Deck builders in Tacoma, WA

Homes in Tacoma have a median construction year of 1973, so a deck original to a typical house would now be about 53 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 Tacoma's housing 13 years older than Pierce County as a whole, where the median home was built in 1986. Statewide, the median Washington home was built in 1985. Among the 34 covered Washington communities with Census data, Tacoma ranks #4 for oldest housing. In these ZIP codes, 36% of homes were built before 1960, 24% between 1960 and 1979, 21% 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 Tacoma #1. It records an average of 27 days a year with a low at or below 32°F — relatively few freezing nights. On roughly 27 of those days the temperature climbs back above freezing, so water in wood, soil and gaps between boards repeatedly freezes and thaws.

Frost is less severe in Tacoma than in northern states, but footings still have to meet the local frost-depth requirement, and freeze-thaw cycles are enough to work loose nails and open checks in unsealed wood.

Snowfall is light — about 5.6 inches in an average year at Mcmillin Rsvr — so occasional ice is a bigger concern than snow load. Textured boards and good drainage on stairs help on icy mornings.

Tacoma sees about 40.8 inches of precipitation a year, with measurable rain or snow (0.1 inch or more) on about 96 days. Good drainage between boards, clean gaps and a ledger that is properly flashed keep that water from rotting the frame.

Summer heat is mild by comparison — average summer highs near 75°F and only about 1 days a year at 90°F or above — so board color can be chosen mostly on looks.

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

Tacoma has about 141,471 housing units across its covered ZIP codes. 61% are single-family detached homes, 4% are attached homes such as townhouses and rowhouses, and about 35% are in buildings with two or more units. Roughly 58% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

The mix of detached homes and attached or multi-unit housing in Tacoma 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 65,773 homes (46%) 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 48,195 homes (34%) 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 13,388 homes (9%) 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.

Tacoma's milder winters — about 27 freezing nights a year — allow construction through most of the year. Spring and fall are still the busiest seasons, so booking early helps.

For Tacoma, WA, 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 Washington is on our state page; local rules change, so the building department remains the authority.

The closest covered area is Lakewood, about 4.3 miles from the center of Tacoma's covered ZIPs. Its median home was built in 1975, 2 years later than in Tacoma. Tacoma has 25 percentage points more detached single-family homes (61% vs. 36%), which changes how many projects are backyard decks versus compact townhouse decks. Owner-occupancy is 58% in Tacoma compared with 38% in Lakewood. Tacoma's covered ZIP codes span about 90.4 square miles of land with roughly 141,471 homes — about 1,565 per square mile, a typical suburban density where most homes have usable backyards.