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Footings & Structural Framing
Footings set below Vermont's frost line and framing sized for real snow load. This is the part nobody sees and the part that determines whether your deck lasts twenty years or five.
Serving Chittenden County, Vermont
Deck Building in Chittenden County, Vermont
A deck is one of the best returns you can make on a Vermont home, if it's built to actually handle a Vermont winter. I'm Tim Chila, and after 50 years of building in this climate, I know exactly what keeps a deck solid for decades instead of five years.
What We Do
Built for How You Use It, and for Real Vermont Winters
A deck sounds like a simple project until you look at what actually fails on one. Most deck problems in Vermont come down to two things done wrong at the start, footings that were not set below frost depth, and ledger connections that were not flashed and fastened properly. Neither shows up on the day the deck is finished. They show up three winters later.
We build decks the way we build everything else, starting with what you cannot see. Proper footings, correct ledger attachment, and framing sized for real snow load, not the minimum the code allows. On top of that goes the part you actually enjoy, the layout, the railing, the material, and the finish that fits your home rather than looking added on.
Whether it's a simple platform off the back door or a multi-level deck built around how your family actually spends time outside, you get an open-book estimate before anything starts and a deck built to be used for decades, not repaired in five years.
Scope of Work
What Goes Into a Deck Built Right
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Pressure-Treated Decking
The practical, budget-friendly choice, installed properly so it stays flat and does not cup or twist the way a rushed install will.
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Cedar Decking
A warmer, more natural look with real durability, installed and finished to hold up through Vermont seasons rather than just look good on day one.
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Composite Decking
Low-maintenance, long-lasting material for homeowners who want to spend their weekends using the deck, not refinishing it.
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Railings & Safety Details
Code-compliant railings built to match your home's style, whether that's simple and modern or something with real detail worked into it.
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Multi-Level & Custom Layouts
Decks built around how the land actually sits and how your family actually moves through the space, not a standard rectangle because that's easier to frame.
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Ledger Attachment & Waterproofing
Proper flashing and fastening where the deck meets the house, the single most common point of failure on a deck built without care.
How It Works
From First Call to First Cookout
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Free Consultation
We look at the space, talk through how you want to use it, and give you an honest read on layout and material options.
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Open-Book Estimate
A clear, line-by-line price covering materials, footings, framing, and finish work. You know the number before we start.
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We Build It
Footings, framing, decking, and railings, built in the right order and inspected at the stages that matter.
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Final Walkthrough
We walk the finished deck with you and do not call it done until every detail is right.
Why Tradecraft VT
Why Vermont Homeowners Trust Us With Their Deck
We Build for Real Winters
Footings below frost depth, framing sized for real snow load. We do not build to the minimum the code allows, we build for what this climate actually does to a structure.
Craft Beyond the Basics
Custom woodworking is our core business. A deck we build gets the same attention to detail as a piece of fine furniture, not just lumber assembled to spec.
Licensed, Insured, Accountable
Vermont Contractor Licence No. 173.0000644, fully insured. You deal directly with Tim, start to finish.
Common Questions
Deck Building FAQs
Footings need to sit below the frost line, which varies by location but is typically 42 to 48 inches in Chittenden County. A footing set too shallow will heave with the ground every winter, and that's what causes a deck to shift, crack, or pull away from the house over time.
It depends on what you want to maintain. Pressure-treated is the most budget-friendly and holds up well if installed correctly. Cedar looks warmer and more natural but needs periodic finishing. Composite costs more upfront but needs almost no maintenance and handles freeze-thaw cycles very well.
In most cases, yes, particularly for anything attached to the house or above a certain height. We handle the permitting as part of the project so you do not have to navigate it yourself.
Most decks take one to three weeks depending on size, material, and complexity. We give you a realistic timeline in writing before we start.
Yes. Tradecraft VT holds Vermont Contractor Licence No. 173.0000644 and is fully insured on every project.
Let's Talk
Planning a Deck?
Whether it's a simple platform or a multi-level deck built around your whole backyard, give us a call or send the details. We'll get back to you within one business day.
Send My RequestWe'll get back to you within one business day.