We are deck builders in Eliot, ME and the rest of York County, building new decks and complete replacements in pressure-treated wood, composite or PVC. Each plan starts with your actual lot, entry height, access route and the condition of any existing deck.
Southern Maine Deck Builders plans and builds new decks and complete deck replacements in Eliot, ME, using pressure-treated wood, composite or PVC.
Planning figures are about $80 per square foot for basic pressure-treated work with a $10,000 minimum, about $100-120 per square foot for complex or upgraded work, and a $15,000 minimum for composite, which is quoted per project.
Each project starts with a site visit, a written scope and a check of Eliot's Code Enforcement resources for what applies to the specific parcel.
A deck is often tied to the doors you use most, so the work underneath matters as much as the boards on top. We write down the framing, supports, ledger connection, stairs and rails before any decking is chosen, which gives you one clear scope to compare against other quotes and to discuss with the town.
Our work follows three paths: a new pressure-treated wood deck, a composite or PVC surface, or full removal and rebuild of a deck that has reached its limit. Each one changes upkeep and budget.
Pressure-treated lumber is the most direct route to a sturdy, practical deck, and it carries our lowest planning figure. Treated framing also sits under most composite and PVC surfaces, so the structural choices stay similar.
The tradeoff is care: wood moves as it wets and dries, may check or cup over time, and needs periodic cleaning and a stain or sealer on a schedule you can keep. We talk through that upkeep before you commit.
Composite and PVC boards skip the staining cycle and have a more uniform look, which suits owners who would rather wash a deck than refinish it. Our composite projects start at a $15,000 minimum.
They still need cleaning, and darker boards can get warm in full sun. We build to the current documentation for the exact boards you select, matching the gaps and fastenings to that product.
Its care instructions guide cleaning after installation.
Some decks are better removed than patched. Soft framing, a ledger without clear flashing, loose rails or stairs that never fit the doors well are all reasons to price a full tear-off and rebuild.
We do not judge an unseen deck from photos. At the site visit we look at what is exposed, note what can only be confirmed during demolition, and write the replacement scope so the new layout, material and connections are all spelled out.
We keep our work to three kinds of deck projects in Eliot and across Cumberland and York counties. Each one starts with a site review and a written scope you can compare.
Where a deck attaches to the house, we look at the rim, sheathing and existing flashing, then plan how water sheds away from that joint before the new ledger is fastened.
Clips, screws and connectors have to match the decking line and the treated lumber they touch. We follow the selected manufacturer's instructions so hardware, spacing and board ends are installed as specified.
The step from your threshold to the deck surface should feel natural and leave room for the door to swing and for boards to move with the seasons. We set that height during framing.
We visit the property to measure the house wall, door heights, existing deck and the yard where the new structure will sit, and we walk the route materials will take. You then receive a written scope and quote that names the material, layout, stairs, rails and any demolition.
Once any required permit and the scope are settled, we set footings, attach and flash any ledger, and build the beams and joists that carry the deck. Framing stays open until connections, spacing and hardware are checked, so the hidden structure is right before any decking covers it.
We install the decking, stairs and rails, then clear construction debris and leftover materials from the work area and yard. Together we walk the finished deck against the written scope, check the door transition and railings, and go over the cleaning and care the chosen material needs.
Support locations and sizes depend on the deck's loads, span layout and what we find in the ground at your property. We confirm the design against current town requirements before any holes are dug.
Rain off the roof and the yard should move away from the house and the footings. We also look at clearance under the deck so framing can dry between storms.
Lumber deliveries, a dumpster for tear-off and the path to your backyard all need room. We note gates, septic areas, slopes, trees and shared driveways that change how materials reach the work area.
Every Eliot parcel is different, so we start with the lot itself. We look at slope, where the deck meets the house, how high the main door sits, what the existing deck rests on and how crews and materials will reach the yard.
Local rules come from the town. The Eliot official permit and code information page links to the online permitting system and to ordinance resources on setbacks and lot standards, and we confirm with the Code Enforcement Office what applies to your parcel before construction.
The American Wood Council deck resources cover general wood deck construction guidance, and Trex installation downloads apply only if you choose that product. Neither organization reviews or endorses our work.
Your written scope records the layout and selected materials, with connection details and the references that apply.
Our owner, Adam Bennett, plans our Eliot deck projects with a carpenter's interest in the supporting structure. He checks how the frame connects to the house and bears on its footings, with care for clean joinery.
Southern Maine Deck Builders is A Seth's Home Pros Company, and that parent is a referral business that does not supervise, perform or guarantee construction.
We build decks in Eliot and in all 57 towns across Cumberland and York counties, including island communities where access and scheduling need a property review first. Our service areas page lists each town, and our business address is 106 Lafayette Street, Suite 1D, Yarmouth, ME 04096.
Eliot homeowners should start deck planning well before they hope to use the deck, since measurements, material choice and any town review all take time. We do not promise a universal start date, and we set a realistic schedule after the site visit, once scope, permits and material availability are known.
Guards go where the drop from the deck calls for them, and the layout should keep views open from your favorite seat. We plan post spacing and rail style together with the stair openings.
Stairs should land where you actually walk, toward the driveway, garden or lawn. A longer run may need a landing, and we lay out the route so it does not crowd doors or windows.
Notice where afternoon sun falls on the spot you plan to sit. We bring physical board samples so you can see color and feel surface heat on your own site before choosing.
A deck in Eliot costs about $80 per square foot for basic pressure-treated work with a $10,000 minimum, and about $100-120 per square foot for complex or upgraded work. Composite starts at a $15,000 minimum and is quoted per project, and any minimum overrides area times rate.
| Deck project | Planning figure | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | About $80/sq ft | $10,000 |
| Complex or upgraded work | About $100-120/sq ft | Scope dependent |
| Composite | Project-specific quote | $15,000 |
These are planning figures, not binding quotes, and your written quote follows the site visit.
Send us your address, a few photos of the area and the material you are leaning toward. We will schedule a site visit and prepare a written scope and quote for your Eliot deck.
