Your deck builder wires it too.
Want a deck you can still use after dark? Most deck builders have to call in a separate electrician for the lights and outlets. We don't. We're a Class B Builder and a Master Electrician, so the same crew frames the deck and does the wiring. One contract. One schedule. Decks, pergolas, and screened porches.
How long it takes and what it runs
A deck takes 1-3 weeks on-site and runs $25-$120+/sqft. A pergola is about a week and $5K-$15K on its own. A screened porch runs 2-4 weeks and $25K-$60K. What you pick for decking moves the number most - pressure-treated is the baseline, composite the middle, and top-tier composite or tropical hardwood the upper end.
We do the electrical too
Almost every deck needs some wiring - lights so you can see the steps at night, GFCI outlets for a grill or string lights, sometimes speakers or a receptacle out by the pool. We hold both the Class B Builder and the Master Electrician license, so that work stays in-house. Other deck builders hand it to an outside electrician; we don't, and you feel the difference in how the schedule holds.
We handle the permit office, not you
Most NoVA decks more than 30 inches off the ground need a building permit, plus an electrical permit if we're adding outdoor circuits. We pull both in every jurisdiction so you never sit in a permit line. Footings go down to frost line on helical screw piles or concrete, and the inspector signs off before you set a single chair out there.
Which outdoor space are you after?
A deck off the back of the house. A pergola for shade over part of it. A screened porch you can sit in without the bugs. Those are the three things people call us for. The electrical for all three stays in-house. Open any one to see the typical scope and what the work looks like.
Deck Building
Composite decks (TimberTech, Trex, AZEK, Fiberon) and pressure-treated lumber decks for Northern Virginia homes. Typical scope: 1-3 weeks on-site, $25-$120+/sqft depending on material tier. Most decks include integrated deck lighting + GFCI outlets - handled in-house by our Master Electrician crew. Helical piles or concrete-pier footings to NoVA frost depth. Railing options: composite, Feeney CableRail, aluminum, glass panel.
Pergola Construction
Custom-built and kit-based pergolas for shade, deck definition, and outdoor-living-room framing. Pressure-treated, cedar, composite, vinyl, and aluminum pergola materials. Typical scope: 1 week on-site, $5K-$15K. Often integrated with deck builds - pergola over part of the deck for a shaded dining area while the rest stays sun-exposed.
Screened Porch Construction
Screened porches with fiberglass screen panels or Phantom retractable screens. Different from sunrooms (which have HVAC - see Sunroom under Additions). Screened porches are 3-season outdoor rooms - usable from May to October in NoVA. Typical scope: 2-4 weeks on-site, $25K-$60K. Often built over existing decks or attached to existing patios.
Outdoor living projects across Northern Virginia
How soon could you be using it?
Of everything in our remodeling work, outdoor projects move the fastest. Permits take about 2-4 weeks, not the 6-20 weeks an addition can eat up, and the on-site build runs 1-4 weeks. For most decks, that's roughly 4-6 weeks from the day we walk your yard to the day you're standing on it.
Free consultation
We walk the site, assess deck-to-house tie-in (existing siding, foundation, electrical accessibility), discuss material tier preferences (composite vs. PT vs. hardwood), railing style, and electrical scope (lighting, outlets). Quick consultation - outdoor scope is simpler than indoor remodels.
Written proposal
Itemized: footings, framing, decking, railing, electrical (lights + outlets), permits. Material tier specified - TimberTech vs. Trex vs. PT. Within 3-5 business days of consultation. Good for 30 days.
Permit, build, electrical, railing
Pull building + electrical permits. Helical piles or concrete pier footings to frost depth (30+ inches NoVA standard). Framing, joist inspection, decking, railing, with electrical integrated throughout (lights, outlets), then final inspection. Weekly photo updates.
Inspection + walkthrough
All permitted inspections signed off. We walk through with you - show you GFCI outlet test buttons, demo the deck-lighting controls, point out maintenance points (composite cleaning, railing inspection routine). Manufacturer warranties on decking + railing handed over.
Questions homeowners ask about outdoor living
How much does a deck cost in Northern Virginia?
Pressure-treated lumber decks: $25-$40/sqft (most affordable, 15-20 year lifespan with maintenance). Mid-composite (Trex, Fiberon): $40-$60/sqft (25-30 year lifespan). Top-tier composite/PVC (TimberTech, AZEK): $60-$90/sqft. Tropical hardwood (IPE, cumaru): $80-$120+/sqft. A typical 300 sqft NoVA deck runs $8K-$15K in PT, $15K-$25K in mid-composite, and $25K-$40K+ in the top-tier composite range.
The variables that affect cost beyond decking material: (1) deck height - decks over 30 inches need a permit and handrail-code compliance, which means more framing, (2) railing tier - composite railing matching the deck runs about $25-$40/linear foot, Feeney CableRail $80-$150/lf, glass panel railing $150-$300/lf, (3) electrical scope - basic LED rail lighting plus 1-2 GFCI outlets adds $1K-$3K, full ambient deck lighting plus multiple outlets adds $3K-$8K, (4) footing type - helical piles cost slightly more than concrete piers but install faster, and (5) tie-in complexity - deck-to-house ledger flashing on stucco, brick, or complex siding adds labor.
Composite or pressure-treated - which should I choose?
For most NoVA homeowners: composite (Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon) is the right call. Higher upfront cost but 25-30 year lifespan, minimal maintenance, and consistent appearance over time. Pressure-treated lumber is the budget tier - lower upfront cost but requires annual cleaning plus staining/sealing and has a 15-20 year lifespan. Top-tier composite or tropical hardwood suits forever-home installs.
Honest tradeoffs: PT decks look noticeably worn after 3-5 years even with maintenance; composite stays consistent. Composite is hotter underfoot in summer sun (especially dark colors); PT is cooler. Composite doesn't splinter; PT does over time. For most NoVA homeowners doing a deck they'll use heavily for 10+ years, composite is the better long-term value - even though the upfront price difference is meaningful ($5K-$15K typical on a mid-size deck). For shorter-term homeowners or smaller decks, PT can be the right call. We help you weigh these tradeoffs during the consultation.
Do you handle deck electrical or do you sub it out?
We handle it in-house. Anson holds the Master Electrician license - the same crew that builds the deck pulls wire and installs deck lighting plus GFCI outlets. Other NoVA deck builders sub the electrical out, which means extra coordination and a second contractor relationship. At Anson, deck plus deck electrical is one contract.
The standard outdoor electrical scope on a deck: (1) GFCI outlet(s) at convenient locations for entertaining plus electric grills, (2) deck lighting - riser lights (in stair risers), post-cap lights (on railing posts), under-rail lighting (LED strips under the top rail), recessed accent lighting in beams or steps, (3) a low-voltage transformer in a weather-resistant enclosure if low-voltage lights are specified. All circuits require GFCI protection per NEC 210.8(A)(3) for outdoor receptacles. We size the circuit appropriately, install per NEC 590 outdoor-receptacle code, and verify GFCI trip-current at install.
Do I need a permit for my deck?
In most NoVA jurisdictions: yes, for decks more than 30 inches above grade or attached to the house. Patios at-grade typically don't require permits. Stand-alone decks under 30 inches sometimes don't. We pull every permit your jurisdiction requires - Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and the independent cities each have slightly different requirements. You never deal with the permit office.
Beyond the building permit, an electrical permit is required if outdoor circuits are added (lighting, outlets, speakers). For some jurisdictions, a zoning review is required if the deck extends within setback limits. We handle all permits as part of the proposal. Inspections: footing inspection (after holes dug, before pour), framing inspection (after joists plus ledger but before decking), final inspection (after railing plus electrical). Most decks complete all inspections within the 1-3 week on-site window.
What's the difference between a screened porch and a sunroom?
A screened porch has no HVAC and is a 3-season space - usable in NoVA from roughly May through October. A sunroom has HVAC (heating plus cooling) and is a 4-season space, usable year-round. Sunrooms are taxable square footage (they add to your home's assessed value); screened porches are not. Sunrooms are typically $40K-$120K; screened porches are typically $25K-$60K.
The construction differences: screened porches use traditional or modern screen-frame systems (SCREENEZE, Phantom retractable, traditional fixed); sunrooms use insulated windows. Sunrooms require full HVAC tie-in (extending the existing system or adding a mini-split); screened porches don't. Building-code requirements differ - sunrooms must meet energy-code envelope standards, screened porches don't. See our Sunroom spoke under Additions for full 4-season sunroom scope. Many homeowners considering "a porch I can use in winter" actually want a sunroom.
What people usually fold in while we're out back
An outdoor-living project tends to brush up against the rest of the yard - outdoor electrical, pool work, or a room you've been thinking about adding.
Let's walk your backyard and figure it out
Free consultation, then a written proposal within 3-5 business days. We're a Class B Builder and a Master Electrician, so the deck and the deck electrical come under one contract. Composite, pressure-treated, or hardwood - it's your call, and we'll help you weigh it.