Deck Building in South Florida — Composite, PVC & Pressure-Treated
Backyard, pool and rooftop decks built for Florida sun, rain and wind, permitted in Broward and Palm Beach.
J. Perry & Sons builds backyard decks, pool decks, dock-side platforms and rooftop decks for homeowners in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We frame in pressure-treated lumber or aluminum, deck in composite, PVC, ipe or pressure-treated pine, and handle footings, permits and inspections from the first sketch to the final walk-through. A deck here fights sun, daily rain, termites and hurricane uplift at the same time, so the framing and fastening matter as much as the board you see. See all renovation services or compare materials in the composite vs pressure-treated deck cost guide.
Deck Building Cost in South Florida: $35–$140 per sq ft installed
| Scope | Typical size | Installed range |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine deck, PT framing, 12"–30" off grade | 200–400 sq ft | $35–$55 per sq ft |
| Composite deck boards on PT framing, hidden fasteners | 250–500 sq ft | $55–$85 per sq ft |
| PVC (cellular) deck boards on PT or aluminum framing | 250–500 sq ft | $65–$95 per sq ft |
| Ipe hardwood deck, stainless fasteners, oiled | 200–400 sq ft | $75–$120 per sq ft |
| Rooftop or elevated deck on pedestals or sleepers over waterproofing | 300–1,200 sq ft | $90–$140 per sq ft |
| Pool deck surround in composite or PVC, with coping transition | 300–800 sq ft | $60–$95 per sq ft |
| Stairs, landings and benches | per set | $1,200–$4,500 |
Prices include framing, footings, decking, fascia, basic stairs, permit drawings and inspections. Railings are priced separately: aluminum picket runs $60–$120 per linear foot and frameless glass $250–$450 per linear foot, both supplied and installed by our railing partner. Rooftop numbers assume the roof waterproofing is sound or is being done by the roofer; we coordinate the pedestal layout with them.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
Deck materials and options
Pressure-treated pine. Lowest cost and the standard framing material. As a walking surface it needs sealing every one to two years and grays fast in full sun. Best for budget decks, dock platforms and anything that will be covered or painted. Framing is ground-contact rated with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless hardware.
Composite. Capped wood-plastic boards from the major composite brands. No splinters or rot, color that holds for decades, hose-off cleaning. Dark colors get hot in afternoon sun, so pool decks lean lighter. Hidden clips give a clean face with no screw heads.
PVC. Cellular PVC has no wood fiber, so it cannot absorb water or grow mold. The right pick for pool surrounds, rooftops and anything near salt water; cooler underfoot and lighter than composite.
Ipe. Dense tropical hardwood that lasts decades with or without oil. Needs stainless fasteners, pre-drilling and a movement gap. Oil it yearly for the brown color or let it weather to silver. It is the board on our Delray Beach rooftop below.
Framing and railings. Pressure-treated 2x8 or 2x10 joists at 12 or 16 inches on center per the decking's span rating; aluminum framing is the upgrade for rooftops and coastal lots. Aluminum picket, cable and frameless glass railings are fabricated and installed by our railing partner to code height and load; we frame the posts and blocking to take them.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Send a photo of the space and the rough dimensions and we'll return a same-day range.
How we build a deck in South Florida
- Site review and layout. We measure, check setbacks and easements on the survey, locate any septic or drain field, and mark the footprint. Pool decks are laid out off the coping line.
- Drawings and permit. Any deck more than a few inches off grade needs a permit in Broward and Palm Beach. We prepare the framing plan, footing detail and product approvals and submit; engineering is added when the deck is elevated, attached to the house or on a roof. See deck permits in South Florida.
- Footings. South Florida soil is sand over limestone with a high water table. Footings go to the plan depth (often 12–24 inches) on compacted fill, with post bases that keep wood out of the concrete. Loose coastal sand gets wider footings or helical piers.
- Framing. Pressure-treated or aluminum posts, beams and joists with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless hangers, hurricane ties at every joist, and a flashed ledger bolted into the CBS wall with masonry anchors, never nailed.
- Joist tape. Every joist top is taped so screws and clips do not open the wood to water. This detail decides whether the framing outlives the boards.
- Decking. Boards go down with the manufacturer's expansion gap, hidden fasteners for composite and PVC, stainless screws for ipe. Picture framing and breaker boards keep long runs from showing seams; fascia and skirting close in the frame.
- Rooftop decks. Over waterproofing we set adjustable pedestals or sleepers on protection pads, never fastening through the membrane, and drain through the gaps to the roof drains. Turf inlays and spa platforms are framed for their loads.
- Stairs, railings, inspections. Closed-riser stairs with uniform treads. The railing partner installs posts and panels after the final deck inspection.
Decks in Broward and Palm Beach: what the climate does
Sun and heat. Dark composite in afternoon sun gets too hot to walk on. We recommend lighter boards or PVC for pool decks and plan pergola posts into the framing.
Daily rain and termites. Decks are pitched slightly away from the house, boards gapped to drain, and framing taped and ventilated so it dries between storms. Ground-contact lumber, no wood on soil and borate at cuts keep subterranean and drywood termites out; rooftops and coastal lots often get aluminum framing.
Hurricane uplift. The Florida Building Code requires a continuous load path from footing to deck surface. Hurricane ties, through-bolted ledgers, rated post bases and footings sized for uplift, not just gravity.
Salt air. Within a mile or two of the ocean or Intracoastal, galvanized hardware pits and streaks. We switch to stainless fasteners and hangers and use PVC or ipe decking.
Setbacks, HOA and permits. Decks stay inside rear and side setbacks and off utility easements. HOAs often limit height, color and street visibility, and condos treat a rooftop or terrace deck as a common-element change needing board approval. We prepare the HOA package with you and pull the permit ourselves.
Related deck services
- Pavers: paver patios, pool decks and walkways that connect to a wood or composite deck.
- Stone veneer: stone-clad deck skirting, columns and outdoor kitchen bases.
- Tile installation: porcelain pavers on pedestals as an alternative rooftop surface.
- Balcony waterproofing and tile: the waterproofing that goes under a rooftop or balcony deck.
- Fireplace installation: outdoor fireplaces and fire features built next to a deck.
- Painting: staining and sealing pressure-treated decks and painting fascia and pergolas.
Real deck work
Delray Beach rooftop deck with turf and spa. A rooftop in Delray Beach that had been bare waterproofing became an ipe deck set on adjustable pedestals, with a turf inlay for a soft lounging area and a framed platform carrying a spa, all draining through to the existing roof drains without a single fastener through the membrane. The frameless glass railing around the perimeter was supplied and installed by our railing partner.
We also build the paver and porcelain surfaces that often sit next to a deck; see the Weston outdoor living and pool hardscape work and the Delray Beach waterfront porcelain paver dock, where the glass railings were again by our partner.
Deck builders by city
Broward County Decks in Fort Lauderdale · Decks in Hollywood · Decks in Davie · Decks in Tamarac · Decks in Weston · Decks in Pembroke Pines · Decks in Miramar · Decks in Pompano Beach · Decks in Parkland · Decks in Southwest Ranches
Palm Beach County Decks in Boca Raton · Decks in Delray Beach · Decks in West Palm Beach · Decks in Palm Beach Gardens · Decks in Boynton Beach · Decks in Wellington · Decks in Jupiter
Miami-Dade County Decks in Miami · Decks in Miami Beach · Decks in Coral Gables · Decks in Aventura
Planning guides: Composite vs pressure-treated deck cost · Deck permits in South Florida · Backyard expansion cost · Artificial turf installation cost · Pool deck permit requirements · Outdoor kitchen cost
Deck Building — FAQ
How much does a deck cost in South Florida? $35–$55 per square foot for pressure-treated pine, $55–$85 for composite, $65–$95 for PVC and $90–$140 for a rooftop deck on pedestals. A 300 sq ft composite backyard deck typically lands at $16,500–$25,500 before railings.
Composite or PVC for a Florida deck? Both outlast wood by decades. PVC has no wood fiber, so it stays cooler, never absorbs water and is the better pick for pool surrounds, rooftops and coastal lots. Composite costs less and has a wider range of wood-look colors. Either one on taped, pressure-treated framing is a 25-year deck.
Do I need a permit to build a deck? Yes, in every Broward and Palm Beach municipality for any deck more than a few inches off grade, attached to the house, or on a roof. We prepare the drawings, product approvals and engineering when required, pull the permit and schedule the inspections.
How long does it take to build a deck? Permitting runs 2–6 weeks depending on the city. Construction is 1–2 weeks for a typical backyard deck and 3–5 weeks for a rooftop deck with a spa platform and railings. HOA approval, where needed, is handled before the permit is filed.
Can you build a deck on my roof or over a balcony? Yes, if the waterproofing is sound or is being redone. We set the deck on adjustable pedestals or sleepers with no fasteners through the membrane, keep it below the door threshold and let it drain to the existing roof drains. Structural load is checked by an engineer first.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with photos and rough dimensions. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Permits and compliance handled. J. Perry & Sons pulls the permit, schedules the inspections, and builds to the city and county codes that apply — Broward and Palm Beach municipal building departments, HVHZ requirements where they apply, and HOA/condo association rules. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699.
Free Estimate
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or email jperrysonsgc@gmail.com with project photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.