Wood or composite?
Pressure-treated southern yellow pine is the standard in North Florida for good reason: it's strong, available, and affordable. The trade-off is maintenance. In our humidity it will check, gray, and grow mildew unless you wash and seal it periodically.
Composite and PVC decking resist rot and termites and don't need staining. They run hotter in direct sun, cost more up front, and still sit on a wood frame that has to be built right. Options we offer: [PLACEHOLDER: decking brands].
Either way, framing lumber should carry the right treatment rating. Ground-contact lumber is the call for posts and any members close to soil or likely to stay wet — which, under a low Florida deck, is most of them.
The ledger: where decks fail
On an attached deck, the ledger board bolts to the house and carries half the load. When decks collapse, a failed ledger is a frequent culprit — nailed instead of bolted, fastened to siding instead of the rim joist, or rotted from water running behind it. We attach ledgers with through-bolts or structural screws into solid framing, and we flash above and behind the ledger so rain sheds over it instead of soaking into the house's rim.
Footings and framing
Posts sit on concrete footings sized for the load and set below the loose surface sand. Beams bear fully on posts with approved connectors. Joist spacing depends on the decking — composite typically needs tighter spacing than wood — and joist hangers get every nail hole filled. On rebuilds, we pull boards and check the tops of joists, where water pools and hidden rot starts long before you notice anything from above.
Railings and stairs
Code sets guard height, baluster spacing, and how strongly posts must resist a push. Stairs need consistent rise and run, proper stringer support, handrails, and lighting where required. Wobbly guards are one of the most common problems we see on older decks.
Covered decks
A roof over a deck turns it into a usable space in July and keeps the boards out of the rain. We build them with either metal or shingle roofing to match the house, and because we're roofers, the tie-in to the existing roof gets the attention it deserves. Posts and footings need to be sized for the added weight and wind uplift.
Is it time to rebuild?
- Boards that feel soft or bounce underfoot
- Railings you can push out of line by hand
- Rust streaks or missing nails and bolts at connections
- A gap opening between the ledger and the house
- Posts dark and crumbly where they meet the ground
- Stair stringers that sag or flex
A few soft boards can be swapped. Widespread rot in joists or a compromised ledger usually means it's safer and cheaper in the long run to tear down and rebuild.
Permits and next steps
We pull the permit and schedule inspections. If you'd rather have something on the ground than up in the air, look at porches and patios or a concrete slab instead. Ready to talk? Start Your Quote.