Deck Builder in Severna Park, MD
Anne Arundel County generally requires a variance to build in the 100-foot Critical Area Buffer, and slopes of 15% or more near tidal water widen that Buffer. On Severna Park lots above the Severn and Magothy, the first question is whether a new deck keeps the old footprint or grows toward the water. Solomon Construction & Remodeling builds, rebuilds and refinishes decks here, including raised decks on split-levels.
5.0 on Google (24 reviews)Updated October 2026
What the job includes
- Same-footprint deck replacements with new framing, decking and railings
- Raised decks and long stair runs for split-levels and sloped yards
- Buffer, lot-coverage and slope checks before any expansion is designed
- Retaining walls over 24 inches planned under their own permit
- Sanding, staining and board replacement for decks worth keeping
Should a Severna Park deck be replaced in place or expanded?
On a waterfront lot, replacing in place is almost always the faster route. Anne Arundel County generally requires a variance to disturb the 100-foot Critical Area Buffer, and every Buffer disturbance needs a buffer management plan. A rebuild on the existing footprint still needs a deck permit, but it avoids asking for new ground near the water.
If you want more deck, direction matters. Space to the side of the house or on the land side may work if the lot-coverage cap allows it. Space toward the shoreline is the hardest request to get approved. We map the Buffer line and the existing coverage at the estimate so you know which options are realistic.
Decks on sloped lots
Where a Severna Park lot slopes toward a river or creek, the slope changes the job in three ways.
The deck gets taller. A deck off the main floor of a split-level or a house on a hillside can sit well above grade at its far end, which means longer posts, more bracing and a longer stair run with landings.
The Buffer can grow. Where slopes reach 15% or more near tidal water, the county expands the Buffer, so a deck that seems safely back from the water may still be inside it.
Walls may follow. Leveling a yard for a deck or a patio often calls for a retaining wall, and residential retaining walls over 24 inches need their own permit.
Rebuilding decks on mid-century houses
Census estimates put nearly half of Severna Park’s homes in the 1950s through the 1970s, and another 21.7% in the 1980s. Some of their decks are original and others were rebuilt decades ago. The older ones tend to show the same faults: ledgers fastened without flashing, undersized footings, railings below today’s height and stairs with uneven risers.
A full rebuild with us covers new footings, a flashed ledger, joists and beams, decking, railings and stairs. When the existing framing is sound, we can re-deck and replace railings instead, though new railings still need a permit in Anne Arundel County.
Refinishing a wood deck that’s worth keeping
Not every old deck needs to come down. If the framing checks out, sanding, cleaning and a new coat of stain can give a wood deck years more use, and decorative railings, such as a sunburst pattern, can be kept and refinished with the rest. We replace any split or soft boards during the same visit. A refinish also keeps the deck exactly where it is, which on a Critical Area lot means no new coverage and no Buffer questions at all. For many waterfront owners, that makes it the first option worth pricing.
Water access stairs
Stairs or a tram running down the bank to a pier are a separate permit in Anne Arundel, filed as a Residential Accessory Structure. Because they run through the Buffer, they get Critical Area review too.
Also in Severna Park: kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling. For outdoor work below the deck, see our patios and walkways page.
Permits in Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County permits attached decks, including replacements and new railings or structural members, as Residential Single Family Dwelling work; swapping boards alone is exempt. In the Critical Area, disturbing the 100-foot Buffer needs a buffer management plan and generally a variance, and steep slopes can widen the Buffer. Residential retaining walls over 24 inches need a permit.
Source: official Anne Arundel County information. Rules change; confirm requirements for your address.
More about our decks & porches work, and everything else we do in Severna Park.
Our recent deck work
What clients say
“[He] did an amazing job on the deck panel going above and beyond to help fix and make sure that the deck is intact and also answered all my questions with little of patience that were unrelated to his job around the house. Very quick in doing job!”
“Great communication to set up free estimate for the work. They inspected the repair and gave me a very fair price. They completed the repairs well and in a timely manner. I had them repair my deck stairs. They also gave me some great tips on how to maintain my deck better going forward. Thank you guys so much! I'll definitely use this company again.”
“Highly recommend this company. They do excellent work and are very knowledgeable when it comes to decks, kitchens, and bathroom renovations. Everything is handled professionally, the workmanship is clean, and they pay attention to the details that make a big difference in the finished project. If you’re looking for a reliable general contractor for a deck, kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, or other home improvement project, they’re definitely worth calling.”
Recent deck projects
Multi-Story Exterior Stairs Rebuild
Worn rear stairs and decks on a tall house replaced with a new pressure-treated staircase and landings, finished with a lattice base.
Rowhouse Front Steps, Torn Out and Rebuilt
Crumbling concrete and brick front steps broken out to the base and rebuilt in pressure-treated wood, with handrails on both sides and lattice skirting.
Elevated Side Walkway and Exterior Stairs
A pressure-treated walkway built over a low roof, connected to a second-story deck and exterior stairs along the side of a house.
Decks & Porches in Severna Park: FAQ
Can I make my waterfront deck bigger?
Possibly, depending on which way it grows. Extending toward the water into the 100-foot Buffer generally needs a variance and a buffer management plan. Extending to the side or the land side may only need to fit within the lot-coverage cap, which counts impermeable decks, walkways and stairways.
Does replacing a deck on the same footprint still need a permit?
Yes. Anne Arundel County lists replacing an existing attached deck as Residential Single Family Dwelling work, even when the size doesn't change. The difference on a Severna Park Critical Area lot is that a same-footprint rebuild avoids the hardest review, since it asks for no new ground in the Buffer and adds no new lot coverage.
Our yard slopes down toward the river. What should we know?
Steep slopes of 15% or more near tidal water can widen the Critical Area Buffer, so a Severna Park deck that looks far enough from the shoreline may still be inside it. A sloped yard also makes the deck taller at its far end. Retaining walls taller than 24 inches need a permit of their own.
Do stairs down to the water count as part of the deck?
No. Anne Arundel County permits residential water access stairs and trams separately from the deck, as a Residential Accessory Structure. On a Severna Park waterfront lot those stairs usually cross the 100-foot Buffer, so expect Critical Area review as well, and plan the deck and the stairs as two applications.
Can you refinish my deck instead of replacing it?
If the framing is sound, yes. On a Severna Park wood deck we sand, clean and stain, and replace individual split or soft boards as needed. New boards alone don't require an Anne Arundel permit, and a refinish keeps the deck on its existing footprint, so it raises no Critical Area questions.
Also in Severna Park
Decks nearby
Tell us what you need done.
Estimates are free. Text a few photos to the number below and we can usually tell you what the job involves before we even come out.
Sun–Thu 8am–8pm · Fri 8am–4pm · Sat closed
