Deck builders in Lake Forest, IL

Homes in Lake Forest have a median construction year of 1977, so a deck original to a typical house would now be about 49 years old — beyond the point where wood framing, fasteners and flashing can be assumed sound.

Many decks from the 1970s and 1980s were built before today's detailed deck provisions appeared in model codes. Common issues on decks of this age include corroded hangers, posts set directly in soil and ledger boards fastened with nails. Replacement is often the better value than repeated repairs.

That makes Lake Forest's housing 6 years older than Lake County as a whole, where the median home was built in 1983. Statewide, the median Illinois home was built in 1971. Among the 102 covered Illinois communities with Census data, Lake Forest ranks #59 for oldest housing. In this ZIP code, 29% of homes were built before 1960, 25% between 1960 and 1979, 28% between 1980 and 1999, and 19% since 2000 — the single largest group dates to the before 1940.

The nearest NOAA climate station with 1991–2020 normals is Chicago Botanic Garden, about 8 miles away. It records an average of 128 days a year with a low at or below 32°F — a substantial freezing season. On roughly 86 of those days the temperature climbs back above freezing, so water in wood, soil and gaps between boards repeatedly freezes and thaws.

For Lake Forest, 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 Lake Forest is about 33.6 inches a year (Chicago Botanic Garden). That's enough that shoveling and ice-melt choices affect deck surfaces, and stair treads benefit from good texture and drainage.

Precipitation averages about 39.5 inches a year, falling on about 74 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 81°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.

Budget, upkeep tolerance and sun exposure on your particular lot still decide the final choice between these options.

Lake Forest has about 7,864 housing units across its covered ZIP code. 78% are single-family detached homes, 6% are attached homes such as townhouses and rowhouses, and about 15% are in buildings with two or more units. Roughly 89% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

Detached single-family homes dominate in Lake Forest, so most decks are backyard decks attached to the rear of the house. That gives more freedom on size, layout and stairs, and makes a well-planned deck one of the most-used rooms of the home.

• Replacement and major repair: about 3,201 homes (41%) 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.
• Retrofit decks on older homes: about 3,201 homes (41%) predate 1970. Here the priority is confirming that add-on decks are properly attached — or rebuilding them freestanding — before any cosmetic work.
• Upgrades and expansions: about 497 homes (6%) 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.

Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest, 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 Highwood, about 3.3 miles from the center of Lake Forest's covered ZIPs. Its median home was built in 1969, 8 years earlier than in Lake Forest. Lake Forest has 27 percentage points more detached single-family homes (78% vs. 51%), which changes how many projects are backyard decks versus compact townhouse decks. Owner-occupancy is 89% in Lake Forest compared with 56% in Highwood. Lake Forest's covered ZIP code span about 21.3 square miles of land with roughly 7,864 homes — about 369 per square mile, a low density that usually allows larger decks and freestanding designs.