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Meridian Deck Co

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New Deck Construction in Meridian

Ground-up deck builds off the back of the house, footings through rail, typical 1 to 3 weeks on site.

A new deck starts at the dirt and finishes at the rail. Footings go in below the frost line, posts and beam carry the load, joists hang off a flashed ledger bolted to the house rim, and the decking runs last. In Meridian that usually means a flat back yard, a walkout door off the kitchen or great room, and a subdivision lot with recorded easements along the rear and side lines. Most new decks here land between 200 and 600 square feet and take one to three weeks on site once materials land. The two decisions that move the price most are decking material and whether the deck sits high enough to need a guard, which the 2018 International Residential Code triggers at more than 30 inches above grade.

What the scope covers

  • Footings dug to bear on undisturbed soil below the frost line, poured and inspected before framing
  • Pressure treated framing lumber, galvanized or stainless connectors throughout
  • Ledger bolted to the house rim joist with approved corrosion resistant flashing above it
  • Beam, post, and joist spans sized to the decking material rather than assumed
  • Guards on any walking surface more than 30 inches above grade, per IRC R312
  • Stairs at 36 inches minimum width with a handrail once there are four or more risers
  • City of Meridian building permit pulled and inspections coordinated by the contractor
  • A written price split across footings, framing, decking, rail, and stairs

Reading further

The Meridian deck guide covers the whole process end to end. For numbers, work through the cost estimator or the Treasure Valley cost guide. Terms you have not run into before are in the deck glossary.

Questions about new decks

How long does it take to build a deck in Meridian?

Most Meridian decks take one to three weeks on site. A simple 200 square foot ground level deck in pressure treated lumber runs three to five working days. A 400 to 500 square foot composite deck with a cable rail and a stair run takes eight to twelve working days. Footing concrete needs cure time before framing, and the footing inspection has to pass before anything is built on top of it, so a day or two of the schedule is waiting rather than working. Material lead time is the bigger variable: stock composite colors ship in a week, special order colors and rail systems can take three to six.

What does a new deck cost in Meridian, Idaho?

Most new decks in the Treasure Valley land between $8,000 and $45,000. A 200 square foot pressure treated deck close to grade, with a simple rail and two steps, typically runs $8,000 to $14,000. A 400 square foot composite deck with a mid grade rail system runs $28,000 to $42,000. Cedar sits between the two. Elevation drives cost as hard as material does: a deck 4 feet off the ground needs taller posts, a full guard, and a longer stair run, and that adds several thousand dollars over the same square footage at grade.

Do I need a building permit for a deck in Meridian?

Usually yes. The City of Meridian exempts decks that are 200 square feet or less, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving a required exit door. Almost every back yard deck fails that test on the attachment clause alone, because it bolts to the house. Decks that are attached to the residence, over 200 square feet, or more than one story require a permit from the Building Services Division. The contractor pulls it and meets the inspector on site.

How deep do deck footings have to go here?

Footings have to bear on undisturbed soil at least 12 inches below the surface or below the local frost line, whichever is deeper. The frost line governs in the Treasure Valley. The City of Boise publishes 24 inches as its minimum footing depth, and Meridian sits in the same county and the same climate, so 24 inches is the working number valley builders dig to. The building official confirms the depth at the footing inspection before any concrete goes in.

Can the deck go anywhere in the back yard?

Not quite. Meridian subdivision lots carry recorded easements, typically 10 feet across the rear yard, 5 feet along an interior side yard, and 15 feet on the street side of a corner lot. A structure built inside an easement can be required to move at the owner expense if a utility needs access. The recorded plat for your lot is the document that settles it, and a subdivision with an architectural committee usually has its own submittal step on top of the city permit.

From the Field Notes

More on new decks in the valley

The First Deck on a New Build in Meridian

Century Farm, Bainbridge and the newer Meridian streets are full of houses with a back door onto bare ground. Six things to settle before the first deck.

Related Scopes

Things that get priced at the same time

Deck scopes overlap. Rail and stairs are part of nearly every build, cover is the most common addition, and framing for a future cover while the deck is open costs a fraction of retrofitting it later.

Composite Deck Installation

Capped composite and PVC decking, the material most Meridian homeowners pick for a west-facing yard

Cedar and Wood Decks

Western red cedar and pressure treated builds, the lower entry price and the warmer surface underfoot

Covered Decks and Pergolas

Roofed deck extensions, pergolas, and shade structures for a west-facing Treasure Valley back yard

Deck Repair and Refinishing

Board replacement, ledger and flashing repair, structural fixes, and full strip and re-coat

Thinking about a deck this season?

Call (208) 314-4914 or use the quote form for a free written price on any deck project in the Treasure Valley.

Call (208) 314-4914 Get a free quote