-
Day 1
You call, we book a visit.
Call or text (865) 500-5933, or use the form. We book a free on-site visit, usually within a week, Monday through Saturday. Send photos of the existing deck or the spot if you have them and we’ll come better prepared.
-
Week 1
The site visit: measure, samples, sketch.
We measure the space, check the grade and where the water goes, look at how the house is built where the ledger will go, and walk through how you want to use the deck. You handle real sample boards in the actual light of your yard. If it’s a resurfacing, we probe the frame and give you a written go or no-go on the spot.
-
Within 48 hours
A written, itemized quote.
One firm number with the board line, railing, stairs, lighting, and permit fees broken out, plus a 3D drawing. Options priced separately so you can add or drop them without a new quote. It’s good for 30 days; composite prices moved 3 to 5 percent last year, so we don’t hold them open forever.
-
Week 2–3
Permit and materials.
We draw the permit set and file with the City of Knoxville or Knox County Codes, whichever your address falls under. Simple residential decks are often approved in one to three business days; covered decks go through plan review and take longer. Boards and railing are ordered as soon as the permit is in hand, since special colors can have lead time.
-
Week 3
Footings, then the first inspection.
We lay out the deck, dig footings to 12 inches below grade at minimum (18 in heavy clay), pour, and set galvanized post bases. The footing inspection happens before any framing. Concrete cures a day or two while we stage lumber.
-
Week 3–4
Frame, flash, tape, second inspection.
Ground-contact posts and beams, joists at 16 inches (12 on diagonals) on galvanized hangers, the ledger through-bolted and flashed with metal, blocking every 4 to 6 feet, and butyl tape on every joist top and beam. Then the framing inspection.
-
Week 4–5
Decking, railing, stairs, lights.
Boards go down with hidden clips at 3/16-inch gaps with a picture-frame border and clean mitered corners. Railing posts bolt through to blocking, then panels, stairs, post caps, and any low-voltage lighting. Composite takes about half again as long to lay as wood, and it shows.
-
Final day
Final inspection and walkthrough.
The inspector closes the permit. We walk the deck with you, hand over the closed permit, the warranty registration for the boards and rail, and our own 5-year workmanship warranty, and haul away every scrap. Then you put the furniture out.