Deck Building in Massachusetts & Connecticut
Composite, PVC and wood decks, from single-level platforms to multi-level builds, framed to last through New England winters. We build them across the South Shore and Connecticut.
Homeowners planning a deck on the South Shore or in Connecticut have to work around New England winters, frost-depth footing rules, and a permit from the town. Sustainable Decks is a locally owned deck builder based in Braintree, building new decks and replacing old ones for homes and businesses across Massachusetts and Connecticut. Most projects use composite decking from Trex and Fiberon, with PVC and pressure-treated wood also available, and the company holds a 5-star rating on Google. Work starts with a free on-site estimate and covers design, permitting, materials, and construction.
From site walk to finished deck
- 01
Site walk and framing plan
We walk the yard, check how the deck meets the house and work out the framing before any material gets ordered.
- 02
Proposal and permit
You get a written proposal with the materials and a real schedule, not a range, and we file the permit under our own license.
- 03
Build
Footings go in below the frost line first. The framing is sized to the deck's span and load, and the boards go down last.
Get Your Free Estimate
Prefer to talk it through? Call (617) 913-4042.
Deck styles we build
New decks off the back of the house in composite, PVC or wood, from a low platform to a raised build with stairs down to the yard.
Decks for multi-family buildings and businesses, engineered to the commercial building code rather than residential span tables.
Stacked levels joined by stairs, so a tall house or a sloped yard gets usable space at every height.
Choosing between composite, PVC and wood
Composite
Wood fiber and recycled plastic, built to resist fading, staining and rot without restaining every few years. It costs more to install than wood, and after that you're mostly just washing it. We install Trex, Fiberon and Deckorators.
PVC
Fully synthetic with no wood fiber at all, which makes it the most moisture-resistant option. It's the better fit for shaded, damp or waterfront yards and around pools, and it costs more than composite. We install Azek.
Pressure-treated wood
The lowest cost up front, and still a solid choice if you don't mind the upkeep. It needs restaining every two to three years to keep moisture out, and we frame it to the same standard as composite or PVC.
What holds a deck up?
The framing underneath does, and it's the part that decides whether a deck still feels solid in year eight. A footing set too shallow or a joist sized too small looks exactly like the right one on the day it's finished. The trouble shows up later, as boards that dip, a deck that moves underfoot or a ledger pulling away from the house. We set footings below the frost line, at least 48 inches down in Massachusetts and 42 in Connecticut, and size every joist and beam to the deck's real span and load. On older houses we check what's behind the wall before the ledger gets bolted to it.
New builds, replacements and repairs
New construction
Platform, raised and multi-level decks, from a single-level platform to a layout with built-in lighting, bench seating and stairs down to a second level. Joists and beams get sized to the actual span and the load the deck will see, not a generic table, and footings go in below frost depth before framing starts. Composite, PVC and wood decking all get installed to the same structural standard. The material changes, but the framing underneath never gets cut short.
Deck replacement
A full tear-off and rebuild when the frame under the old decking has had it: rot, undersized framing, or a ledger attachment that was never right to begin with. We evaluate the existing footings first and reuse only what still meets current depth requirements. A footing that was adequate decades ago doesn't automatically pass today's standard, so new framing goes in sized to the current load, not the original spec.
Repair and resurfacing
Board replacement, fastener repair and railing fixes where the framing underneath is still structurally sound. Stripped screws, failed hidden fasteners and boards that have cupped or split get addressed board by board, not with a blanket recommendation to tear the whole thing out. We don't sell a full rebuild when a targeted repair actually solves the problem, and that call gets made honestly at the site visit.
Framing and railings
Wood, steel, aluminum or composite framing sized to your deck's actual span and load, with wood, composite, cable or aluminum railing systems to match. Railing height and baluster spacing follow current code, not whatever was standard when the house was built, which matters most on a replacement where the old railing wouldn't pass inspection today.
The company behind your deck
Sustainable Decks is a locally owned deck builder with its own crew. We handle your permit, your schedule and the final walkthrough, and we answer for all three.
- TrexPro® Platinum Installer
- TimberTech Gold
- 5.0 Google rating
- 1000+ projects completed
- Licensed and insured
- Locally owned and operated
- Affordable pricing
- Financing available
- Free on-site estimates
Run out of our offices in Braintree, Wellesley and Middletown, CT.
Reviews from our customers
Excellent experience from start to finish! The team was professional, on time, and did an amazing job building our deck. The craftsmanship is top-notch, and everything turned out even better than we expected. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality work and great customer service!
We recently had our deck rebuilt and couldn’t be happier with the results. The team was professional, punctual, and paid attention to every detail from start to finish. The quality of the workmanship is outstanding, and the finished deck looks absolutely amazing. They kept the work area clean, communicated clearly throughout the project, and completed everything on time. I highly recommend this decking company to anyone looking for top-quality work and excellent customer service. Five stars all the way!
Amazing work. Ben's been great to work with on our new deck and it turned out better than my wife and I hoped. We can't wait to move into our new space and start enjoying a bug free outdoor space! If you're thinking about building a screened in porch these guys are great!
We had Sustainable Decks replace our old dilapidated deck and add an extension so it encompassed the entire back of our house. We could not be more IMPRESSED with their work. Ben was hands on from the initial estimate to the completion and walk through. Nick and Chucky were the guys that did all the work and it looks amazing. Also we thought their pricing was incredible. We had several estimates and they came through with the best price and the craftsmanship is awesome. I will be including before and after photos. If you want to get a deck replacement or add a new one THESE ARE THE GUYS TO CALL. Thanks Ben and crew for taking such good care of us and our property. They finished in the time frame promised and their attention to detail is awesome. We will definitely be using them to put a farmers porch on the front of our house next year. You will not be disappointed when you have these guys do work for you.
We had a new composite deck installed with Nick and Chuck doing the work. They worked in the worst heat EVER. Showed up everyday early and did a great job. They even came back on a Saturday to help with some additional questions. Love the lighting at night. They always wanted to make sure we were happy with everything. I'm hoping they can help me with my light post. 🙏 Thank you for our beautiful deck.
Questions people ask about decks
In most towns we work in, yes. A deck attached to the house or built more than 30 inches off grade needs a permit and an inspection. We handle the filing, and the requirement gets confirmed against your specific address before we quote the job.
A standard single-level deck usually runs one to two weeks once material arrives, weather and permit timing aside. Porches, patios and multi-level decks run longer. You get a real schedule in the proposal, not a range.
Pressure-treated wood costs less up front and needs restaining every two to three years. Composite costs more at install, and after that you're mostly just washing it. Over 15 years the math usually favors composite, and we'll run the real numbers for your project.
We do both. Board replacement, stripped fasteners and railing fixes get handled board by board when the framing underneath is still sound, and we won't sell you a full rebuild when a targeted repair solves the problem.
Yes, including decks around pools and hot tubs. PVC is usually the better choice there, because it has no wood fiber to take on water. The deck also gets sloped so water drains off instead of pooling.
Start planning your deck
Send the details over or give us a call, and we'll come out for a free on-site estimate.