Deck Builders in Mercer Island, WA
Seattle’s Custom Deck Builders
Composite deck builders working Mercer Island, Bellevue, and the rest of the Eastside. We build new decks, handle deck resurfacing, and install Trex, TimberTech, Apex, and Deckorators boards. Material warranties run 25 to 50 years. Our labor warranty is three years. Washington State Licensed Contractor #STARCCW791L5.
About Star Construction WA
We’re a Mercer Island deck company that also builds across Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Seattle, and the wider Eastside. Most of what we do on the island is composite decks, with deck resurfacing and deck repair making up the rest. On top of that we handle acrylic patio covers, motorized louvered pergolas, retractable awnings, and sunroom and balcony glazing.
The wet weather on the island is rough on wood. Cedar and pressure-treated boards split, warp, and grey out fast, especially on the south-facing slopes where the sun cooks the boards and the rain refuses to quit. Composite handles all of that without staining or sealing every other year. That’s why we lean on Trex, TimberTech, and Deckorators for almost every Mercer Island build.
We’re locally owned, fully licensed, and fully insured. Main office is in Bothell at 2220 164th Pl SE, about 30 minutes from the island. Washington State Licensed Contractor #STARCCW791L5.
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New decks, Resurfacing, and Louvered Pergolas on Mercer Island
Deck Installation
From framing to finishing, we build durable decks using composite or wood. Most Mercer Island deck installation jobs we take on are composite, but if you want cedar or Ipe we’ll build it.
Deck Replacement
If the boards and railings have failed but the framing is still solid, full deck replacement isn’t always the answer. We assess the structure first. If the joists, beams, and posts are still good, we replace just the surface (see resurfacing below) and save you a chunk of money. If the framing is rotted, we tear it out and rebuild from the footings.
Deck Repair
Popped fasteners, soft spots, a railing that flexes when you lean on it, rusted post bases on a waterfront deck. All fixable. We do deck repair as a standalone service, not just as part of bigger builds.
Deck Resurfacing
Resurfacing means we keep your existing frame and swap the boards and railings. On Mercer Island it usually runs 30 to 50 percent less than a full rebuild. More on this below.
Porch Construction
Front porch, side porch, covered entry. We design it to match the house and build it to last.
Motorized Louvered Pergola
Louvered pergolas turn a deck into a year-round outdoor room. Open them when the sun’s out, close them when the rain rolls in off the lake.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Step 1: Request a Free Quote
The first step in getting your decking in Seattle is to give us a call or to submit the Request a Quote Form for us to send a quote. We ensure to provide you with all the details needed for the process to start.
Step 2: Accept Our Quote
Once the quote has been discussed, we will give you a chance to accept our quote for your decking in Seattle. This way, you can avoid any surprises along the way.
Step 3: Choose a Design
The next step is to choose your deck design that matches your home, preferences, and style. We are one of the decking companies in the area that will help you find the right design!
Step 4: Enjoy Your Dream Decking
Lastly, enjoy your decking in Seattle. You can expect the highest quality of result with our company, turning your ideas into reality. We have got your back!
Deck Resurfacing on Mercer Island
If the frame is solid and the boards are the problem, you don’t need a full rebuild. Resurfacing means we swap the boards and railings on top of your existing structure. It usually runs 30 to 50 percent cheaper than starting from scratch.
That’s what most people are really after when they search “composite deck builders near me” or “deck resurfacing Mercer Island.” Decks built in the last 20 years almost always have pressure-treated framing underneath, and that framing outlives the surface by a wide margin. Put new composite on top and the deck looks new. No demo. No permit hassle on the same footprint. No month of construction noise.
We check the frame before anything else. If it’s good, we pull the old boards and rails, replace any joists that have gone soft, redo the ledger flashing if it needs it, and put down new composite and railings. If the frame is too far gone to save, we’ll tell you. We don’t resurface decks that should be rebuilt.
Reasons Mercer Island homeowners call us for resurfacing:
- Cedar or pressure-treated boards that split or cupped after a few wet winters
- Faded, sun-bleached sections on the west-facing decks looking at the lake
- Popped nails, rusted screws, soft spots underfoot
- Tired of staining and sealing every other summer
- Want a new look without pulling a permit
Timeline is 3 to 7 days for most jobs. Longer if the railings get complicated. Pricing on Mercer Island usually lands between $10,000 and $30,000 for materials and labor. Waterfront and steep-slope jobs run higher because of access.
Deck Railing Installation on Mercer Island
Railings do two jobs: they keep people on the deck and they set the look of the whole thing. On Mercer Island, a lot of the houses we work on are Northwest modern or contemporary, and the wrong railing can date a beautiful deck fast. We install aluminum, cable, glass, and composite railings. For waterfront decks, glass panels keep the lake view open. For wooded lots, black aluminum stays minimal. We also handle the code side. On Mercer Island, railings on decks more than 30 inches off the ground have to hit the current 42-inch minimum and meet the four-inch sphere rule.
Why Homeowners on Mercer Island Hire Us
We’re a Mercer Island deck company with an in-house crew. We don’t subcontract the build to a different company than the one that sold you the quote. We’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured in Washington. Most of our work as a custom deck builder on Mercer Island is composite, but cedar and Ipe builds are part of what we do as well.
Verify our license on the Washington Department of Labor and Industries contractor lookup. Our number is #STARCCW791L5. Worth doing with any contractor before you sign.
Composite vs. Wood Decks on Mercer Island
Most of the decks we build on the island are composite, and the climate is the reason. Deckorators and TimberTech make their boards from wood-plastic blends and pure PVC designed for moisture and freeze-thaw. Warranties run 25 to 30 years. Mercer Island gets the same wet pattern as the rest of central Puget Sound, over 150 rain days a year, so that warranty matters.
Look at the cost over a decade and the math flips on you. A cedar deck looks great the first year. After that, you’re sanding, staining, and sealing every 18 to 24 months at roughly $1,200 to $1,800 a cycle. Add in the board replacements and the repairs, and ten years in, the “cheaper” wood deck has usually cost more than composite. That’s not counting the weekends you spent doing it.
Resale matters too. Buyers on Mercer Island ask about the deck during inspection. A warped or rotting wood deck becomes something they negotiate down. Composite still looks fine six months into a listing.
That said, cedar and Ipe still have a place. If your house is older, or the design calls for a wood grain that composite can’t match, we’ll build it in wood. We’ve done cedar deck builds on Mercer Island for traditional craftsman remodels, and we install Ipe and other hardwoods when the budget allows.
| Composite Decking | Conventional Wood Decking | |
| Durability: | Extremely resilient; withstands weather, moisture, pests, splitting, and warping. | Susceptible to environmental damage, insects, and splitting; prone to warping. |
| Maintenance: | Minimal upkeep; no need for sanding, staining, or sealing. | Needs regular refinishing, staining, and protective treatments. |
| Appearance: | Contemporary design with uniform, varied colors resembling real wood. | Classic natural look, but requires care to maintain beauty. |
| Safety: | Scratch-resistant, moisture-resistant, pest-resistant; splinter-free; safer for families. | May splinter, rot, and attract insects; less safe underfoot. |
| Environmental Impact: | Produced using sustainable materials. | Maintenance often involves chemical stains and sealants. |
| Lifespan & Warranty: | Typically lasts 25–50 years. | Generally lasts 10–20 years. |
Trex, TimberTech, and other brands we install on Mercer Island
We’re a Trex deck installer Mercer Island homeowners have used for waterfront and elevated builds. We also install TimberTech, often when a client specifically wants the PVC line, which holds up best in the wettest spots near the lake. Deckorators (mineral-based composite, minimal expansion in temperature swings) and Apex round out what we stock.
For waterfront projects specifically, our default recommendation is TimberTech’s AZEK PVC. The boards are fully encapsulated, so moisture from the lake side doesn’t get into the core. For wooded inland lots, Trex Transcend is usually the call.
Waterfront, second-story, and elevated decks on Mercer Island
A big share of our work on the island is on lots where the deck has to deal with something other than a flat backyard. Three patterns we see most:
Waterfront decks. Shoreline jobs come with City of Mercer Island shoreline setback requirements that are separate from the standard residential permitting process. We work with the city on the permit side and design around the setback line. For lake-facing edges, we usually spec PVC boards, stainless or hot-dip galvanized fasteners, and powder-coated aluminum framing details. Homeowners looking for a waterfront deck builder on Mercer Island should expect a longer project timeline because of the permit process.
Second-story decks. Building a second-story deck on Mercer Island means thinking about lateral loads, ledger attachment, and post-to-beam connections more carefully than a ground-level builder has to. We’ve built two-story projects that cantilever over walkout basements and slope grades. The framing under those decks gets over-spec’d, not just code minimum.
Elevated and raised decks. Hillside lots are common on the island. An elevated deck on a Mercer Island lot might sit 10 to 15 feet off grade with posts running into helical piers or footings drilled into bedrock. We handle the engineering coordination on those.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a composite deck cost on Mercer Island?
Most composite builds on the island run $45 to $90 per square foot installed. The range comes down to the board grade, the railing, how high the deck sits off the ground, and access to the site. Waterfront lots and steep slopes push the upper end. A 300-square-foot Trex deck with aluminum railings on a relatively accessible lot usually lands in the $16,000 to $25,000 range. Resurfacing costs less because we reuse the existing frame.
How long will a composite deck last on Mercer Island?
Twenty-five to fifty years if it’s installed right. The wet climate is harder on wood than it is on composite, which is part of why we lean on it. When we see longevity problems on older Mercer Island decks, it’s almost always in the framing underneath, not the composite surface. That’s why we inspect the frame on every resurfacing call.
Do I need a permit for a deck on Mercer Island?
For new builds, yes. Mercer Island handles its own permits through the City of Mercer Island Community Planning and Development department, not through King County or Seattle DPD. Permits are also required for any deck more than 30 inches off the ground, structural changes, or ledger replacements. Resurfacing on the same footprint usually doesn’t need a permit, though the railing still has to meet current code height. If your job needs one, we pull it.
What about shoreline setbacks for waterfront decks?
Waterfront properties on the island fall under the City of Mercer Island Shoreline Master Program. New construction near the water has setback requirements that vary by lot and shoreline designation. We’ve worked through the process on Lake Washington-facing properties; we’ll handle the pre-application meeting and the design work to fit inside the allowed footprint.
What’s the difference between resurfacing and a full replacement?
Resurfacing keeps the existing frame (joists, posts, beams) and swaps out the boards and railings. A replacement tears the whole thing out and rebuilds from the footings up. If the frame is sound, resurfacing runs 30 to 50 percent less. If the frame is rotted, replacement is the only safe call.
Which composite brand is best for Mercer Island?
Trex, TimberTech, and Deckorators all hold up here. TimberTech’s PVC line (AZEK) is the most moisture-resistant, which matters more the closer you are to the water. Trex Transcend is our most common pick for inland and wooded lots. Deckorators Voyage uses a mineral-based composite that doesn’t expand and contract much with temperature swings. We bring samples to the consultation.
Can you build cedar or Ipe decks?
Yes. Mercer Island residents have hired us for cedar builds on traditional craftsman and older homes where wood is the right call. We also work with Ipe and other tropical hardwoods when the budget supports it. Ipe lasts 40-plus years even in the wet climate, but it costs roughly twice what cedar does.
Are you actually licensed in Washington?
Yes. Licensed, bonded, and insured. Washington State Contractor License #STARCCW791L5. Verify it on the Washington Department of Labor and Industries contractor lookup. Worth doing with any contractor before you sign.
Do you only build on Mercer Island?
No. We cover Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Seattle, Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, Shoreline, Edmonds, and most of King and Snohomish County.
How long does a build actually take?
New deck: 1 to 3 weeks from demo to the last railing post. Resurfacing: 3 to 7 days. Weather and permit timing can push that. We give you a real schedule before we start, not a placeholder.
Recent Projects
Service Areas And Related Services
We build and resurface decks across the Eastside, including Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Sammamish, and Issaquah.
If a deck is part of a bigger outdoor project, look at our motorized louvered pergolas, sunrooms and balcony glazing, and retractable awnings. Plenty of customers combine a new composite deck with a covered pergola or screen room so the space works year-round, not just in July.