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Guides

What we know about decks in California, written down so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

Four guidesEvery number carries its sourceWritten by a licensed California deck contractor

Start here

  1. Hiring somebody? Check the license first — two minutes, free, and it is the state's own record.
  2. Building stairs or railings? The code numbers are here, each with its section.
  3. Wondering what it costs? Both a new deck and refinishing an old one have their own page of rates.

Everything we have written down

Four guides, each built from numbers we can show you: the state's own record, the text of the code, and our own rates. No national averages, no advice we would not follow ourselves.

How to check a contractor’s license in CaliforniaRead the state record in two minutes, and use it on us.Deck stair and railing code in CaliforniaTen numbers an inspector measures, each with its code section.What it costs to sand and stain a deckOur own labor rates, with what is charged on top.How much a deck costs in the Bay AreaEight combinations of material and ground, with the rate per sq ft.Do you build patios?We do not lay pavers. What we build on that ground instead.

Reading is the easy part. The deck is the hard part.

Tell us the scope, the ZIP and roughly when. If it is a fit you get a written fixed price that does not change mid-job.

Request an estimate Call and book
Free on-site estimate. A pro walks the deck with you and goes through every detail in person.

These pages are information, not legal or code advice. Every figure on them carries its source — the state's license record, the section of the residential code, or our own calculator — so you can verify it yourself. Where a city amends the state code, the building department issuing your permit has the final say.