Deck & Porch Building in Marietta, GA
Marietta spans a century and a half of building, which is why one street can need careful sash and trim work and the next needs a full kitchen gut. Work around the Square and in the historic districts runs slower by design — older substrates, lead-era coatings and more prep than a modern subdivision ever asks for.
Cobb County · about 22 minutes from our Powder Springs shop
Deck & Porch Building for Marietta homes
Everything from antebellum and Victorian homes near the Square, through mid-century ranches, to 80s and 90s brick-and-siding subdivisions in East Cobb. Older homes need genuine carpentry repair before any topcoat; the East Cobb stock is squarely in kitchen-and-bath remodel territory.
Areas we work in Marietta
- Marietta Square
- Whitlock Heights
- East Cobb
- Kennesaw Avenue Historic District
- Church-Cherokee
- Sibley Forest
Near Marietta Square, Kennesaw Mountain, The Strand Theatre and across the rest of Marietta.
Deck & Porch Building on Marietta houses
Deck work in Marietta turns on what you are attaching to. The older homes near the Square and up Kennesaw Avenue were not framed with a modern rim joist to bolt a ledger to — behind the siding you can find old dimensional framing, brick, or balloon-framed walls that will not carry a deck the usual way. On houses like that, a freestanding deck on its own posts is often the right call rather than hanging load off the wall. The East Cobb brick-and-siding subdivisions are more straightforward, though the brick veneer there still means a ledger has to reach past the brick to real structure, never bolt to the veneer itself.
What usually gets missed
The mistake that shows up on the older and brick homes here is a ledger lagged to the wrong thing — to brick veneer, or to old framing that was never meant to carry a deck. Brick veneer is not structural; it holds nothing. On some of the antebellum and Victorian homes there may be nothing safe to attach to at all. Getting this wrong is how decks pull away from houses. When the wall cannot carry the load, we stand the deck on its own posts and leave the house out of it.
On a Marietta job we check
- Confirm there is real structure behind brick veneer before any ledger
- Freestand the deck when old walls cannot carry the load
- Flash any attachment to an old wall against water getting in
What the job actually involves
A deck is a structure first and a finish second. Footings, ledger attachment and framing decide whether it is safe in twenty years, and Georgia clay, rain and termites make those details matter.
We use ground-contact pressure-treated lumber for structure, hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners and connectors, and flashing at the house, because rot and rust at the connections are what end most decks early.
How we run a deck & porch building job in Marietta
- 1
Design, permits and layout
We agree on size, height, stairs and railing, then pull a permit where required. Footing locations are laid out and utilities are located before digging.
- 2
Set footings and posts
Holes are dug to the required depth and diameter for the local soil and frost depth, and concrete footings are poured. Georgia clay holds water, so drainage and footing size matter. Posts are set on proper connectors, not buried in dirt.
- 3
Attach the ledger and frame
If the deck attaches to the house, the ledger is flashed and bolted through the rim joist, not nailed. Beams and joists are framed with metal hangers and the right fasteners, with proper spacing.
- 4
Inspect framing
Where the jurisdiction requires it, an inspector looks at footings and framing before decking covers them.
- 5
Decking, stairs and railing
Decking goes down with correct gaps for drainage and expansion. Stairs are built with consistent risers, and railings are fastened to meet code height and strength.
- 6
Finish and cleanup
Pressure-treated wood needs time to dry before staining, which can be weeks, so we advise you on timing. Composite needs no stain. We clean the site and haul away scraps.
What moves the price
We will not quote Marietta blind over the phone — these are the things we look at on site that decide the number.
- Size and height. Elevated decks need more framing, posts and railing.
- Decking material: pressure-treated lumber, cedar or composite.
- Railing style and stairs, which are labor heavy.
- Site conditions such as slope, access for equipment and soil.
- Whether it attaches to the house or stands free, plus covered porch or roof additions.
- Permit and inspection costs.
From a deck & porch building customer
“The entire inside of my home was gutted and remodeled. … When the home would give us unexpected surprises, Dan would calm me down and give me several options. … The workmanship is impeccable!!”
Whole-interior remodel, exterior trim
Want a real number for your Marietta deck & porch building job?
The only way to price it honestly is to see it. We come out, walk the job and put it in writing — free, and with no obligation to book.
Call and we answer 24/7. Forms sent during the day get a call back the same day.
Deck & Porch Building in Marietta — questions we get asked
- How long does it take to build a deck?
- Many take one to three weeks of working time, with permit review and weather adding to the calendar. Larger or covered structures take longer.
- Do I need a permit?
- Usually, especially for attached or elevated decks. We handle the paperwork where we can and tell you what to expect.
- Wood or composite?
- Pressure-treated is lower cost upfront but needs regular staining. Composite costs more and needs less upkeep. We lay out the tradeoffs for your situation.
- When can I stain a new pressure-treated deck?
- Usually after it has dried out, which can take several weeks to a few months depending on weather. Staining too soon traps moisture.
- Will the work tear up my yard?
- Some. Digging and material delivery leave marks. We protect what we can and leave the area tidy.
More in Marietta
Cobb County housing, neighborhoods and what we do there.
Painting & remodeling in Marietta →Other work in Marietta
Prefer to talk it through? Dan picks up.
(470) 419-0922