Decks built for the slope
South Hill's lots run steep, and that's the whole appeal: a deck up here can catch a real view of the bay and the islands. But a sloped lot changes the engineering. You're dealing with tall posts, taller-than-usual loads, and footings that have to be set right into a grade that wants to shed water and soil downhill. A flat-lot deck crew can get this wrong fast.
We build elevated and multi-level decks on these slopes the way they need to be built: footings sized and placed for the grade and below frost depth, posts braced for height and wind, and a flashed ledger tying it all back to the house. Whatcom County gets around 35 inches of rain a year, so we frame with ground-contact-rated lumber and keep water moving away from the structure. Elevated decks always need a City of Bellingham permit and inspection, and we handle that.
What we build in South Hill.
Common projects
Elevated and multi-level view decks, hillside deck construction with engineered footings, composite decks for low upkeep on hard-to-reach lots, and code railings.
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
Steep, wet slopes shed water and soil, which stresses footings and posts. We engineer footings for the grade, brace tall posts for wind, and use ground-rated framing.