Deck Builder — Missoula & Western Montana

Built to outlast the climate.

Cedar, composite, and treated decks. Properly footed, flashed, and built to last in Montana.

About this service

Decks fail at the connections — ledger, posts, footings. We pull permits, dig real footings, flash the ledger to the house, and use joist hangers everywhere. The boards on top are the easy part.

We work cedar, composite (Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators), and treated lumber. We size railings to current code, set stairs with proper rise/run, and flash decks against the house with peel-and-stick membrane.

What's included

Concrete footings (frost-depth)
Pressure-treated framing
Joist hangers and galvanized hardware
Ledger flashing (peel-and-stick)
Cedar / composite / treated decking
Hidden fasteners (composite)
Railings — wood, cable, glass
Stairs and landings
Lighting rough-in (optional)

The honest take

Cheaper decks skip footings or use surface anchors. Those decks heave, sag, and pull away from the house in five years. We don't build those. Done right, a cedar deck lasts 20+ years; composite goes 30+.

Process

How a deck job runs.

Step 01

Permit

Pulled by us before dig.

Step 02

Footings

Frost-depth, concrete poured.

Step 03

Posts

Set, plumbed, anchored.

Step 04

Ledger

Flashed to house with membrane.

Step 05

Frame

Joists hung, beam dropped.

Step 06

Decking

Boards installed with spacing.

Step 07

Railings & stairs

Code-compliant, finished.

Start your deck job

Decks in Missoula & Western Montana

Decks in Western Montana have to handle 40-below winters and 90-degree summers, snow load, and the freeze-thaw cycles that pop fasteners and rot ledgers in cheaper builds. The Missoula and Bitterroot frost line is roughly 36 inches, which means real concrete footings are non-negotiable — surface anchors and shallow concrete pucks heave and sag within five years here. We dig to frost depth on every deck, period.

Most of our deck work in Missoula and the Bitterroot is composite (Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators) for the low maintenance and Montana-climate durability. Cedar still has fans, especially on mountain homes near Seeley Lake or the Flathead where the look earns the sealing every couple years. Composite with cedar posts and railings is a common compromise. Railings to current Montana code, stairs with proper rise/run, and peel-and-stick membrane on every ledger tie-in.

Common project types

Backyard decks — Ground-level and single-step decks for entertaining and grilling.
Elevated and multi-level decks — Walkout decks, second-story decks, multi-level layouts for sloped lots.
Hot tub and pool surrounds — Decks engineered to support hot tub loads and resist splash damage.
Stairs and landings — Standalone stairs, landings, and ramps to existing decks or entries.
Deck replacement — Tear-out and replace on aging decks, often with composite upgrades.

FAQ

Decks — frequently asked questions.

What's the best decking material for Montana?

Composite (Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators) holds up best with the least maintenance — no sealing, no rot, just a deck wash a couple times a year. Cedar looks great and naturally resists rot but needs sealing every 1–2 years to keep that look. Pressure-treated is the budget option but doesn't age as gracefully as either.

Do you build elevated decks and stairs?

Yes. Ground-level, elevated, multi-level, walkout, second-story — all in scope. Stairs to current Montana code (proper rise/run), railings, landings, and lighting rough-ins where you want them.

How long does a deck build take?

1–2 weeks for an average residential deck (footings, framing, decking, railings, stairs). Multi-level builds with hot tub surrounds or complex layouts run longer. Permits can add a week or two on the front end, which we handle.

Do you handle permits for decks?

Yes. Most decks over 30 inches off the ground require permits in Missoula County and the City of Missoula, and we pull them on your behalf. We also schedule the footing and final inspections.