Deck Builder in Nottingham, MD

How long does a deck last on a Nottingham home?

Decks built with the houses here are now 25 to 55 years old, and many are near the end of their useful life. Census estimates show about two-thirds of homes in the 21236 area were built between 1970 and 1999. A deck from the early part of that span has usually had at least one round of new boards already, and the framing underneath is the original.

Age alone doesn’t decide it, though. A well-drained deck with sound posts can outlast one half its age that sits in shade and holds water. That’s why we inspect before we recommend anything, and why two decks on the same row can get very different advice.

Warning signs on an aging deck

These are the things we look for, roughly in order of how serious they are:

1. Movement at the ledger, where the deck attaches to the house, or rot in the rim board behind it.
2. Posts that lean or wobble, or that sit directly in the soil instead of on a footing.
3. Soft joists, which a screwdriver finds quickly.
4. Loose railings and stair stringers, a fall hazard even when everything else is fine.
5. Splintered or cupped boards, the most visible problem and often the least serious.

Replacing a raised townhouse deck in 21236

Census estimates put townhouses at 30.8% of homes in the 21236 area. Replacing a raised rear deck on one takes more coordination than a deck on a detached lot. Neighbors’ decks and fences sit a few feet away, staging space is tight, and debris has to come out without crossing someone else’s yard.

A deck raised off the ground like that sits above the County’s 16-inch threshold, so a permit is part of the job. Your HOA likely has a say as well. We prepare drawings and specs for the association and the site plan for the County application, then build to what was approved.

Choosing between refinishing, re-decking and rebuilding

• Refinishing. When boards and framing are sound, sanding and restaining brings a wood deck back. It suits decks with good bones and a weathered surface.
• Re-decking. When the framing is solid but the boards are worn out, new composite or wood boards go down over the existing joists. We’ve re-decked a second-floor balcony in two-tone composite with black metal railings this way.
• Rebuilding. When posts, beams or the ledger are compromised, we take the deck down and build new from the footings up.

Permits for Nottingham decks

Baltimore County requires a permit once a deck is more than 16 inches above grade or larger than 120 square feet. The permit is good for a year, and it and the approved plans stay on site through inspections. We tell you what your deck needs, and since Nottingham has no official boundary, we confirm your address is in the County.

Steps and landings often need work at the same time; see our exterior stairs page. Inside, we also handle Nottingham bathroom remodeling and kitchens in Nottingham.