Deck builders in Appleton and the Fox Cities

Three steps

1. Reach out

   Call or send the form with your address and a quick description of the deck.

2. Get matched

   We hand your request to an independent builder who works in your community.

3. Meet the builder

   They contact you, look at the yard or the old deck, and give you their own estimate.

Who calls this number?

Homeowners in Appleton and the surrounding Fox Cities who want a deck built, repaired, rebuilt, re-railed or roofed over. Appleton is the Outagamie County seat and had 75,644 residents at the 2020 census, with small parts of the city in Calumet and Winnebago counties. It grew up along the Fox River as a paper town, starting with its first mill in 1853, and its housing reflects that: older homes on narrow lots near downtown and Lawrence University, mid-century neighborhoods on land annexed in the 1940s and 1950s, and newer subdivisions in Grand Chute, Greenville and around Little Chute and Kaukauna.

What can a Fox Cities deck builder help with?

• A new deck. Attached or freestanding, single-level or stepped, framed in treated lumber on footings that reach below frost. New decks.
• Composite or PVC boards. A surface that won't need staining, on a new frame or a sound old one. Composite decking.
• Repairs and rebuilds. Soft or split boards, joists rotted at the ledger, posts that have heaved, or a full tear-off and rebuild. Deck repair and rebuilding.
• Stairs and railings. New stairs, replacing loose guards, or upgrading to aluminum, composite or cable. Deck stairs and railings.
• A roof or screens. Covered decks and screened rooms on new or existing decks. Covered and screened decks.

Why decks take a beating in the Fox Valley

• Deep frost. Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code requires footings below the frost penetration level or at least 48 inches below adjacent grade, whichever is deeper. Posts on shallow blocks are a common reason older decks tip, sink or lift.
• Long winters. Appleton averages 49.4 inches of snow a year and a January mean of 17.7°F. Snow sits on decks for months, gets shoveled against rails, and melts into the joint between the deck and the house.
• Wet summers. About 33 inches of precipitation a year keeps wood damp. Boards that never dry out, ledgers without flashing and joists without airflow are where rot starts.
• Temperature swings. Appleton has recorded 107°F and −32°F. Wood shrinks and swells through each season, loosening nails and screws over time.

Is your deck telling you something?

• Boards that give underfoot or crumble at the screws
• A railing that moves when you lean on it
• Stairs that shift or slope
• The deck pulling away from the house
• Posts sitting on blocks, or leaning
• Dark, soft wood near the patio door

Do Appleton decks need a permit?

Expect to need one. The City of Appleton's Building Inspections page lists decks among projects that will most likely require a permit, and it says owner-occupants doing their own work still need the same permits a contractor would. Grand Chute's permit table lists building a new deck, patio or screened porch as permit work. One quirk: many homes with an Appleton mailing address are actually in Grand Chute, Greenville, the Town of Appleton or another municipality, and each runs its own permits, so confirm which office covers your address before you apply. The Appleton deck guide has the details.

Who can pull the permit?

In Wisconsin, a contractor needs a Dwelling Contractor certification and must have a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, someone who has completed at least 12 hours of approved coursework, to obtain a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling. Appleton's inspections office tells homeowners to ask for a contractor's state registration number and to make sure permits were pulled and inspections completed.

Treated wood or composite in this climate?

Treated pine is the budget choice and it's easy to repair, but in a wet, snowy climate it needs regular cleaning and sealing, and boards can split and cup. Composite and PVC cost more at the start and don't need sealing, which is why many Fox Cities homeowners switch when an old deck is due for new boards. Either way the frame below is treated lumber, and a long-lasting deck depends on flashing the ledger, protecting joist tops and leaving room for air underneath.

Is this a deck company?

No. Appleton Deck Builder is a referral service. We pass your request to an independent builder who works in your community, and that builder handles everything from the estimate to the warranty. See how it works.

Communities we cover

• Appleton
• Grand Chute
• Greenville
• Little Chute
• Kaukauna

Doing some homework first? Read the Appleton deck guide.