You are probably dreaming of a new wooden deck, a perfect place to enjoy those Colorado sunsets right here in Lakewood. That is a great idea. A well-built deck adds much to your home. We have seen many people make common mistakes that turn that dream into a problem. As someone who builds these structures for a living at Superior Decks & Pergolas, we want to share what to watch out for. This will help you avoid regretting your project.
Ignoring Lakewood's Unique Climate and Soil
This is an important point, and it is specific to us here on the Front Range. You cannot build a deck in Lakewood like you would in, for example, Florida. We have intense UV exposure at our altitude. We also have heavy snow loads. The temperature swings can go from freezing to scorching in a single day. These conditions put a lot of stress on outdoor structures in Lakewood.
- Footing Depth: Our freeze-thaw cycles mean footings need to be deep enough to get below the frost line. This is typically 36 inches in most of Colorado. If the footings are not deep enough, the deck will heave and settle. This loosens connections and damages the whole structure.
- Expansive Clay Soils: Many areas around Denver, including parts of Lakewood, have expansive clay soils. These soils swell when they are wet and shrink when they are dry. If your footings are not designed to handle this, you will have problems later. You might need deeper excavations or pier systems. These systems isolate the structure from soil movement.
- Wind Loads: If you are west of Kipling Street, closer to the foothills, your deck needs to be engineered for serious wind loads. This means up to 155 mph. Do not cut corners on this. A strong gust can cause real damage to a deck in Lakewood.
- Material Choices: The sun here in Lakewood is very strong. It degrades materials faster. Pressure-treated wood is common, but it needs regular staining or sealing. Composite decking is a good low-maintenance option. It stands up well to our weather in Lakewood.
Skipping the Permit Process or Letting Your Contractor Do It
Superior Decks & Pergolas wants to stress this point: you almost always need a permit for a new deck or for big deck modifications in Lakewood. Any deck attached to your home or elevated more than 30 inches above the ground needs a permit. Some people think it is just paperwork. However, permits are there to make sure your deck is safe and meets local codes. Skipping the permit can lead to fines. It can also mean having to tear down your new deck. Or it can cause big problems when you try to sell your home in Lakewood.
Your contractor should handle the permit application. They should also make sure everything is correct. If a builder tells you permits are not necessary, or tries to convince you to skip them, that is a very bad sign. The City of Lakewood requires detailed plans. This includes plot plans, deck plans, and section drawings. They will check things like setbacks from property lines. They will also check whether your design can handle snow loads. Superior Decks & Pergolas always makes sure all permits are in order for our Lakewood deck projects.
Hiring the Wrong Contractor or Being Your Own General
We understand that you want to save money. But being your own general contractor on a deck project, especially a complex one, can be a very big job. And hiring the wrong professional can lead to disaster. Here are some things we see that should make you stop and think:
- No License or Insurance: This is a must. Any legitimate contractor in Lakewood needs to be licensed and insured. If they cannot show you proof, you should not work with them. You do not want to be responsible if someone gets hurt or if something goes wrong on your property in Lakewood.
- Demanding Full Payment Upfront: A good contractor will ask for a deposit. However, they will tie payments to project milestones. Someone asking for all of the money before they even start is a very bad sign. Superior Decks & Pergolas structures payments fairly.
- Vague Contracts or Poor Communication: You need a detailed contract. This contract should clearly state the scope of work, the materials, the timeline, and the cost. If they are vague, hard to reach, or do not put things in writing, that is a bad sign. Superior Decks & Pergolas provides clear contracts for all Lakewood deck construction.
- Too-Good-To-Be-True Bids: If one bid is much lower than all the others, be careful. They might be cutting corners on materials, on labor, or even skipping permits. Quality work is not always the cheapest. You do not want a deck that falls apart in a few years in Lakewood.
- Bad Ledger Board Attachment: This is a very important structural detail. The ledger board is what attaches your deck to your house. If it is not flashed correctly or if it is not fastened properly, it is one of the main causes of deck failure. Lakewood explicitly states that ledger boards should not be anchored through brick or masonry veneer. A good builder knows this and will make sure it is done right. Superior Decks & Pergolas always ensures proper ledger board attachment for all our Lakewood deck projects.
- Using Screws for Structural Connections: This might seem like a small detail, but it is important. Screws are not meant for structural connections in deck framing. Joist hangers need to be nailed with the correct hanger nails.
Not Thinking About Maintenance Down the Road
A deck is not a structure that you can build and then forget about it.
You are probably dreaming of a new wooden deck, a perfect place to enjoy those Colorado sunsets right here in Lakewood. That is a great idea. A well-built deck adds much to your home. We have seen many people make common mistakes that turn that dream into a problem. As someone who builds these structures for a living at Superior Decks & Pergolas, we want to share what to watch out for. This will help you avoid regretting your project.
Ignoring Lakewood's Unique Climate and Soil
This is an important point, and it is specific to us here on the Front Range. You cannot build a deck in Lakewood like you would in, for example, Florida. We have intense UV exposure at our altitude. We also have heavy snow loads. The temperature swings can go from freezing to scorching in a single day. These conditions put a lot of stress on outdoor structures in Lakewood.
- Footing Depth: Our freeze-thaw cycles mean footings need to be deep enough to get below the frost line. This is typically 36 inches in most of Colorado. If the footings are not deep enough, the deck will heave and settle. This loosens connections and damages the whole structure.
- Expansive Clay Soils: Many areas around Denver, including parts of Lakewood, have expansive clay soils. These soils swell when they are wet and shrink when they are dry. If your footings are not designed to handle this, you will have problems later. You might need deeper excavations or pier systems. These systems isolate the structure from soil movement.
- Wind Loads: If you are west of Kipling Street, closer to the foothills, your deck needs to be engineered for serious wind loads. This means up to 155 mph. Do not cut corners on this. A strong gust can cause real damage to a deck in Lakewood.
- Material Choices: The sun here in Lakewood is very strong. It degrades materials faster. Pressure-treated wood is common, but it needs regular staining or sealing. Composite decking is a good low-maintenance option. It stands up well to our weather in Lakewood.
Skipping the Permit Process or Letting Your Contractor Do It
Superior Decks & Pergolas wants to stress this point: you almost always need a permit for a new deck or for big deck modifications in Lakewood. Any deck attached to your home or elevated more than 30 inches above the ground needs a permit. Some people think it is just paperwork. However, permits are there to make sure your deck is safe and meets local codes. Skipping the permit can lead to fines. It can also mean having to tear down your new deck. Or it can cause big problems when you try to sell your home in Lakewood.
Your contractor should handle the permit application. They should also make sure everything is correct. If a builder tells you permits are not necessary, or tries to convince you to skip them, that is a very bad sign. The City of Lakewood requires detailed plans. This includes plot plans, deck plans, and section drawings. They will check things like setbacks from property lines. They will also check whether your design can handle snow loads. Superior Decks & Pergolas always makes sure all permits are in order for our Lakewood deck projects.
Hiring the Wrong Contractor or Being Your Own General
We understand that you want to save money. But being your own general contractor on a deck project, especially a complex one, can be a very big job. And hiring the wrong professional can lead to disaster. Here are some things we see that should make you stop and think:
- No License or Insurance: This is a must. Any legitimate contractor in Lakewood needs to be licensed and insured. If they cannot show you proof, you should not work with them. You do not want to be responsible if someone gets hurt or if something goes wrong on your property in Lakewood.
- Demanding Full Payment Upfront: A good contractor will ask for a deposit. However, they will tie payments to project milestones. Someone asking for all of the money before they even start is a very bad sign. Superior Decks & Pergolas structures payments fairly.
- Vague Contracts or Poor Communication: You need a detailed contract. This contract should clearly state the scope of work, the materials, the timeline, and the cost. If they are vague, hard to reach, or do not put things in writing, that is a bad sign. Superior Decks & Pergolas provides clear contracts for all Lakewood deck construction.
- Too-Good-To-Be-True Bids: If one bid is much lower than all the others, be careful. They might be cutting corners on materials, on labor, or even skipping permits. Quality work is not always the cheapest. You do not want a deck that falls apart in a few years in Lakewood.
- Bad Ledger Board Attachment: This is a very important structural detail. The ledger board is what attaches your deck to your house. If it is not flashed correctly or if it is not fastened properly, it is one of the main causes of deck failure. Lakewood explicitly states that ledger boards should not be anchored through brick or masonry veneer. A good builder knows this and will make sure it is done right. Superior Decks & Pergolas always ensures proper ledger board attachment for all our Lakewood deck projects.
- Using Screws for Structural Connections: This might seem like a small detail, but it is important. Screws are not meant for structural connections in deck framing. Joist hangers need to be nailed with the correct hanger nails.
Not Thinking About Maintenance Down the Road
A deck is not a structure that you can build and then forget about it.