What's included
The spec, in plain sight.
The price gap between deck builders almost always hides in what you don't see — the footings, the framing, the permit. So here it is: what comes standard, what's an optional upgrade, and how a proper built-to-code deck compares to a cheap handyman job.
Included as standard
Every DC Decking build gets this.
- Free on-site consultation and a detailed, itemized estimate
- Custom design for your yard, grade and how you use the backyard
- Building permits pulled and any HOA approval prepared by us
- Proper footings and code-compliant framing built to the NC residential code
- Your choice of decking — low-maintenance composite or pressure-treated wood
- Railings, stairs and clean structural detailing
- Owner-operated build — Dalton on the job, on schedule, to inspection
- Site cleanup and haul-away of the old deck on a rebuild
- Workmanship warranty plus registered manufacturer material warranties
Optional upgrades
Add exactly what you want.
- Screen it in
- Convert an open deck into a screened porch or outdoor room.
- Roof & ceiling
- A covered porch roof with a finished tongue-and-groove or paneled ceiling.
- Deck lighting
- Integrated deck, step and railing lighting for evenings outside.
- Pergola
- A pergola for shade and definition over a patio or seating area.
- Premium composite
- Step up to a higher composite line for color, grain and warranty.
- Built-ins
- Bench seating, planters, a grilling station or storage worked into the design.
Like for like
It's not that we cost more — it's what the cheap option leaves out.
| Feature | Cheap handyman deck | DC Decking standard build | DC Decking premium build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Off a napkin | Custom, drawn to your yard | Custom, drawn to your yard |
| Permit & HOA | You handle it | Pulled & submitted by us | Pulled & submitted by us |
| Framing | Minimum, un-inspected | Built to NC code | Built to NC code |
| Decking | Basic wood | Pressure-treated or composite | Premium composite |
| Railings | Standard wood | Wood, composite or black metal | Composite or black metal |
| Inspection | Skipped | Passed & documented | Passed & documented |
| Warranty | Often none | Workmanship + materials | Workmanship + materials |
Comparison against a typical uninspected handyman deck — no competitor named.
Pricing
Every deck is priced for your backyard.
Because every project is custom — the size, the decking material, the framing and the railings all change the number — we don't publish flat prices. Instead we offer a free, no-obligation consultation and come back with a detailed, itemized estimate built around exactly what you want.
Free consultation
No cost to find out.
Talk through your backyard and how you'd use it, and Dalton will come out, look at the site, and come back with an estimate — no commitment, no pressure.
Detailed & itemized
You see where the money goes.
Estimates are detailed and itemized, with no hidden extras — so expectations are set honestly, from the very first quote.
Want it priced for your backyard?
Every estimate is detailed and itemized, with no hidden extras — you'll know exactly what you're paying for before any board is ordered.