Deck Builders in Cary, NC
Looking for deck builders in Cary, NC? Lamar Homes builds wood, composite and PVC decks across Cary. We pull the Town of Cary permit, build to the North Carolina Residential Code and meet the inspector. Consultations are scheduled the same week and the estimate is free.
No pressure, no obligation. Veteran discounts available.
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Building a deck in Cary: the quick answer
The short version of what to expect, from the first call to the final inspection.
| Question | Answer for Cary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What we build | Wood, composite and PVC decks, railings and stairs, plus resurfacing on a sound frame. | Lamar Homes |
| Permit needed? | Yes, for all decks, regardless of size or height. We apply for it. | Town of Cary |
| Permit review time | Usually 7 days or less. SPOT review for decks is typically 1 to 4 business days. | Town of Cary |
| Footing depth | At least 12 inches below grade to the bottom of the footing. | Town of Cary |
| Published cost | $30 to $60 per square foot installed, national range. | Bob Vila |
| Time on site | A few days to a couple of weeks once the permit is issued. | Lamar Homes |
| Consultation | Free, scheduled the same week in Cary. | Lamar Homes |
Sources: Town of Cary permit FAQ, Town of Cary alterations and additions, Town of Cary Deck Design Assistant, Bob Vila deck cost guide and our Cary decks page.
Decks we build in Cary
We design and build decks for Cary homes, from a small backyard platform to a raised deck with stairs and rails for entertaining. New builds and replacements both.
Plenty of older decks do not need replacing. If the posts, footings and ledger are sound, we resurface the frame with new boards and rails for a fraction of a rebuild.
Every deck is built to the North Carolina Residential Code and signed off by the inspector. Not sure where to start? Our guide to deck types helps you pick a layout.
- Consultations in Cary the same week
- Town of Cary permit pulled, inspector met
- Wood, composite or PVC, honestly compared
- Veteran discounts available
What decides a deck job in Cary
- 01
Footings, ledger, stringers
The Town of Cary sets footings at least 12 inches below grade. The state code bans aluminum flashing on a deck and caps stair stringers at 7 feet between supports. These are the parts you stop seeing once the deck is built.
- 02
Height and posts
Cary allows 4x4 treated posts up to 8 feet high and 6x6 posts up to 20 feet. A deck over 20 feet high must be engineered by a design professional.
- 03
Resurface or rebuild
If the frame is sound, new boards and rails go on the existing structure. If the ledger was never flashed properly, that gets fixed first, because it is the failure that drops a deck.
Wood vs composite decking in Cary
The choice is less about looks than about what you are willing to do to the deck every couple of years.
| Material | Lifespan and upkeep | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | 20 years or more with regular maintenance. Sanding, staining or painting, and sealing about every 2 to 5 years. | The least expensive way to get a solid deck. Boards can be replaced one at a time. |
| Cedar | 20 years or more with regular maintenance, on the same cycle as other wood. | Better looking than pine and more resistant to rot and insects, but softer underfoot. |
| Composite | Up to 50 years. Cleaning twice a year, no sanding or staining. | Costs more up front. Darker boards get hot in a Carolina July. |
| PVC | The lightest maintenance of the four. Our sources give no lifespan figure. | The most expensive. It does not absorb water, so it suits pool surrounds and shaded low decks. |
Lifespan and upkeep from Bob Vila’s composite vs wood cost guide. Material notes from our decks page. The frame under any surface is treated lumber.
Comparing brands? Our Trex vs TimberTech guide and our decking material guide go deeper on cost and lifespan.
What a deck costs in Cary
Published ranges, so you can check any quote against something real. Your written price comes after a free consultation.
- 01
The published range
Bob Vila puts most decks at $30 to $60 per square foot installed. That is $9,600 to $19,200 for a 16 by 20 foot deck. Our deck cost calculator runs the same band for your size.
- 02
Labor
Labor alone is published at $15 to $35 per square foot for a wood deck and $10 to $14 for composite. Stairs, rails, levels and slopes add hours, so a plain rectangle costs the least per foot.
- 03
What sits outside the range
Permit fees, footings into difficult ground, removing an old deck and any structural work on the house where the ledger attaches. These get priced on site.
- 04
How we quote
The permit and the inspection visits are their own lines on the estimate, so you can see what is the deck and what is the paperwork. Financing is available on qualifying purchases, subject to credit approval.
Deck permits in Cary
The Town of Cary’s permit FAQ is blunt: a permit is required for all decks, regardless of size or height. Permitting and inspections run through the Town of Cary rather than Wake County.
Applications go in online. The regular review cycle is usually 7 days or less, and decks qualify for the Town’s SPOT small project review, typically 1 to 4 business days at no extra cost.
Planning a hot tub? The Town says a structural engineer is required for the design. Other site approvals, such as stream buffer, floodplain or erosion control, may be needed on top of the building permit.
A contractor can pull the permit as your agent, but the Town notes it is still the homeowner’s job to make sure it exists. We pull it for you. When the inspections pass, you can ask the Town for a certificate of compliance, which helps when you sell.
Read the rules yourself in the Town’s Deck Design Assistant and its home construction projects page.
Our deck building process
Three steps from first call to a deck the inspector has signed off.
-
Free deck consultation
We visit the same week, look at the ground, the house wall and any old deck, and talk through materials and layout.
-
Written estimate
A clear, itemised price with the permit and inspection visits shown as their own lines. Ask us about financing.
-
Permit, build and inspection
We pull the Town of Cary permit, build to code and meet the inspector at each stage until the deck is signed off.
Get a free deck estimate
(984) 224-7182No pressure, no obligation. Veteran discounts available.
Which option fits you?
Four common situations, and the deck we would usually point you toward.
- 01
Staying ten years or more
Composite. It is published at up to 50 years against 20 or more for wood, and it needs washing rather than staining.
- 02
Working to a tight budget
Pressure-treated pine. It is the least expensive way to a solid deck, as long as you keep up the cleaning and sealing.
- 03
Pool surround or shaded low deck
PVC. It does not absorb water, which is where wood struggles. It is also the most expensive of the four.
- 04
Old deck, sound frame
Resurfacing. New boards and rails on a frame that passes our ledger, footing and post checks, for a fraction of a rebuild.
Deck builder questions from Cary homeowners
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Cary?
Yes. The Town of Cary requires a building permit for all decks, regardless of size or height. Permits and inspections run through the Town of Cary, not Wake County. We apply for the permit, build to the code and meet the inspector.
How much does a deck cost in Cary, NC?
Bob Vila publishes a national range of $30 to $60 per square foot installed, with labor alone at $15 to $35 per square foot. The material, the shape and the stairs and rails decide where you land. We give you a written price after a free consultation.
How long does the Town of Cary take to review a deck permit?
The Town says its regular review cycle is usually 7 days or less. Decks are also eligible for its SPOT small project review, which is typically completed in 1 to 4 business days at no extra cost.
How deep do deck footings have to be in Cary?
The Town of Cary's Deck Design Assistant says all footings must be at least 12 inches below grade, measured to the bottom of the footing. Footing size depends on the deck area each footing carries.
Can I put a hot tub on my deck?
Possibly, but not on a standard design. The Town of Cary says a structural engineer is required to design a deck that will carry a hot tub. Tell us at the consultation so the footings and framing are planned for it.
Can you resurface my existing deck instead of replacing it?
Often, yes. If the posts, footings and ledger are sound, we can replace the boards and rails on the existing frame for a fraction of a rebuild. We check the ledger flashing first, because that is the connection that fails quietly.
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