Professional Deck Building Services

Any decking gets hot in direct Arizona sun, composite included, and lighter colours run cooler than dark ones. It is a real consideration here and worth designing around rather than ignoring — shade over the deck, colour choice, and where the deck sits relative to afternoon sun all make more practical difference than the material brand does.

In this climate composite avoids the splitting, cupping and annual maintenance that timber demands under sustained ultraviolet and very low humidity, and it does not feed termites. Timber remains a legitimate choice where the look justifies the upkeep, and we will build either — but we will be straight about what maintaining a timber deck here actually involves.

It depends on height, size and whether it is attached to the house, and the thresholds vary by jurisdiction. Attached and raised structures generally require one. We check the local rule rather than applying a rule of thumb, because the answer genuinely differs between a city, a small town and an unincorporated county area.

Composite expands and contracts with temperature more than people expect, and every manufacturer publishes gapping and fastening requirements that exist for exactly that reason. Arizona's daily temperature swing makes following them essential rather than optional. A deck laid tight because it looked neater on installation day is a deck that buckles.

Yes, and in this climate it is frequently what makes a deck actually usable. Pergolas, ramadas and patio covers are work we do routinely, and designing the deck and its shade together produces a better result than adding cover to a deck that was never planned for it.