Expert Custom
Deck Services

Choosing between wood and composite depends on your budget, aesthetic preference, and how much time you want to spend on maintenance.

Wood Decking (Treated Pine or Cedar):

• Pros: Lower upfront cost, natural look and feel, stays cooler in the direct summer sun.
• Cons: High maintenance. It requires power washing, sanding, and re-staining or sealing every 2 to 3 years to prevent splintering, warping, and rot.

Composite Decking (Trex, TimberTech):

• Pros: Ultra-low maintenance. Never needs sanding, staining, or painting. Highly resistant to fading, stains, scratching, and mold. Lasts 25-50 years.
• Cons: Higher initial investment upfront, and darker colors can get warm on bare feet during peak summer heat.

Pro Tip: Over a 10-year period, the cost of repeatedly staining and maintaining a wood deck often makes a composite deck the cheaper long-term investment.

Yes! This is called deck resurfacing, and it is a fantastic, cost-effective way to upgrade your outdoor space if the underlying structure is still sound.

If you have an old, splintering wood deck, we can remove the top surface boards, stairs, and railings. We then thoroughly inspect the underlying wood framing (joists and posts). If the framing is healthy and meets current building codes, we can install brand-new composite or premium wood boards right over your existing foundation.

Pro Tip: Resurfacing can save you thousands of dollars compared to a complete tear-down and rebuild, while still giving you a brand-new looking deck.

In most municipalities in Lapeer County and the surrounding areas, yes, a building permit is required for a new deck, especially if it is attached to your home or sits higher than 30 inches off the ground.

But don't worry—Michigan Exterior Pros handles the entire permitting process for you. We submit the necessary architectural drawings to your local township or city, schedule the required structural inspections, and ensure the entire build is 100% compliant with local codes.

The timeline for building a deck depends entirely on the size, design complexity, and material availability.

• Simple Replacements/Resurfacing: Can often be completed in 3 to 5 days.
• Standard New Deck Builds: Typically take 1 to 2 weeks from the day construction begins.
• Complex, Multi-Level Decks: Custom builds with extensive stairs, integrated lighting, pergolas, or custom curves can take 2 to 4 weeks.

Pro Tip: The permit approval process (handled by your local government) can sometimes add a few weeks to the start date during the busy spring and summer seasons, so it's always best to book your project early!

We stand behind our craftsmanship and the materials we install to give you total peace of mind.

• Workmanship Warranty: Michigan Exterior Pros provides a robust warranty on our structural labor and construction. If there is an issue with how the deck was built, we will make it right.
• Manufacturer Warranties: If you choose composite decking, you benefit from incredible manufacturer protection. For example, Trex and TimberTech offer 25, 30, and even 50-year fade, stain, and structural warranties on their decking products.