Deck building and repair in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you want built, or what's wrong with the deck you have now.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent deck builder that serves Eau Claire and nearby towns.

3. They call you back

   The builder comes out, measures, and quotes the work with you directly.

Who is this site for?

Homeowners in Eau Claire, Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Lake Hallie and the towns around them who want a new deck, need an old one fixed or replaced, want stairs and railings they can trust, or want a screened porch for summer evenings. Eau Claire is the largest city in the Chippewa Valley, with 69,421 people at the 2020 census, and its housing runs from century-old homes in the Third Ward and Randall Park to ranch houses from the postwar decades and new subdivisions on the edges of town. Each of those comes with its own deck questions.

What can a deck builder do for you?

• Build a new deck. Treated-lumber framing on frost-depth footings, with wood or composite boards on top, from a small landing at the back door to a two-level deck off a walkout. More on new decks.
• Put down composite or PVC. Boards that don't need staining, on a new frame or, in some cases, a sound existing one. More on composite decking.
• Repair or replace a worn deck. Swap soft boards, fix a sagging beam or a ledger that's letting go, or tear the old deck off and start over. More on repair and replacement.
• Rebuild railings and stairs. Guards and stair runs that meet Wisconsin's deck rules and stay tight. More on railings and stairs.
• Add a screened porch or roof. Turn part of a deck into a bug-free room, or cover it so it's usable in the rain. More on screened porches.

Why do decks wear out so fast here?

Short answer: water and cold. Eau Claire's January average is about 14°F, its recorded low is −45°F, and it gets around 55 inches of snow in a typical winter. Here's what that does to a deck over the years:

• Frost heave. Frozen soil expands. Footings that stop short of frost depth, or posts sitting on precast blocks, get lifted unevenly, and the deck starts to tilt, rack or pull off the house. Wisconsin's deck code calls for footings below the frost line or at least 48 inches below finished grade.
• Snow that sits for months. Snow piled on a deck melts a little every sunny afternoon and soaks into board ends, joist tops and the space behind the ledger. That slow soak is what rots decks from the inside.
• Freeze-thaw cycles. Water that gets into checks in the wood freezes, widens the crack and lets more water in next time. Fasteners loosen the same way.
• Humid summers. July averages about 72°F, and around 33 inches of precipitation falls in a year. Shaded decks near trees or the river can stay damp, grow mildew and turn slippery.

How do you know a deck needs attention?

• Boards that flex, feel spongy, or break when you push a screwdriver into them
• A railing post that moves when you lean on it
• Stairs that wobble or have a gap where they meet the deck
• A deck that slopes or has dropped on one corner after winter
• A gap opening up between the ledger board and the house
• Rust on joist hangers, or nails and screws working loose
• Dark, soft wood around the posts or where the deck meets the siding

Do you need a permit for a deck in Eau Claire?

Most likely. A deck attached to the house is generally treated as an addition, and in Wisconsin a contractor needs a state Dwelling Contractor certification to pull a permit for work on a one- or two-family home. Inside city limits, permits go through the City of Eau Claire Inspections Division, which applies the state's deck code and schedules separate inspections, including one for the footings before concrete goes in. Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie and many surrounding towns have their own inspectors. The Eau Claire deck guide explains the rules and what to ask.

Wood or composite for a Wisconsin deck?

Either can last, if the frame is built right. Treated wood costs less to start and is easy to repair, but in this climate expect to clean and seal it on a regular schedule. Composite and PVC boards cost more but don't need stain, and they don't split the way weathered wood does. Both sit on treated lumber framing, so the footings, ledger and joists matter as much as the surface. Ask the builder to explain the difference for a north-facing deck under trees versus a sunny one out in the open.

When should you call a deck builder?

Earlier than you think. Footings can't be dug in frozen ground, so most deck building in the Chippewa Valley happens between spring thaw and the hard freeze in late fall. Permits in Eau Claire can take a few weeks to issue, and builders' calendars fill up quickly once the snow melts. Calling in winter gives time for design, material choices and the permit, so the crew can start when the ground is ready.

Are you a deck company?

No. Eau Claire Deck Builders is a referral service. We pass your call to an independent builder who serves your address, and that builder designs, prices, builds and warranties the work. Read our tips for hiring a deck builder before you sign a contract.

Areas we cover

• Eau Claire
• Altoona
• Chippewa Falls
• Menomonie

Planning ahead? Read our Eau Claire deck guide.