Decks & Outdoor Living

Practical guides to decks, porches and patios built for Carolina weather and North Carolina code. When you're ready to build, see our decks and outdoor living services.

• Composite Versus Pressure-Treated Decks
• Clean No. 67 Stone Beneath Decks: When It Helps and Why It Won't Fix Poor Grading
• Deck Ledger Attachment: Code-Compliant Fasteners, Flashing, and Brick Veneer Rules
• Deck Footing Depth and Sizing: 12-Inch Frost Line vs Punching Shear on Wet Piedmont Clay
• Deck Railing Codes in North Carolina: 36-Inch Height, 4-Inch Sphere Rule, and 200-Pound Guard Load
• Deck Joist Tape (Butyl vs. Asphalt): Does Flashing the Top of Joists Actually Double Lifespan?
• Composite vs. PVC vs. Pressure-Treated Pine: Real Summer Heat, Scratching, and Span Limits
• Screened Porch Flooring: T&G Porch Flooring vs. Deck Boards with Under-Deck Insect Screening