Exterior · Surrey, BC
Decking Repair and Installation
Framing, footings, and wood or composite decking for homes and strata properties across Surrey and the Lower Mainland — sized to the deck's real load, not the minimum that will pass a glance.
See two complete deck transformations and five fencing projects.
View the fencing & decking galleryHow a decking project runs
We start by checking what's underneath: joists, ledger board attachment, footing condition and any signs of rot at ground contact. That determines whether you're looking at a board-and-railing refresh on solid framing, or a rebuild starting from the footings. Either way, you get a written quote before demo starts.
For a rebuild, footings and framing go in first and need to cure and be inspected (where a permit applies) before decking goes down. Decking boards, then railings and stairs, finish the structure — composite decking installs faster since there's no staining step at the end.
Permits for raised decks
Under the BC Building Code, decks below roughly 24 inches off grade with no roof generally don't need a permit. A deck attached to the house at any real height, or one with a roof or covered structure, usually does. We confirm which category your project falls into and handle the permit application where one's required, rather than leaving you to find out after the fact.
Wood vs. composite for this climate
Wood decking costs less to install and can be sanded and refinished down the road, but needs yearly cleaning and re-staining to shed Lower Mainland rain properly — skip that maintenance and boards grey and split faster than they would in a drier climate. Composite costs more upfront but doesn't rot or need staining, which matters most on shaded decks that stay damp longer after rain.
Timeline
A board-and-railing refresh on existing framing typically takes 3-5 days. A full rebuild with new footings runs 1-2 weeks, with footing cure time and any permit inspection the main scheduling factors rather than the build itself.
Decking FAQ
- Does my new deck need a building permit in BC?
- Generally, decks under about 24 inches (60 cm) off grade with no roof attached fall outside permit requirements under the BC Building Code, but that threshold and local variations are worth confirming for your specific project — a raised deck attached to the house almost always needs one. We flag this during the walkthrough.
- Wood or composite decking for a Surrey backyard?
- Wood costs less upfront and can be refinished, but needs annual cleaning and re-staining to hold up against Lower Mainland rain. Composite costs more but doesn't rot, splinter or need staining — for a deck that gets heavy shade and stays damp longer, that maintenance gap matters more than it would on a sunnier lot.
- How deep do deck footings need to be here?
- Footings need to sit below the frost line for this region, typically around 18 inches minimum, deeper for larger structures. We size footings to the deck's actual load rather than guessing — undersized footings are the most common reason older decks start to sag or heave.
- Can you repair just the boards, or does the whole deck need replacing?
- Often just the boards, if the framing and footings underneath are still sound. We check the joists and posts first — rot at ground contact points or around old fasteners is the main reason a repair turns into a full rebuild, and we'll tell you honestly which situation you're in before quoting.
Next Step
Ready to transform your outdoor space?
Contact us today to schedule a consultation for your decking project.