Most homeowners calling Hawthorne Deck Builders about a new Deck Construction project have many questions running through their heads. They want to know what a New Deck actually costs, how long the construction process is going to last, and whether the city is going to require permits for Deck Installation. Because Hawthorne Deck Builders is out here building Decks across Hawthorne every week, we decided to lay out the straight answers to the questions people ask us all the time.
Do I actually need a permit to build a deck in Hawthorne?
Yes, you do. If anyone tells you that you can skip the permit for a standard backyard Deck in Hawthorne, run the other way. The City of Hawthorne and Los Angeles County have strict building codes, especially when it comes to setbacks, property lines, and structural load. If you build without a permit, you are going to have a massive headache when you try to sell your house down the road. Hawthorne Deck Builders handles the plans and pulls the permits for you so you do not have to waste your Saturday down at city hall.
How much does a new deck cost these days?
We wish we could give you a flat number, but every yard is different. Right now, most well-built composite Decks in our area are landing somewhere between forty and seventy-five dollars per square foot, all in. If you are going with standard pressure-treated wood, it will be cheaper upfront, but you will pay for it later in maintenance. Size, height, stairs, and how difficult your backyard slope is will all move that needle up or down.
How long is this project going to disrupt my backyard?
For a standard mid-sized Deck—say, four hundred square feet—you are looking at about two to three weeks from the day we break ground to the final sweep-up. Demolition takes a couple of days, framing takes a few more, and decking and railings wrap it up. If we run into weird soil or old concrete footings buried underground from previous patio installs, it might add a day or two. Hawthorne Deck Builders gives you a realistic timeline before we start any work on your Deck Construction project in Hawthorne.
Will the salty ocean air ruin my deck fasteners?
We are only a few miles inland from Manhattan Beach and Redondo here in Hawthorne, and that marine layer rolls in heavy most mornings. That moisture carries salt, which eats cheap steel alive. If a contractor uses standard drywall screws or unapproved nails, your Deck will start rusting out in two years. Hawthorne Deck Builders only uses code-approved, high-grade structural fasteners and hidden fastening systems with maximum corrosion resistance so your Deck frame stays tight for decades.
What is the best decking material for intense sun exposure?
If your backyard gets blasted by the afternoon sun with zero shade, composite boards can get hot under bare feet. Darker boards absorb that heat like a frying pan. If you have kids or dogs running around barefoot, we always steer homeowners toward lighter-colored capped composites with heat-mitigating technology. They stay significantly more comfortable when the summer temps spike across the South Bay.
Do you anchor decks into our local soil or pour concrete?
Hawthorne has a mix of clay and sandy loam depending on exactly where you live near the old aviation sites or closer to El Segundo. Either way, you cannot just slap a Deck post on top of the dirt. Hawthorne Deck Builders digs deep concrete footings that anchor below the settlement line to make sure your Deck does not shift, sink, or wobble when the ground dries out and contracts during our long dry spells.