# New Look Deck Co > Deck builder in Lakeland, FL. We build, repair and reseal decks for homeowners across Lakeland, FL, working with everything from pressure-treated pine to composite decking. ## Contact - Phone: (863) 264-0363 - Quote request: https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/contact - Hours: Open 7 days, 8am to 8pm ## Service area - Lakeland, FL - Tampa, FL - Brandon, FL - Kissimmee, FL - Winter Haven, FL - Plant City, FL - Haines City, FL - Bartow, FL - Zephyrhills, FL - Auburndale, FL - Davenport, FL ## Services - **Deck Installation**: New deck builds start with footings sized for Florida wind load, not just whatever hole a shovel makes easy. - **Custom Deck Design**: Multi-level decks, built-in bench seating, pergolas and stairs get laid out around how your yard actually slopes, not a stock plan. - **Deck Repair**: Soft boards, a railing that wiggles when you lean on it, and steps that bounce are the calls we get most. - **Deck Resurfacing**: When the frame underneath is still solid but the decking on top has cupped, splintered or gone gray, the old boards come off and new ones go on the existing structure. - **Composite Decking Installation**: Composite boards from brands like Trex and TimberTech skip the annual staining and hold up better to Florida humidity than pine. - **Deck Staining & Sealing**: Pressure-treated pine grays out and starts absorbing water within a year or two if it's left bare, so a stain and sealant coat every two to three years keeps the boards from cupping and splitting. - **Deck Railing Installation**: Railings get built to code height with balusters spaced so a 4-inch sphere can't pass through, the actual rule inspectors check. - **Pool Deck Installation**: Decking around a pool deals with constant splash, chlorine and bare feet on hot boards, so material choice matters more than usual. - **Deck Removal & Rebuild**: Some decks are past patching, with rotted framing, rusted hardware and a ledger board barely hanging on. - **Screened-In Deck Additions**: Adding a screen enclosure over an existing or new deck cuts down on mosquitoes and afternoon sun without closing the space in completely. ## Pages - [Home](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/): overview of the business and the work it does - [Services](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/services): every service, with what each job involves - [About](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/about): who runs it and how it works - [Contact](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/contact): quote form and service area - [Our Work](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/gallery): photographs of completed jobs - [Blog](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/blog): practical guides on deck builder work - [10 Things to Check Before a Deck Build in Lakeland](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/blog/10-things-to-check-before-a-deck-build-in-lakeland) - [What a New Deck Actually Costs in Lakeland, FL](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/blog/what-a-new-deck-actually-costs-in-lakeland-fl) - [How to Choose a Deck Builder in Lakeland, FL](https://lakelanddeckbuilder.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-deck-builder-in-lakeland-fl) ## Common questions ### Do you charge for estimates? Deck estimates are free for homeowners in and around Lakeland, FL. A written quote follows a site visit where the space is measured and the ground checked for grading and drainage. ### Are you licensed and insured? Yes, deck construction work is licensed and insured in Florida, and proof of both is available on request before any contract is signed. ### How soon can you start my deck project? Scheduling for deck installation or repair typically runs a few weeks out depending on the season, with spring and early summer being the busiest months in Central Florida. Smaller repair jobs can often get squeezed in faster than a full rebuild. ### What areas do you serve? Deck building and repair covers Lakeland, FL and surrounding Polk County towns including Winter Haven, Bartow, Auburndale and Plant City, plus parts of the Tampa area. ### Do you work on mobile homes and rental properties, or just single-family houses? Deck work is done on single-family homes, mobile and manufactured homes, and rental properties, though rental jobs require sign-off from the property owner before work starts. Attachment methods differ for a mobile home versus a house with a concrete block foundation. ### Will you take on a small job, like fixing a few boards? Small deck repairs, including swapping a handful of rotted boards or tightening a loose railing, are worth calling about even if the job seems minor. Small repairs now are usually what keep a deck from turning into a full rebuild later. ### How do I get started? Getting started means a call to describe the deck project, then a site visit to measure the yard and check soil and drainage before a written quote goes out. No commitment is required until the quote is reviewed and approved. ### What does a new deck typically cost, and what changes that number? Deck cost depends mainly on square footage, decking material, and height off the ground, with composite decking running higher upfront than pressure-treated pine but requiring less upkeep. Multiple levels, built-in seating, and stairs also add labor and material cost beyond a simple rectangular platform. ### Do you require a deposit, and how does payment work? A deposit is typically collected before materials are ordered, with the remaining balance due on completion of the deck. Payment on larger jobs can be broken into stages tied to framing, decking, and the final walkthrough. ### What happens if it rains during my deck project? Florida's rain patterns mean a deck build can run into weather delays, especially during summer storm season. Framing and footings usually pause during heavy rain, and work picks back up once the site dries out enough to pour concrete or set posts safely. ### Do I need a permit to build a deck in Florida? Most decks over 30 inches above grade need a building permit and inspection under Florida building code, and many counties require one regardless of height if the deck attaches to the house. The permit process adds a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the local building department's schedule. ### How long does it take to build a deck? A standard single-level deck of 200 to 400 square feet usually takes one to two weeks from framing to final boards, weather and permit timing aside. Multi-level decks, screened enclosures, or decks with stairs and built-in features take longer. ### Can you build a deck to fit a specific budget? Deck size, decking material, and railing style can all be adjusted to fit a stated budget, and a written quote will show where the cost is going. Pressure-treated pine costs less upfront than composite, though it has to be stained every couple of years to hold up. ### Do you guarantee your deck work? Workmanship on deck construction is guaranteed against defects for a set period after completion, and materials carry their own manufacturer warranties, particularly composite decking brands. Details of what's covered are spelled out in the written contract before work starts. ### Who do I deal with once the project starts, the crew or an office? The same crew that measured and quoted the deck typically handles questions once work is underway, rather than routing calls through a separate office. Direct contact with the people on site makes it faster to sort out a question about board color or railing placement. ### Can I still use my yard and house while the deck is being built? Homeowners can stay in the house during deck construction, though the immediate work area, tools, and material stacks will take up part of the yard for the project's duration. Pets are usually kept away from the site while joists and footings are being set. ### What should I do to prepare the site before work starts? Clearing furniture, grills, and potted plants off the existing deck or the build area saves time on day one. Trimming back low branches or shrubs near the house helps the crew get equipment and lumber to the work area without damage. ### What happens if you find rotted framing or a bad footing once the old deck comes down? Hidden rot at the ledger board, a cracked footing, or termite damage in the joists sometimes only shows up once the old decking is stripped off. Any of that gets flagged before it's replaced, with the added cost explained rather than just added to the bill. ### What decking materials do you work with? Pressure-treated pine, cedar, and composite brands like Trex and TimberTech are all options for decking, along with aluminum and cable railing systems. Each material trades off differently between upfront cost, appearance, and how much upkeep it takes in Florida heat and humidity. ### How do I take care of my deck after it's finished? Pressure-treated wood decking has to be restained or sealed roughly every two to three years in Florida's sun and rain, sooner if the deck gets heavy afternoon shade and stays damp. Composite decking just gets an occasional wash to keep pollen and mildew film off the surface, no sealing required. ### How long have you been building decks? Deck building and repair is the main line of work here, not a side offering tacked onto roofing or general remodeling, and that focus is where the crew's experience comes from. ### Do you use your own crew or subcontractors? Deck jobs are built by an in-house crew rather than handed off to rotating subcontractors, so the people quoting the job are the same ones framing it. That consistency matters on a deck, where the ledger attachment and footing work done on day one decides whether the structure is sound years later. ### Can I see examples of decks you've built before? Photos of completed deck projects, including framing shots taken before the boards go down, are available on request. Seeing the framing stage matters more than the finished photos, since that's where the structural work happens. ### Why hire a smaller deck builder instead of a large remodeling company? A dedicated deck builder spends every workday on decking, footings, and railing code, rather than splitting attention across kitchens, roofs, and bathrooms. That narrower focus tends to mean fewer surprises on wind load, board spacing, and drainage details specific to deck construction. ### Where are you based? This deck building business is based in Lakeland, FL, and works throughout Polk County and the surrounding towns. ### How far in advance do I need to book? Booking timelines for deck work shift with the season, with spring and early summer being the heaviest months for new construction in Central Florida. Repair work usually has more flexibility in scheduling than a full deck build. ### Do you clean up the job site when the work is done? Old decking, joist hangers, and loose fasteners get hauled off the property at the end of a deck project, and a magnet sweep catches stray screws and nails before the crew leaves. Leaving a yard full of nails is how someone ends up with a flat bike tire a month later. ### What happens if something gets damaged on my property during the work? Liability insurance carried on deck construction jobs covers accidental damage to a house, fence, or landscaping caused during the work. Proof of coverage is available before a contract is signed, not just promised verbally. ### Will you finish a deck that another contractor started or abandoned? Picking up a half-finished deck is possible, though the existing framing gets inspected first for code compliance before any new boards go on top of it. Footings and ledger attachment from the previous contractor get checked, since bad work there can undercut the second contractor's work too. ### How can I tell the deck work is being done correctly? Correct deck framing shows joists spaced at 16 inches on center, joist hangers rated for the lumber, and flashing tape on the ledger board where it meets the house. Asking to see the framing before the decking boards go down, and checking that the local building inspector signed off, are both reasonable requests. --- Last updated 2026-08-19.