"A deck isn't square footage.
It's where Saturday mornings happen."
Scroll to learn how we build
147
Decks Built
4.9★
Google Rating
$0
Permit Headaches
25yr
Avg. Lifespan
The wood you choose outlasts the contractor.
Why This Matters
We've rebuilt 31 decks built by other contractors in the last 8 years. In 27 of those cases, the failure wasn't poor construction — it was the wrong material for the homeowner's budget and maintenance habits. This guide exists so that doesn't happen to you.
We went composite after Plank showed us the 25-year math. Three years in — zero maintenance, still looks new.
— Jennifer & Tom Harker, Malvern PA
Material
Upfront Cost
Lifespan
Annual Cost
Best for budget builds. Requires annual sealing. Prone to warping in humid summers.
Maintenance: High
amortized/yr
Our most-recommended option. Fade-resistant, splinter-free, 25-year manufacturer warranty.
Maintenance: Low
amortized/yr
The Rolls-Royce of decking. Naturally insect-resistant. Requires oiling every 2–3 years.
Maintenance: Medium
amortized/yr
Not sure which material is right for your yard?
Describe your space and we'll include a material recommendation in your free estimate.
Every board we've ever laid is still standing.
No renders. No stock photos. Every image is a real Chester County backyard we transformed.
Wraparound Composite
West Chester · 680 sq ft · Trex Transcend · 2024
Elevated PT Pine
Malvern · 320 sq ft · PT Pine · 2024
Ipe Hardwood
Paoli · 440 sq ft · Brazilian Ipe · 2023
Cable Railing System
Phoenixville · 280 sq ft · Composite + Cable · 2025
Pool Surround
Downingtown · 520 sq ft · Fiberon · 2025
Pergola + Deck Combo
Coatesville · 760 sq ft · Cedar + PT · 2024
All projects shown are Chester County, PA · Permit numbers available on request · References provided for any project
How a backyard becomes a living room.
Describe Your Yard
Fill out our simple form — no site visit required for a ballpark number. Tell us what's behind your house and we'll respond within 24 hours.
Chester County averages 3–4 contractor quotes per project. We send yours first.
Site Visit & Design
We measure, photograph, and discuss material options with you in person. You leave with a material sample board and a written scope.
We bring the Trex sample deck. You keep it until you decide.
Permit Filing
We file all Chester County permits under our license. You're never responsible for permit paperwork. We track status and notify you when approved.
We've never had a permit denied. Our drawings are engineered to code.
Build Week
Our crew of 3–4 works Monday through Saturday. You'll receive a photo update each evening. The site is cleaned before we leave every day.
Average build time for 400 sq ft composite: 5 days.
Final Walk + Warranty
We walk every board, every fastener, every railing post with you. Any issue found is corrected on the spot. You receive a 3-year labor warranty in writing.
Manufacturer material warranties (up to 25 years) transfer to you at closing.
Real yards. Real people. Real numbers.
We hosted Thanksgiving outside for the first time in 14 years of owning this house. Twelve people, a turkey fryer, and a fire pit — all on a deck that wasn't there in September.
Karen & Bill Ostrowski
West Chester, PA
520 sq ft composite wraparound, Oct 2024
How We Calculate for Hot Tubs & Gatherings
A standard deck is engineered for 40 lbs per square foot (live load). A 6-person hot tub adds roughly 3,200 lbs when filled — that's 400+ lbs per square foot concentrated in one area.
We engineer hot tub platforms as separate structural elements with dedicated footings, typically 12" diameter concrete piers to frost depth (42" in Chester County). This isn't optional — it's what separates a deck that lasts from a liability.
The Ostrowski deck was designed for a future hot tub even though they didn't order one yet. Costs $600 extra to do it right now. Costs $4,200 to retrofit later.
We were literally afraid to step on the old deck. Plank found rot in three joists the home inspector missed. They rebuilt it in 5 days and the new one feels like standing on a bridge.
Marcus & Diane Fielder
Malvern, PA
310 sq ft PT rebuild, replaced rotted substructure, Jul 2024
The 6 Places Rot Hides (That Inspectors Miss)
Home inspectors are generalists. They look for obvious surface rot and visible structural issues. They rarely probe inside joist pockets, behind ledger boards, or under post bases — which is exactly where water accumulates.
The six places we always check: (1) ledger board behind the house flashing, (2) inside joist hangers where water pools, (3) post bases at concrete contact, (4) where decking overlaps rim joists, (5) stair stringers at ground contact, (6) around any penetrations (electrical conduit, gas lines).
If you're buying a house with an existing deck, ask for a probe test on the ledger before closing. Takes 10 minutes. We'll do it free for any Chester County home sale.
Our realtor said to expect $28,000 more on the listing price. We paid $11,400 for the deck. I've done the math about fifteen times and it still doesn't feel real.
Sandra Kowalski
Phoenixville, PA
440 sq ft composite, cable railing, Apr 2025
The Real Numbers on Deck Value
The National Association of Realtors' Cost vs. Value Report (2024) shows composite deck additions returning 68.2% of cost at resale in the Mid-Atlantic region. But that's the national average — Chester County consistently outperforms it.
Our own data (from 23 clients who sold their homes after a Plank build): average return of 2.4x build cost in added listing price. The highest was 3.1x on a Paoli colonial that went from $620k to $695k after a $24,000 deck and pergola.
The math works because Chester County buyers are suburban families who want outdoor space and don't want to manage a construction project after closing. A finished deck removes an objection.
I asked three contractors about ipe. Two had never installed it. Plank brought samples, showed me the grain patterns, and explained exactly why I'd need to oil it every three years. That honesty sold me.
Robert Ashford
Paoli, PA
380 sq ft ipe, hidden fasteners, Sep 2023
Ipe: The Full Truth (Including the Downsides)
Ipe is the most beautiful and durable decking material available. It's also the most demanding to install and maintain. Here's what no one tells you upfront:
Installation: Ipe is so dense (1.08 specific gravity) that it requires pre-drilling every fastener hole. This adds 30–40% to labor time. Hidden fastener systems require special clips designed for the material's expansion rate.
Maintenance: Ipe left untreated turns silver-gray within 2 years. Some people love this. Most don't. Annual oiling with a penetrating hardwood oil keeps the chocolate-brown color. Skip a year and it takes 2 applications to recover.
Sourcing: We only use FSC-certified ipe from verified sustainable forestry operations. Ask any contractor for their chain-of-custody documentation. If they can't produce it, the wood's provenance is unknown.
The permit process terrified me. Plank handled everything. I signed one form and six weeks later I had a deck. That's it. That was my entire involvement in the paperwork.
Theresa Nguyen
Downingtown, PA
290 sq ft composite, ground-level, Jun 2025
Chester County Deck Permits: What You Actually Need
Any deck over 200 square feet or more than 30 inches above grade requires a building permit in Chester County. This is not optional — an unpermitted deck creates title issues at sale and voids homeowner's insurance for deck-related claims.
What the permit process requires: structural drawings stamped by a licensed engineer, footing depth calculations (42" frost depth), ledger attachment details, and railing specifications (per IBC 2021 code: 36" minimum height, 4" max baluster spacing).
Timeline: Chester County Building & Zoning typically reviews residential deck permits in 10–18 business days. Expedited review is available for $150 and turns around in 5 days.
We file every permit under our contractor license. We've submitted 147 permit applications and have never had one denied on first submission.
They sent us a photo every single evening during the build. My husband works nights and couldn't be home — those photos were the highlight of his day. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare.
Patricia & Glen Moody
Coatesville, PA
610 sq ft composite + pergola, Aug 2024
What Happens on Your Property During Build Week
Build week is the part most homeowners are most anxious about. Here's exactly what happens:
Day 1: Footing excavation and concrete pour. Crew of 3-4 arrives at 7:30am. Concrete cures 48–72 hours (we work around it). Site is cleaned and materials staged.
Days 2–3: Framing — ledger attachment, beam installation, joist layout. This is the structural skeleton. By end of Day 3, you can see the shape of your deck.
Days 4–5: Decking installation and railing posts. Composite decking goes fast. Hidden fasteners take longer but eliminate visible screws.
Day 6: Railing infill, stair construction, final fastening. Day 7 (if needed): Punch list and final inspection.
Every evening: photo update via text. Every morning: crew on site by 7:30am. Every day: site cleaned before departure.
By now, you know enough to describe exactly what you want.
No site visit required for a ballpark number. Takes 3 minutes. We respond within 24 hours with a range and a list of questions — no commitment, no sales call unless you want one.
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Free PDF Download
Homeowner's Deck Planning Checklist
12 questions to ask any deck contractor before signing anything — including questions most homeowners don't know to ask about permits, footings, and warranties.
Why Homeowners Choose Plank
147 decks built in Chester County since 2011
We file every permit — you sign one form
4.9 stars on Google · 89 reviews
3-year labor warranty in writing
References available for any project we've built
Prefer to talk?
(610) 555-0182
Mon–Sat, 7am–6pm