Finishing out a newer yard
Barkley is one of Bellingham's newer districts, full of recent townhomes and single-family builds where the house is done but the yard is a blank slate. The calls we get here are about finishing it out: a ground-up deck off the back, full perimeter fencing for the new lot, and usually a question about composite versus wood, because owners of newer homes tend to want low maintenance from the start.
We build all of it. For decks, we'll walk you through composite (Trex, TimberTech, PVC) versus cedar honestly, because in our wet climate composite's no-upkeep, no-splinter trade often makes sense on a newer home, and we install it on a structure with below-frost footings and a flashed ledger. For fencing, full perimeter runs with posts set in concrete and gravel drainage so the whole lot stays plumb. Newer build or not, the wet soil here is the same, and the post setting and footings still have to be right.
What we build in Barkley.
Common projects
Ground-up new decks, low-maintenance composite decks, full perimeter fencing for new lots, and pergolas or covered roofs to finish out a yard.
Permits and inspection
Decks over 30 inches off the ground or attached to the house need a City of Bellingham building permit and inspection. We pull the permit, handle the drawings, and meet the inspector.
Climate considerations
Newer Barkley lots have the same soft, wet soil as the rest of town, so perimeter fence posts still need drained concrete and decks still need below-frost footings.