Deck builders in Ferndale, PA

The median home in Ferndale dates to about 1960, roughly 66 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 Ferndale's housing 15 years older than Bucks County as a whole, where the median home was built in 1975. Statewide, the median Pennsylvania home was built in 1965. Among the 120 covered Pennsylvania communities with Census data, Ferndale ranks #30 for oldest housing. In this ZIP code, 50% of homes were built before 1960, 50% between 1960 and 1979, 0% between 1980 and 1999, and 0% since 2000 — the single largest group dates to the 1970s.

The nearest NOAA climate station with 1991–2020 normals is Bucksville, about 3 miles away. It records an average of 139 days a year with a low at or below 32°F — a substantial freezing season. On roughly 121 of those days the temperature climbs back above freezing, so water in wood, soil and gaps between boards repeatedly freezes and thaws.

For Ferndale, 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.

Snow is a major factor: the Springtown 1 Nne station averages about 41.1 inches a year. Framing has to carry snow load, stairs need a plan for winter use, and snow removal should be done with plastic-bladed shovels and ice-melt products the decking manufacturer allows.

Precipitation averages about 51 inches a year, falling on about 68 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 82°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.

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

Ferndale has about 86 housing units across its covered ZIP code. 90% are single-family detached homes, 0% are attached homes such as townhouses and rowhouses, and about 10% are in buildings with two or more units. Roughly 100% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

Detached single-family homes dominate in Ferndale, 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.

Across Bucks County, the median home was built in 1975. 30% of the county's 257,260 homes predate 1960, 28% were built in the 1960s and 1970s, 27% in the 1980s and 1990s, and 15% since 2000. 63% are detached single-family homes and 78% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. By comparison, the small-area estimate for Ferndale (this ZIP code: 18921) shows 86 homes, a median construction year of 1960, 90% detached and 100% owner-occupied — useful as a rough guide, but less precise than the county figures.

For a deck project near Ferndale, that county mix means you are as likely to be dealing with an aging deck that needs structural inspection before any resurfacing as with a new build. Ask your contractor to confirm the age and construction of your specific deck rather than relying on area averages.

• Retrofit decks on older homes: about 52 homes (60%) 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 34 homes (40%) 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 0 homes (0%) 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.

Ferndale 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 Ferndale, PA, 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 Pennsylvania is on our state page; local rules change, so the building department remains the authority.

The closest covered area is Kintnersville, about 2.2 miles from the center of Ferndale's covered ZIPs. Its median home was built in 1976, 16 years later than in Ferndale. Ferndale has 5 percentage points fewer detached single-family homes (90% vs. 94%), which changes how many projects are backyard decks versus compact townhouse decks. Owner-occupancy is 100% in Ferndale compared with 91% in Kintnersville. Ferndale's covered ZIP code span about 0.4 square miles of land with roughly 86 homes — about 215 per square mile, a low density that usually allows larger decks and freestanding designs.