Decks we build in Westwood
Westwood is right next door to our Dedham shop. We're on Westwood projects often enough to know the housing stock cold. The town has some of the most consistent single-family housing in Greater Boston — mid-century ranches, 1960s–70s Colonials, split-levels, and more recent high-end builds along the Dedham line and in the areas near Westwood High School.
Most Westwood lots support decks in the 200–400 square foot range comfortably, with grade that typically steps down one to three steps from the kitchen door. That lot pattern lets us build a straightforward platform deck at kitchen height with a short stair run to the yard — a build that lands in the $20,000–$30,000 range using composite and aluminum railing, and comes out looking clean and intentional.
In the newer construction neighborhoods, clients expect premium materials — composite decking (TimberTech, Trex, Fiberon), aluminum or cable railing, hidden fastener systems, and often an integrated pergola or outdoor kitchen area. In the older Islington and Downey neighborhoods, we see more mix: cedar is popular on wooded lots, PT with white or stained railing works on traditional Colonials.
Westwood permits and inspections
Westwood deck permits are issued by the Westwood Building Department at Town Hall, 50 Carby Street. Westwood's permit process is clean and the department responsive — most residential deck permits are issued within one to two weeks.
Required documents include plot plan, framing diagram, footing specifications, and railing/stair details. Westwood enforces zoning setbacks strictly, including the deck's railing when measuring to the lot line. We check your parcel against the town's zoning map at the design stage.
Westwood's Conservation Commission reviews projects within 100 feet of jurisdictional wetlands or near Buckmaster Pond. Few deck projects trigger this, but when they do we file as part of the permit process.
Three-stage inspection: footings before pour, framing before decking, final. Westwood inspections are generally scheduled within two to three business days.
What makes a Westwood deck different
Westwood lots tend to have mature oak, maple, and pine canopy — more than most towns at this distance from Boston. Shade affects deck material choice: composite colors that look fine on a sunny lot can look muted under heavy shade, and lighter composite colors stain more visibly from falling leaves. We walk through this at the material selection stage.
Westwood also has a slightly higher concentration of homes with existing decks that were built in the 1990s and early 2000s and are now at or past the material life expectancy. Many of our Westwood projects involve removing an existing deck and building new in roughly the same footprint. That changes the sequence (demo, dumpster, inspection of the existing ledger/sill, then rebuild) but not the result.
Materials we use on Westwood decks
Material selection is one of the biggest decisions on any deck project. The three main options we build with in Westwood:
- Pressure-treated pine. The most affordable path to a full deck — typically $30–45 per square foot installed. Needs stain or seal every 1–2 years to prevent gray-out. Properly maintained PT lasts 15–20 years. Good for budget-conscious builds or utility decks.
- Composite decking (TimberTech, Trex, Fiberon). $50–75 per square foot installed. Essentially maintenance-free — no staining, no sealing, no sanding. Resists rot, insects, and UV fade. 25-year warranties standard.
- Cedar or PVC (Azek). Cedar for a natural wood look with better rot resistance than PT. PVC for a wood-grain product that never rots and stays cool underfoot. $65–90 per square foot installed. The finish quality is noticeably better on both.
Underneath all three, we frame with kiln-dried pressure-treated southern yellow pine and galvanized or stainless hardware. Hardware upgrade to stainless is standard practice on any Westwood deck within a few hundred yards of saltwater or in a damp microclimate.
How we actually build it, start to finish
Every project starts with a site walk, not a phone quote. We measure the house wall, check for existing footings, assess grade, decide where the ledger ties in, and talk through what you actually want the deck to do. From there:
- Design and material selection. We put together a plan showing dimensions, framing, railing style, and material. You sign off before we spend time on permits.
- Permit submission. We prepare the plot plan, framing diagram, and material spec, and file at the Westwood building department.
- Footings. Below Massachusetts frost line (48 inches minimum), with a footing inspection before pour.
- Framing. Ledger with proper flashing, beams, joists, blocking. Framing inspection before decking goes down.
- Decking, railings, stairs. Boards installed with concealed fasteners (composite) or face-screwed (PT), stair stringers cut, railings assembled and secured.
- Final inspection and walk-through. You and the inspector both sign off.
A standard 16×14 deck with no complications runs seven to ten working days from ledger to final board, plus permit lead time at the front.
Recent projects
