Hours vary Portland (207) 544-3126
Woodhouse Builders LLC
Custom Deck Installation Built for Maine Summers

Portland Local

Custom Deck Installation Built for Maine Summers

Scotty Woodhouse handles everything from permit to final board, on time and within budget.

Call now(207) 544-3126
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Deck Installation That Holds Through Maine Winters

Deck installation in Maine is a different animal than it is in milder climates. Frost heave, wet springs, and four months of freeze-thaw cycles will expose every shortcut a builder took when the weather was forgiving. At Woodhouse Builders LLC, Scotty Woodhouse builds decks with the structural foundation and material choices that actually survive here. If you're pricing out a new deck this season, call (207) 544-3126 before you sign anything, because the decisions made in the first hour determine how the deck holds up in year five.

Cost on a deck project is driven by size, elevation, material choice, and how much site prep the yard actually needs. A ground-level pressure-treated deck is the most straightforward build. A two-story elevated deck with composite decking, built-in railings, and stairs adds scope at every step. Framing lumber, joist sizing, ledger attachment to the house, concrete footing depth for Maine's frost line, and decking material all move the number in different directions. Honest answer: we won't quote a figure without seeing the site. Every job is different, contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.

What Goes Into a Deck Built to Last

The details that separate a solid deck from one you're fixing in three years.

01

Footing Depth

Maine's frost line sits at 48 inches. Footings poured above that depth will heave. Every footing Scotty installs goes down far enough to stay put through a hard winter.

02

Ledger Attachment

The ledger board is where most deck collapses start. Correct flashing, correct lag bolt pattern, and no shortcuts on waterproofing where the deck meets the house.

03

Joist Sizing and Spacing

Joist size and spacing depend on the span and the decking material. Composite boards require tighter spacing than dimensional lumber. Getting this wrong means a bouncy deck or worse.

04

Railing Structural Posts

Railing posts bolted to the outside of the rim joist fail. Posts should be mounted through the framing or to blocking. It's a five-minute difference during framing and a years-long difference in safety.

05

Material Selection

Pressure-treated lumber, composite decking, and hardwoods like ipe each perform differently in Maine's moisture and UV exposure. Scotty walks you through the tradeoffs before you commit to a material.

06

Permit Compliance

Deck construction requires a permit in most Maine municipalities. Woodhouse Builders handles the permit process so your deck is inspected, documented, and doesn't create problems when you sell the house.

How the Deck Build Process Works

  1. 01

    Site Assessment and Design

    Scotty visits the site to evaluate grade, drainage, how the deck attaches to the house, and what the yard will support. The design comes from what's actually there, not a catalog template.

  2. 02

    Permitting and Framing

    Permits get pulled before any digging starts. Footings are poured, the ledger is set and flashed, and the frame goes up to spec. This is the work that determines everything above it.

  3. 03

    Decking, Railings, and Finish

    Boards go down with correct gapping and fastener placement. Railings are built to code height and properly anchored. The site gets cleaned up. You get a deck that's ready to use, not ready for a punch list.

Wood vs. Composite: The Real Difference

Pressure-treated wood is still the right call for plenty of jobs. It's less expensive upfront, it looks traditional, and it's what most older Maine homes have had for decades. The tradeoff is maintenance: staining every two to three years, watching for rot at the ledger and any spot where water pools, and replacing boards as they split over time. Composite decking costs more to install and holds up differently. It won't rot, it won't need staining, and the color stays consistent. What it will do is expand and contract significantly with temperature swings, which is why gapping and fastener choice matter more on a composite build than on wood. Installed correctly, a composite deck in Maine is low-maintenance for fifteen-plus years. Installed without accounting for thermal movement, the boards buckle. Neither material is universally better. The right choice depends on your budget, how much maintenance you want to do, and what the deck looks like in relation to the rest of the house. This is exactly the kind of conversation Scotty has before any material gets ordered. If you're also thinking about a carpentry project to complement the deck, those conversations can happen at the same visit.
ledger attachment work, professional service in Portland, ME

Four Things to Ask Any Deck Contractor

Not every contractor builds to the same standard. These questions surface the difference fast.

  1. 01

    How deep are your footings?

    In Maine, the right answer is at least 48 inches to get below the frost line. Any answer shorter than that should send you elsewhere.

  2. 02

    How do you attach the ledger to the house?

    The answer should include flashing, lag bolts or through-bolts in a specific pattern, and some acknowledgment that this is where water damage and structural failure both start.

  3. 03

    Do you pull the permit?

    The answer should be yes, always. A deck built without a permit is a liability when you sell, and in some municipalities it has to come down entirely.

  4. 04

    How do you mount the railing posts?

    If the answer is 'we bolt them to the outside of the rim joist,' walk away. That method fails. Posts need to go through the framing or be anchored to blocking inside the rim.

Where We Build

Deck Construction Across Greater Cumberland County

Woodhouse Builders LLC builds decks throughout the greater Cumberland County area and beyond. Whether you're in a wooded lot in Gorham, a coastal yard in Cape Elizabeth, or a neighborhood in Falmouth, the structural requirements are the same and so is the standard of work. We also serve South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth, Cumberland, and surrounding towns.

Common Questions

Deck Installation Questions, Answered Straight

What is the average price for deck installation?
Deck installation cost varies widely based on size, elevation, decking material, and site conditions. A simple ground-level pressure-treated deck is on the lower end of the range. A multi-level elevated deck with composite decking, custom railings, and built-in stairs is on the higher end. There's no honest average that applies to every project. Every job is different, contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.
What is the average cost of a 20x20 deck?
A 20x20 deck is 400 square feet, and cost is driven more by what's on those 400 square feet than by the square footage itself. Composite vs. pressure-treated decking, single level vs. elevated, railing design, stair configuration, and footing conditions all shift the number significantly. Every job is different, contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.
How much does a 14x20 deck cost to build?
A 14x20 deck comes in at 280 square feet. At that size, the material costs are more predictable than the site costs. Footing conditions, how the ledger attaches to the house, and how much grade work the yard needs can move the final number more than the decking choice itself. Every job is different, contact Woodhouse Builders LLC for an accurate estimate.
Do I need a permit for a new deck in Maine?
Most Maine municipalities require a building permit for any deck attached to a house, and many require one for freestanding decks over a certain size. Woodhouse Builders pulls the permit as part of the project. Skipping the permit isn't worth it: an unpermitted deck can complicate a home sale and may have to be removed or rebuilt to pass inspection.
How deep do deck footings need to be in Maine?
Maine's frost depth is 48 inches. Deck footings need to be poured below that depth so they sit in ground that doesn't freeze and thaw with the seasons. A footing that stops above the frost line will heave over time, which pushes the deck frame out of level and stresses every connection point in the structure.
How long does deck installation take?
A straightforward single-level deck typically takes a few days of active build time once permits are in hand and materials are on site. Larger or more complex decks, elevated builds, or projects that involve significant site prep take longer. Permit processing time is separate and varies by municipality. Scotty gives you a realistic timeline before the project starts, not an optimistic one.
Can a new deck affect a home renovation project I'm already planning?
Frequently, yes. If you're planning home renovations that involve the back of the house, exterior doors, or a basement remodeling project that changes how you access the yard, the deck design should account for that. Building the deck first without coordinating can mean tearing out work later. It's worth having that conversation at the estimate stage.
Should I choose pressure-treated wood or composite decking?
Pressure-treated wood costs less upfront and needs staining every two to three years. Composite costs more to install and requires almost no maintenance over fifteen-plus years, but it must be installed with correct gapping for thermal expansion or the boards buckle. The right choice depends on your budget and how much ongoing maintenance you want to do.

Ready to Build Your Deck This Season?

Maine summers are short. Don't spend this one waiting on a contractor who won't call back.

Call now (207) 544-3126 Call Scotty Now

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