Most deck problems are decided before the first post is set: a landing that is six inches too small, stairs that dump you into the side yard, a ledger bolted to siding without flashing, a design that never got a permit and surfaces when the house is sold. Alexandria Builders runs a design-and-planning phase on every project in Seattle and the Eastside so the deck you get is the deck you actually wanted — and one the city will sign off on.
What Happens in the Design Phase
1. On-site consultation (free). We walk the yard with you, measure the house, check grade, sun exposure, drainage, and where the doors and windows land. We talk about how you will use the space: dining for eight, a hot tub, a grill station, a quiet corner, kids’ play zone. We look at what is underneath — rock, clay, a septic field, utility lines — because that decides the footing design.
2. Material and budget conversation. We lay out the real cost differences between pressure-treated framing with cedar decking, composite (Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon), PVC, hardwood, and porcelain pavers, and between aluminum, cable, and glass railings. You get numbers, not adjectives.
3. 3D design. For any new deck project we produce a 3D rendering of the deck on your house: levels, stairs, railing style, board direction, lighting, and built-ins. You see it before anything is ordered, and we revise until it is right. This is included at no charge for build projects.
4. Engineering and code check. The deck is designed to the Seattle Residential Code and IRC: 60 psf live load, joist and beam spans sized to the chosen decking, ledger attachment detailed per R507.9 with lateral-load connectors, footing sizes matched to soil and tributary load, 36-inch guards where the deck is more than 30 inches above grade, and stairs with 7¾-inch max risers and 10-inch minimum treads.
5. Fixed written proposal. A line-item scope with named products, a schedule, and a price that does not move unless you change the design or we uncover a hidden condition — which we document with photos before any extra work.
Permits in Seattle and the Eastside
In the City of Seattle, any deck more than 18 inches above the ground needs a construction permit from SDCI — usually a Subject-to-Field-Inspection permit, or a full Addition/Alteration permit if the deck is over 8 feet high, over 750 square feet, has beams 14 feet or longer, or is a rooftop deck. Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, and Renton each have their own thresholds and setback rules. We prepare the site plan and framing drawings, submit the application, and schedule inspections. You never have to visit a permit counter.
Design Features Worth Planning For
- Multi-level decks that step down to the yard instead of a single tall platform with a long stair.
- Built-in benches and planters that double as a guard where the deck is under 30 inches.
- Hot tub framing — a filled spa weighs 4,000–6,000 lbs and needs a dedicated beam and footing layout.
- Covered sections or a pergola so the deck is usable in a Seattle drizzle.
- Hidden fasteners, picture-frame borders, and board direction that make a composite deck look custom instead of a lumber-yard kit.
- Lighting conduit run during framing, so stair and post lights are clean later.
- Drainage — gaps, slope, and under-deck drainage so water never sits against the house.
Already Have Plans?
If an architect or designer has drawn your deck, we will review the drawings for buildability and code compliance, price them, and build to them. If you want a second opinion on a quote from another contractor, we are happy to give one — we have seen enough undersized beams to know what to look for.
Start with a free on-site consultation. Call (425) 866-0594 or book below.