Deck Builders in Tempe, AZ

Deck Builders in Tempe is where our name comes from, and Tempe is our home base. Tempe is a compact place: the Census puts its land area at 39.94 square miles, and Wikipedia describes it as "the landlocked city," boxed in by its neighbors. With no open edge to grow into, most homeowners here improve what they already have rather than moving out to a bigger lot. A new deck, a shaded patio or a rebuilt set of stairs is often the most practical way to add usable space to a Tempe house.

Two very different Tempes

North Tempe is dense. Arizona State University's main campus and the Valley Metro line have pulled apartments, offices and high-rises toward Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake. South Tempe is a different picture: Wikipedia notes it is less dense, with single-family homes, strip malls and lower-density office parks. Most of our residential deck and patio cover work happens in those single-family neighborhoods, where back yards are big enough for a raised composite platform, a freestanding pergola over a seating area, or a cover that extends shade off the back of the house.

Owners, landlords and long-term plans

Tempe has more renters than most Valley cities. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 show 42.3% of housing units owner-occupied, and 74.4% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. That shapes the work. Owners planning to stay often ask for composite decking and powder-coated or aluminum railings because they want low upkeep for years. Landlords with rental houses near campus more often ask us to repair stairs, replace loose or cracked boards, and restain wood so the property stays safe and presentable between tenants. Both are jobs we take on, and we will tell you plainly which approach fits the house and your timeline.

What we build in Tempe

• Composite deck building with boards and colors chosen for full sun, plus hidden fasteners and proper joist spacing
• Wood deck building for homeowners who want the look of natural lumber and are willing to reseal it on a schedule
• Deck repair and replacement, from a few failed boards to tearing out a weathered deck down to the footings
• Covered decks and pergolas that put shade where you actually sit in the afternoon
• Deck railings and stairs, including replacing wobbly rails and rebuilding steps that have shifted
• Deck staining and sealing to protect existing wood from UV and dry heat

Designing for a 105-degree July

Tempe's 1991 to 2020 climate normals show mean daily highs of 103.7 degrees in June, 105.9 in July and 104.8 in August, with a record high of 119. A bare deck in that sun is a surface you avoid from late morning until evening. That is why so many Tempe projects pair the deck with shade: a solid patio cover, a slatted pergola, or a mix of the two. We look at which way the back of the house faces, where the afternoon sun lands, and whether lighter-colored boards make sense, because darker decking in direct summer sun gets uncomfortable underfoot. Wood needs a sealer that stands up to UV, and we plan finish schedules around that reality.

Monsoon rain and wind

Rain is scarce here, about 8.80 inches a year on average, but it arrives unevenly. August is the wettest month at 1.30 inches, and July brings about an inch as summer storms roll through with gusty wind. A pergola or patio cover has to be tied down from rafter to beam to post to footing, and a deck needs water to drain away from the house rather than pond against the stem wall. Those details go into the drawings from the start.

Permits for patio covers in Tempe

The City of Tempe's Residential Patio Cover Addition handout states that the Tempe Administrative Code requires a building permit before erecting a building addition, permanent or temporary. The submittal calls for two sets of plans: a dimensioned site plan showing the cover's location, size and setbacks to property lines, the house and any pool; a foundation plan with footing sizes and reinforcing; sections and connection details; and a roof framing plan. Plans must be prepared by an Arizona-registered architect or engineer for things like beam spans over 20 feet or manufactured trusses. Setbacks and lot coverage come from the Zoning and Development Code, and a use permit may be needed if a cover encroaches into a required setback. We prepare drawings with those items in mind and walk you through what the city will ask for.

Older neighborhoods and historic review

Tempe's Historic Preservation Office describes the Maple Ash neighborhood, made up of the Gage Addition (1909), Park Tract (1924) and College View (1945), as holding the largest concentration of historic resources in the city. If your home is individually listed or sits in a designated historic district, the city's design review page explains that exterior work may need a Certificate of Appropriateness, while minor work such as rear patios and patio covers can often get a Certificate of No Effect issued over the counter. The city states there is no cost to property owners for this review. We help you check your property's status before drawings are finalized.

Free estimates in Tempe

Call (480) 428-2835 or request an estimate online. We measure the yard, talk through how you use the space, and give you a written quote that lists materials, dimensions and the permit steps involved.

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