Deck builders in Hillside, IL

The median home in Hillside dates to about 1961, roughly 65 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 is about the same as Cook County overall (median 1961). Statewide, the median Illinois home was built in 1971. Among the 102 covered Illinois communities with Census data, Hillside ranks #23 for oldest housing. In this ZIP code, 46% of homes were built before 1960, 36% between 1960 and 1979, 13% between 1980 and 1999, and 5% since 2000 — the single largest group dates to the 1950s.

On Hillside's many older homes, a wood-look capped composite or a stained cedar deck usually suits the architecture better than high-gloss boards.

Hillside has about 3,170 housing units across its covered ZIP code. 65% are single-family detached homes, 0% are attached homes such as townhouses and rowhouses, and about 35% are in buildings with two or more units. Roughly 65% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

The mix of detached homes and attached or multi-unit housing in Hillside 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 2,315 homes (73%) 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 695 homes (22%) 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 115 homes (4%) 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.

In Hillside, most homeowners plan design and permits over the off-season so construction can start when the weather allows. Seasonal patterns across Illinois are covered on the state page.

For Hillside, 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 Westchester, about 1.4 miles from the center of Hillside's covered ZIPs. Its median home was built in 1957, 4 years earlier than in Hillside. Hillside has 18 percentage points fewer detached single-family homes (65% vs. 83%), which changes how many projects are backyard decks versus compact townhouse decks. Owner-occupancy is 65% in Hillside compared with 91% in Westchester. Hillside's covered ZIP code span about 3.2 square miles of land with roughly 3,170 homes — about 991 per square mile, a typical suburban density where most homes have usable backyards.