-framing to the right span and spacing takes the bounce out.
Deck Pulling Away From the House
A failed ledger connection is the leading cause of deck collapse. It is rebuilt with through-bolts, flashing and the connectors code requires.
Unsafe Stairs
Rotted stringers, uneven risers and missing handrails are rebuilt to code with proper stringer connections and treads.
Railings Below Code
Old railings are often too short or too weak. New guardrails at code height, with posts anchored to carry a real lean.
Boards Gone Everywhere
When most of the decking has split or cupped, replacing it all at once is cheaper and looks like one deck again.
Building and Rebuild Services We Handle
From new boards on sound framing to a complete deck or porch built from the footings up.
Re-Deck on Existing Framing
We inspect and, where needed, sister the joists, then lay new decking, stairs and railings. The framing you have, the deck you want.
Full Deck Rebuild
Footings below the frost line, pressure-treated framing, galvanized connectors, decking of your choice. Usually on the same footprint.
Stairs and Railings to Code
New stairs with proper stringer connections and handrails, and guardrails at code height, as a job of their own or part of a rebuild.
Porches and Front Steps
Front porches and entry steps rebuilt with the same care as backyard decks, matched to the house trim.
Composite Decking
Trex and TimberTech boards on new or existing framing for homeowners who want to stop finishing. We are honest about where composite makes sense and where wood is better.
Pergolas and Privacy Screens
Pergola tops, privacy walls and built-in benches, built with the deck or added to one, and finished to match.
Our Building Process: Four Careful Steps
Building takes longer than any other service we offer, mostly because of the permit. This is how it runs.
Design and Written Spec
We measure, talk through decking, stairs and rails, and write a spec that names footings, framing, fasteners and boards, with the price for each part.
Permit and Scheduling
We file the permit, which takes two to six weeks depending on the town, and book the build and the inspections around it.
Build
Footings, framing, decking, stairs and rails, in that order, with inspections at the stages the permit requires. Most rebuilds take five to ten working days.
Finish and Final Inspection
Cedar gets its first seal or stain when it is dry; pressure-treated pine waits three to six months and we come back for it. Final inspection, walkthrough and warranty.
What the project looks like
- Week 1Site visit, design, written spec and price.
- Weeks 2 to 6Permit application and approval. Materials ordered once the permit is issued.
- Build daysFive to ten working days for most decks, with inspections at footing, framing and completion.
- FinishCedar sealed or stained within a few weeks; pressure-treated pine after three to six months of weathering. Both included in the spec.
What Shapes a Building Quote
Every spec is priced line by line, so you can see what a bigger deck, a different board or a second stair changes.
What shapes the price
- Re-deck or full rebuild. Keeping sound framing is the single biggest saving.
- Square footage of the deck, plus the stairs and linear feet of railing, which cost more per foot than the floor.
- Decking material. Pressure-treated pine, cedar and composite are three different prices, and composite changes the framing spacing.
- Height and access. A second-storey deck needs taller posts, bracing and more staging.
- Permit fees and inspections, listed separately for your town.
Our documented Downers Grove rebuild shows new stairs and railings at $7,090, and the Chicago restoration case studies show what new stairs add to a refinish. Every spec is free and written; nothing is added without talking to you first.
Get a free written estimateWritten warranty. 2 years on construction workmanship, 18 months against peeling on the finish we apply. Read the warranty terms.
Recent Building and Rebuild Projects
Documented jobs with photos, the size and the real invoice.
Downers Grove, IL · · see the job
Chicago, IL · 595 sq ft · Benjamin Moore WoodLuxe · see the job
Why Choose Deck Doc to Build or Rebuild?
- Honest restore-versus-rebuild advice, with the numbers for both
- A written spec that names footings, framing, fasteners and boards
- Permits filed and inspections scheduled by us
- The first finish included and timed for when the wood is ready
- Same crews that restore decks, so the details that fail later get built right
- Fully insured, $1M liability coverage on every job
- 4.9★ on Google · 229 reviews
- 18-month warranty against peeling, 2 years on repairs
Get Your Free Estimate
Tell us the size and whether the deck is on the ground or a second storey. We call back within one business day.
Deck Building Across Chicagoland
We build and rebuild decks from the North Shore to DuPage County. Pick your town for local details and recent jobs nearby.
- Chicago
- Downers Grove
- Lisle
- Naperville
- Glen Ellyn
- Elmhurst
- Hinsdale
- Clarendon Hills
- Western Springs
- La Grange
- Oak Park
- Schaumburg
- Arlington Heights
- Northbrook
- Evanston
Deck Building FAQs
The questions Chicago homeowners ask before building or rebuilding a deck.
Before You Rebuild
Most decks that look finished are not. If the framing is sound, restoration or structural repairs bring the deck back for a fraction of a rebuild, and we will tell you so.
Building Guides From Our Blog
Written by the people who do the work, for homeowners weighing materials and layouts.
Thinking About a Rebuild?
Send photos of the deck and what is underneath it, or call and we will come out, look at the framing, and give you the restore and rebuild numbers side by side.
No pressure either way: the right answer is the one that lasts.
Call Now: (847) 979-9299 Request an estimate