Your deck builder, built and wired by one crew.
Want a deck you can sit on after dark? Tired of chasing a second contractor for the wiring? We don't hand the lights and outlets to a sub. The same crew that frames your deck pulls the wire and sets the GFCI by the grill. That's because we hold the build and the electrical licenses both, so it's one contract, not two.
What kind of deck are you picturing?
Most people who call us are somewhere in one of these four. Whichever one is yours, we start the same way. We come walk the spot where the deck will go. Then we email you a written, itemized quote in 3-5 business days, with the decking brand and tier named and the lights and outlets priced right in. No surprise second bill from a sub.
01 You want a deck you won't be staining every spring — composite
The most-common scope we build. TimberTech AZEK Capped (PVC, top of the composite range, 30+ year lifespan, minimal maintenance). Trex Transcend / Enhance / Select (composite, three tiers across the $40-$80/sqft range, 25-30 year lifespan). AZEK top-tier PVC. Fiberon Concordia / Sanctuary / Promenade. Footings to NoVA frost depth (30 inches) via helical screw piles or concrete piers. Framing per AWC DCA-6 (joist sizing for span plus load, code-compliant ledger attachment with through-bolting and flashing). Railing per IRC R312 (36-inch minimum residential height, 4-inch maximum baluster spacing). Integrated deck lighting and GFCI outlets in the same project window — by our crew, under the same contract. Typical: 1-3 weeks on-site, $40-$90/sqft for mid-range to top-tier composite.
02 You want a solid deck and the upfront price matters most — pressure-treated
Pressure-treated southern yellow pine, $25-$40/sqft installed. 15-20 year lifespan with annual maintenance (cleaning plus staining or sealing every 2-3 years). Same footing, framing, and railing standards as composite builds — same AWC DCA-6 joist sizing, same IRC R312 railing code, same footing-to-frost-depth requirement, same building permit. The structural quality does not change with material tier; the material choice is a budget, maintenance, and lifespan tradeoff. Common for shorter-term homeowners or smaller decks where the upfront-cost difference matters more than long-term replacement timing.
03 This is your forever home and you want the deck to match — hardwood and custom
IPE, cumaru, or other tropical hardwoods ($80-$120+/sqft, 30+ year lifespan, requires annual oiling), glass panel railing or Feeney CableRail so you keep the view, multi-level or wraparound configurations, and custom lighting integration (ambient plus accent plus functional). Typical for this scope: 2-3 weeks on-site, $25K-$60K+ depending on size, material, railing tier, and lighting depth. Hardwood decks are forever-home builds — homeowners who plan to age in place often choose hardwood specifically for the longevity.
04 You want lights and outlets out there too — and not a second contractor to chase
Most decks include outdoor electrical: deck lighting (post-cap lights on railing posts, riser lights in stair risers, under-rail LED strips, recessed accent lighting in beams or steps), GFCI outlets at convenient locations for entertaining and electric grills, and sometimes outdoor speakers or pool-deck receptacles. At most NoVA deck builders this is subbed to an electrician — extra coordination, a second contractor relationship, schedule risk at the deck-to-electrical handoff. At Anson, the same crew that builds the deck pulls the wire and mounts the lights. See Outdoor & Specialty Electrical for outdoor-electrical-only scopes (landscape lighting and the like) without deck construction, or the Outdoor Living sub-hub for the full outdoor build menu.
Where deck jobs go wrong — and how we keep yours from going there
A deck is really two jobs at once: getting the structure and the wiring to line up, and picking decking that suits how your yard gets sun. The part that trips people up is the wiring. Most decks need some, and at most NoVA builders it gets subbed out — which is where the schedule slips and the handoff gets messy. For us there's no handoff to fumble: the same crew builds and wires, on one license combination and one contract. Here's exactly what we hold to.
Helical piles or concrete piers to frost depth (30+ inches NoVA)
NoVA frost depth is typically 30 inches. Deck footings must extend below frost depth to prevent winter freeze-thaw heave. We use helical screw piles (faster install, cleaner site, no concrete cure wait) or concrete piers (traditional). Joist sizing per AWC DCA-6 — 2x10 PT joists at 16" OC handle most residential spans up to 14 feet; longer spans get 2x12 or doubled joists. Code-compliant ledger attachment to the existing house with through-bolting plus flashing.
Deck lighting and GFCI outlets, by the same crew
Standard deck-electrical scope: GFCI outlets at convenient entertaining locations (NEC 210.8(A)(3) requires GFCI on all outdoor 15A and 20A receptacles), deck lighting (post-cap plus riser plus under-rail plus accent), a low-voltage transformer in a weather-resistant enclosure for low-voltage lights, and outdoor receptacles per NEC 590. At most NoVA deck builders this is subbed out — separate contractor, separate quote, schedule risk at the handoff.
Building and electrical permits, footing + framing + final inspections
Most NoVA decks over 30 inches above grade require a building permit. If electrical is included (lights plus outlets), an electrical permit is also required. We pull both in your jurisdiction (Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, or independent city). Permit lead time is 1-3 weeks. Three inspections: footing (after holes dug, before pour), framing (after joists plus ledger, before decking), and final (after railing plus electrical).
TimberTech · Trex · AZEK · Fiberon · PT · tropical hardwood
Material tier drives most of the price spread plus the maintenance profile. Pressure-treated southern yellow pine: $25-$40/sqft, 15-20 year lifespan with maintenance. Trex Transcend / Enhance / Select: $40-$70/sqft, 25-30 year lifespan, minimal maintenance. TimberTech AZEK Capped plus AZEK top-tier PVC: $60-$90/sqft, 30+ year lifespan. Fiberon Concordia / Sanctuary / Promenade: $45-$70/sqft mid-composite. Tropical hardwood (IPE, cumaru): $80-$120+/sqft, 30+ year lifespan, annual oiling required.
Composite · Feeney CableRail · aluminum · glass
Railing tier is independent of decking choice. Composite railing matching decking (TimberTech / Trex composite — $25-$45/lf installed, most-popular). Feeney CableRail (cable rail — $80-$150/lf installed, top-tier view-preserving). Westbury powder-coated aluminum ($40-$75/lf installed, low maintenance mid-budget). Glass panel railing ($150-$300+/lf installed, view-preservation, highest-end).
TimberTech Pro Lighting · Trex DeckLighting · Dekor · Volt
Integrated deck lighting tiers we install: TimberTech Pro Lighting plus Trex DeckLighting (decking-brand-matched systems, fully integrated visual), Dekor (third-party low-voltage system, wider fixture variety), and Volt Lighting (top-tier landscape and deck integration, highest-end fixture quality). Standard deck lighting scope: post-cap lights, stair-riser lights, under-rail LED strips, and optional in-grade accents (Hinkley, Kichler outdoor lines).
What building your deck actually looks like
Same three steps as every Anson job. The one thing that's specific to decks: a deck takes two permits, not one. Building and electrical. We pull both in your jurisdiction. You stay out of the permit office.
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01
Free consultation on site (30-60 minutes)
We walk the proposed deck location and assess the deck-to-house tie-in (existing siding type, foundation accessibility, electrical panel proximity for the deck-circuit run). We discuss material tier preferences (composite versus PT versus hardwood, plus brand tier within composite), railing style, and electrical scope (lighting tiers plus outlet locations). Outdoor scope is simpler than an indoor remodel, so this is a quick consultation. No high-pressure design pitches. Typical: same week.
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02
Written proposal · building + electrical permits pulled
An itemized proposal: footings (helical pile or concrete pier), framing, decking (specific brand plus tier), railing (specific brand plus tier), stairs plus landing, electrical (lighting fixture count plus locations plus transformer plus GFCI outlets), and permits (building plus electrical). Material brands and tiers named explicitly. Good for 30 days. We pull both permits in your jurisdiction. Typical: proposal within 3-5 business days; permit pull 1-3 weeks.
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03
Build (1-3 weeks on-site, 2-3 weeks for top-tier scope)
Day 1-2: footings (helical piles install or concrete pour plus cure if pier). Day 3-5: framing, then footing inspection and framing inspection. Day 6-10: decking plus railing install. Day 11-14: electrical integration (transformer, wiring, fixtures, GFCI outlets) plus final inspection. Same crew throughout — structural and electrical by the same Anson team. Walkthrough at completion: we demonstrate GFCI test buttons, deck-lighting controls, and maintenance touchpoints. Manufacturer warranties (decking, railing, lighting) handed over.
What a deck runs — and what moves the number
Deck pricing depends on square footage, material tier (PT versus mid-composite versus top-tier composite versus hardwood), railing tier (composite versus CableRail versus aluminum versus glass), electrical scope (basic 1-2 GFCI plus post lights versus full ambient plus multiple outlets), footing type (helical pile versus concrete pier), deck-to-house tie-in complexity (simple siding versus stucco, brick, or complex flashing), permit fees by jurisdiction, and stair count plus landing complexity. Here is how the per-square-foot ranges break down.
What a deck build looks like in practice
"A deck-board replacement is the same job, mentally, as a new 600-square-foot composite build with full lighting integration — we just have less to do. Same Class B + Master Electrician dual-license. Same AWC DCA-6 joist standards. Same permit-pull discipline. Same final-walkthrough demonstration of every GFCI and every deck-light control."
Why homeowners hand us the whole deck — build and wiring both
The man holding both licenses walks your yard
Brad Anson carries the Virginia Class B Builder and the Master Electrician license together, trained in the Shreve/McGonegal lineage. He's on most deck consultations himself, sizing up how the deck ties to the house and where the wire needs to run.
Nobody new shows up to do the wiring
The hands that frame the deck are the hands that mount the post lights and set the GFCI. There's no stranger arriving mid-project, no two crews blaming each other when something's off. One team, start to finish.
One quote, one contract, both permits ours
You get a single itemized proposal that covers the build and the wiring, with the decking brand and tier spelled out so you can compare it line for line. We pull the building and electrical permits and schedule the footing, framing, and final inspections. Good for 30 days.
5.0 on Google, and 20+ years behind it
Deck-plus-deck-electrical on one contract is something other NoVA deck builders can't put on the table, and it's backed by 20+ years of master-craftsman work. We charge for what we do, don't pad the scope, and earn the call you make next time.
Questions about deck building
The things homeowners ask us most before they build. Short answers up top, the full detail underneath.
How much does a deck cost in Northern Virginia?
Pressure-treated runs $25-$40/sqft. Mid-composite (Trex, Fiberon) runs $40-$60/sqft. Top-tier composite or PVC (TimberTech, AZEK) runs $60-$90/sqft. Tropical hardwood (IPE, cumaru) runs $80-$120+/sqft. A typical 300 sqft NoVA deck: $8K-$12K PT, $12K-$18K mid-composite, $18K-$27K top-tier composite, $24K-$36K+ hardwood. Add $1K-$8K for electrical scope (lighting plus outlets) depending on depth. Written quote after consultation.
The variables: (1) railing tier (composite about $25-$45/lf, Feeney CableRail $80-$150/lf, glass $150-$300+/lf), (2) electrical scope (basic versus full ambient integration), (3) footing type (helical piles run slightly more than concrete piers), (4) deck-to-house tie-in complexity (stucco, brick, or complex siding adds flashing labor), (5) stairs plus landings (each adds material and framing labor), and (6) multi-level configurations (each level adds setup cost). For most NoVA homeowners building a deck they will use heavily for 10+ years, mid-range to top-tier composite is the better long-term value even with higher upfront cost.
Composite or pressure-treated — which should I choose?
For most NoVA homeowners: composite is the right call. Higher upfront cost ($5K-$15K typical on a mid-size deck) but a 25-30 year lifespan, minimal maintenance, and consistent appearance over time. Pressure-treated is the budget tier — lower upfront cost but it requires annual cleaning plus staining or sealing every 2-3 years, and it looks worn after 3-5 years even with maintenance. Top-tier composite or tropical hardwood is for top-tier and forever-home installs.
The honest tradeoffs: PT decks splinter over time and show wear; composite stays consistent. Composite runs hotter underfoot in summer sun, especially dark colors; PT runs cooler. Composite does not splinter; PT does. PT requires annual maintenance; composite does not. For shorter-term homeowners or smaller decks where upfront cost matters more than long-term replacement timing, PT can be the right call. For longer-term use, the math favors composite within 8-12 years. We help you weigh these tradeoffs during the consultation based on your specific situation.
Do you handle deck electrical or do you sub it out?
We handle it in-house. Anson holds Master Electrician license #2705178102 — the same crew that builds the deck pulls the wire and installs deck lighting plus GFCI outlets. Other NoVA deck builders sub the electrical out, which means extra coordination, a separate contractor relationship, and schedule risk at the deck-to-electrical handoff. At Anson, deck plus deck electrical is one contract, one schedule.
The standard deck-electrical scope: (1) GFCI outlet(s) at convenient locations for entertaining and electric grills (NEC 210.8(A)(3) requires GFCI on all outdoor receptacles), (2) deck lighting — riser lights, post-cap lights, under-rail LED strips, recessed accent lighting, (3) a low-voltage transformer in a weather-resistant enclosure if low-voltage lights are specified, (4) outdoor receptacles per NEC 590, and (5) smart controls (Lutron Caseta outdoor) optional. We size circuits appropriately, install per NEC code, and verify GFCI trip-current at install. The electrical permit is pulled at the same time as the building permit — one contract, one schedule.
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. At-grade patios typically don't require permits. An electrical permit is required if outdoor circuits are added (lighting, outlets, speakers). For some jurisdictions, zoning review is required if the deck extends within setback limits. We pull every permit your jurisdiction requires — Prince William, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, and the independent cities.
Three inspections are typical on a permitted deck: (1) footing inspection (after holes are dug, before concrete pour, or after helical pile install), (2) framing inspection (after joists plus ledger, before decking goes down), and (3) final inspection (after railing plus electrical plus walkthrough). Most decks complete all inspections within the 1-3 week on-site window with permit-office coordination. You never deal with the permit office. Inspection cards are delivered at project close.
How long does a deck build take?
1-3 weeks on-site for a typical 300-500 sqft NoVA deck (PT or mid-composite, standard railing, basic electrical). 2-3 weeks for top-tier scope (TimberTech, AZEK, or hardwood plus CableRail or glass plus full electrical integration). Multi-level or wraparound builds run 3-4 weeks. Add 1-3 weeks for permit pull before on-site work starts. From consultation to walkthrough: typically 4-7 weeks total.
The on-site sequence: Day 1-2 footings. Day 3-5 framing, then footing inspection and framing inspection. Day 6-10 decking plus railing install. Day 11-14 electrical integration plus final inspection. Composite manufacturing is not a schedule variable (decking material is in stock at distributors). Hardwood (IPE, cumaru) can have 2-4 week lead times if specific dimensions are not in stock. Helical pile installs save 3-5 days versus concrete piers (no cure-time wait between footing pour and framing start).
Can you handle pool-area decks or wraparound configurations?
Yes — pool-surround decks and multi-level or wraparound configurations are both scopes we handle regularly. Pool-area decks coordinate with pool-electrical scope (equipotential bonding extensions, GFCI receptacles within 20 ft of the pool wall, pool-area outdoor lighting) — for full pool-electrical scope see Pool & Spa Wiring. Wraparound decks add multi-elevation framing complexity but use the same material and railing options.
Pool-surround decks require additional electrical scope per NEC 680 (pool electrical) — equipotential bonding grid extension into the deck framing, GFCI receptacle placement at code-required clearances, and pool-area lighting per pool-bonding requirements. We hold the Master Electrician credential to scope this in-house; many deck builders without electrical sub out the pool-coordination work to a pool electrician. Multi-level and wraparound decks add framing complexity (transitions between elevations, deck-to-deck stair landings, separate footing groups) but follow the same AWC DCA-6 standards. Larger configurations often span 600-1,500+ sqft across multiple elevations.
Other outdoor living and outdoor electrical services
Deck builds often pair with one or more of these adjacent scopes across the Outdoor Living sub-hub and Outdoor Electrical hub.
Picturing a deck out back? Let's come look at the spot.
A free 30-60 minute visit to walk your yard. A written proposal in 3-5 business days. We build and we wire, so the deck and its lights come on one contract, not two. Composite, pressure-treated, or hardwood — your material, your budget, your call.