Deck builders in Franklin Park, IL

The median home in Franklin Park dates to about 1957, roughly 69 years ago. Most homes from that era were built without a deck; the decks you see now were usually added in later decades, sometimes by previous owners with little documentation.

That history matters: retrofit decks are where missing ledger flashing, undersized footings and nailed-rather-than-bolted connections are most common. Before resurfacing or extending an add-on deck, it is worth confirming how it was framed and attached.

That makes Franklin Park's housing 4 years older than Cook County as a whole, where the median home was built in 1961. Statewide, the median Illinois home was built in 1971. Among the 102 covered Illinois communities with Census data, Franklin Park ranks #15 for oldest housing. In this ZIP code, 62% of homes were built before 1960, 29% between 1960 and 1979, 5% between 1980 and 1999, and 4% since 2000 — the single largest group dates to the 1950s.

The nearest NOAA climate station with 1991–2020 normals is Chicago Ohare Intl. AP, about 5 miles away. It records an average of 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F — a substantial freezing season. On roughly 78 of those days the temperature climbs back above freezing, so water in wood, soil and gaps between boards repeatedly freezes and thaws.

For Franklin Park, that means footings must bear below the locally required frost depth to avoid heaving, and wood surfaces should be kept sealed so absorbed water doesn't split boards over winter. Synthetic decking tolerates freeze-thaw well but still needs the manufacturer's expansion gaps.

Average snowfall near Franklin Park is about 38.4 inches a year (Chicago Ohare Intl. AP). That's enough that shoveling and ice-melt choices affect deck surfaces, and stair treads benefit from good texture and drainage.

Precipitation averages about 37.9 inches a year, falling on about 72 days with 0.1 inch or more — wet enough that drainage and flashing still matter, but dry spells also let wood surfaces dry out and check in the sun.

Average summer highs reach about 83°F, and around 17 days a year top 90°F. On a deck with full afternoon sun, dark composite can get uncomfortable on those days, so test samples in the sun before choosing a color.

Other Franklin Park factors: older homes often suit traditional wood or a wood-look composite. On Franklin Park's many older homes, a wood-look capped composite or a stained cedar deck usually suits the architecture better than high-gloss boards.

Franklin Park has about 6,147 housing units across its covered ZIP code. 74% are single-family detached homes, 1% are attached homes such as townhouses and rowhouses, and about 25% are in buildings with two or more units. Roughly 75% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

The mix of detached homes and attached or multi-unit housing in Franklin Park means deck projects range from large backyard decks to compact rear decks on narrow lots. Lot size, neighbors' sightlines and any association rules shape the right design.

• Retrofit decks on older homes: about 5,143 homes (84%) predate 1970. Here the priority is confirming that add-on decks are properly attached — or rebuilding them freestanding — before any cosmetic work.
• Replacement and major repair: about 746 homes (12%) were built between 1970 and 1999, the age group whose original or early add-on decks are most likely to have worn-out framing, connectors and boards.
• Upgrades and expansions: about 92 homes (1%) were built since 2010. Their decks are usually sound but small or builder-grade, so enlarging the deck, adding stairs and switching to composite or upgraded railings are common.

Franklin Park has a defined building season. Spring and early fall offer the most comfortable working weather; winter is a good time to settle the design and apply for permits. Stains and sealers generally need dry weather and moderate temperatures, so plan wood finishing for late spring or early fall.

For Franklin Park, IL, ask the permit office whether your deck needs a permit based on its size, height and attachment to the house, which drawings and inspections are required. Statewide code background for Illinois is on our state page; local rules change, so the building department remains the authority.

The closest covered area is Schiller Park, about 1.6 miles from the center of Franklin Park's covered ZIPs. Its median home was built in 1962, 5 years later than in Franklin Park. Franklin Park has 27 percentage points more detached single-family homes (74% vs. 47%), which changes how many projects are backyard decks versus compact townhouse decks. Owner-occupancy is 75% in Franklin Park compared with 59% in Schiller Park. Franklin Park's covered ZIP code span about 5.4 square miles of land with roughly 6,147 homes — about 1,138 per square mile, a typical suburban density where most homes have usable backyards.