Covered Decks & Aluminum Patio Covers

Composite (Trex, TimberTech) costs more upfront but resists rot, fading, and insects and needs almost no maintenance, which pays off in our humidity. Pressure-treated wood is cheaper initially but requires regular sealing and has a shorter lifespan. We build both and help you weigh lifetime cost.

Composite can run warmer than wood in direct sun, and color is the biggest factor, darker boards get hotter, lighter tones stay closer to wood. For a deck in full afternoon Tennessee sun it is worth weighing. We can steer you toward lighter colors or sun-friendly product lines from Trex and TimberTech if heat is a concern.

A pressure-treated wood deck typically lasts in the 10 to 15 year range with regular upkeep, while quality composite from Trex or TimberTech commonly lasts 25 years or more. Either way the substructure and footings determine real longevity as much as the surface boards. We build both, so we will help you weigh upfront cost against years of service and maintenance.

Footings need to bear below the frost line so the deck does not heave when the ground freezes, and our higher East-Tennessee elevations can call for deeper footings than the valley floor. On sloped or hillside lots, footing design gets more involved. We size and place footings to local code and your specific soil and grade, and we handle the permit and inspections that go with it.

Most attached and elevated decks require a permit, with thresholds that vary by city and county, while low freestanding ground-level decks are sometimes exempt. Inspectors pay close attention to the ledger attachment and flashing where the deck meets the house, since a failed ledger is a leading cause of deck collapses. We pull the permits, build to code, and manage the inspections so it is not on you to navigate.

Yes, sloped and hillside lots are common here, and an elevated or multi-level deck is often the best way to turn an unusable slope into living space. On taller decks we can add an under-deck drainage system that channels water away and creates a dry, usable area beneath, which can later be finished with a ceiling, lights, or a fan. We design the footings, drainage, and layout around your grade.