Premier Construction Services LLC builds composite and wood decks across Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale, Bellingham and Lynden. Trex and TimberTech installation, built to current code, by a licensed and insured Washington general contractor.
Get a Free Deck Estimate Call (360) 296-8213
Composite or Wood? Be Honest About the Climate
A pressure-treated wood deck in Whatcom County is a commitment. Sand it, stain it, seal it, then do it again in two years, and fight moss and mildew the whole time. Some people genuinely enjoy that. Most people discover in year three that they don’t.
Composite decking costs more up front and that is the honest trade-off. What you buy for the difference is your weekends back. Trex and TimberTech boards resist fading, staining, scratching, mold and mildew, and they will not warp, rot or splinter in our wet climate. Over the life of the deck, the maintenance you skip usually closes most of the gap.
We build both. If wood is the right call for your budget or your house, we will tell you so and build it properly.
Trex vs. TimberTech vs. Wood
| Option | Best For | The Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|
| Trex | The most widely recognised composite. Broad colour range, strong warranty, excellent value in the mid tier. | Entry-level lines show more surface scuffing than premium capped products. |
| TimberTech | Premium capped polymer and capped composite. The most convincing wood look in the category and excellent moisture performance. | Highest material cost of the three. |
| Pressure-treated wood | Lowest up-front cost. Easy to repair board by board. Right for rentals, budget builds and large low-use platforms. | Ongoing sanding, staining and sealing. Shorter service life in this climate. |
| Cedar | Natural beauty and a genuinely nice material to stand on. Suits older and traditional homes. | Still needs finishing, and costs have risen sharply. |
Product lines, colours and warranty terms are set by the manufacturer and change over time. We confirm current specifications and warranty coverage in writing on every estimate.
The Part of a Deck Nobody Looks At
Decking boards are the part you see and the least important part of the build. Decks fail at the connections, and when a deck fails it usually fails all at once, with people standing on it.
- The ledger. Where the deck attaches to the house is the single most common point of failure. It has to be fastened with the correct hardware — not nails — and it has to be flashed so water cannot get behind it and rot the rim joist. We have taken off plenty of decks that were nailed to siding.
- Footings and posts. Sized and set below frost depth, with proper post bases. A deck that settles unevenly is a deck that was never supported correctly.
- Guards and railings. Required once the walking surface is far enough above grade, at a set minimum height, with baluster spacing tight enough that a small child cannot pass through. This is the requirement most often missed on DIY and handyman builds.
- Stairs. Consistent riser height and tread depth, graspable handrail, proper stringer support. Inconsistent risers are both a code violation and the way people fall.
- Hardware and fasteners. Near salt air, corrosion resistance is not optional. The wrong fastener will look fine for five years and then quietly let go.
Deck requirements vary by adopted code edition and jurisdiction. We verify current requirements with the City of Blaine or Whatcom County and pull permits on every project that needs one.
What Drives the Price
Height off the ground
A ground-level platform and a second-storey deck are completely different builds. Height drives footing size, post structure, guard requirements and often the permit.
Material
The single biggest lever. Pressure-treated, cedar, capped composite and premium polymer sit at very different price points for the same square footage.
Railing
Often underestimated. Composite, aluminium, cable and glass panel systems vary enormously, and railing can approach the cost of the deck surface on a small deck.
What is already there
Tearing out and disposing of an old deck, and repairing whatever rot is found behind the ledger, is real work. We look before we quote.
Where We Build
Based in Blaine, serving Whatcom County. See our local pages for Blaine, Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden.
- Blaine
- Birch Bay
- Semiahmoo
- Custer
- Ferndale
- Bellingham
- Lynden
- Everson
Common Questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Blaine?
Usually, yes. Most jurisdictions require a permit once a deck reaches a certain height above grade or is attached to the house, and requirements differ between the City of Blaine and Whatcom County for unincorporated areas. We confirm and pull the permit as part of the job. A deck built without one becomes your problem when you sell the house.
Is composite really maintenance free?
Low maintenance, not zero maintenance. You will still sweep it and wash it occasionally. What you will not do is sand, stain or seal it, and that is where the weekends go with a wood deck. Any contractor promising literally zero upkeep is overselling.
Can you rebuild on my existing framing?
Sometimes, and it is a real saving when the answer is yes. But we will not lay new boards over framing that is rotted, undersized or improperly attached — that is putting an expensive surface on a structure that is going to fail. We inspect the framing and ledger first and tell you honestly which way it goes.
When is the best time of year to build?
We build year round here. Booking in late winter or early spring generally means better scheduling and a deck that is finished before the weather you actually want to use it in. Everyone calls in June, which is the worst time to start asking.
How long does a deck take?
Most residential decks are a matter of days on site once material is in hand. Material lead time and permit review are usually the longer part of the calendar, and we give you a realistic date rather than an optimistic one.
Get a Free On-Site Deck Estimate
We will walk the site, check the ledger and framing on any existing deck, talk through materials and railing honestly, and give you a written estimate with a full material list. No pressure and no expiring discounts.
Request My Free Estimate Call (360) 296-8213
Premier Construction Services LLC · 9387 Owl Lane, Blaine, WA 98230 · WA Contractor License #PREMICS799L3
Premier Construction Services LLC is an independent licensed contractor. TREX® and TIMBERTECH® are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Premier Construction Services LLC is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by those manufacturers. Product specifications, warranty terms and code requirements are subject to change — we confirm current details in writing on every estimate.
