Outdoor living is why people put up with Peninsula housing prices — and a well-built deck is the cheapest square footage you will ever add to your home. RC Builders Inc (CSLB License #1081425) designs and builds decks, patios, and pergolas across the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley, engineered for the two things that kill outdoor structures here: salt air and moisture that never quite leaves.
We build in premium redwood and cedar for clients who want the real thing, and in composite (Trex and similar systems) for clients who never want to sand a deck again. Every frame we build — regardless of the decking on top — uses pressure-treated lumber, corrosion-resistant hardware rated for coastal exposure, and proper flashing at the ledger, the connection where most deck failures start.
What we build outdoors
- New deck construction — redwood, cedar, and composite decking systems.
- Deck replacement & rebuilds — new structure on a footprint you already love.
- Deck repair — joist and beam repair, railing replacement, and resurfacing.
- Pergolas & patio covers — shade structures that make west-facing yards usable.
- Concrete & paver patios — poured, stamped, or paver surfaces at grade.
- Stairs & railings — code-compliant guardrails in wood, metal, and cable.
- Outdoor structures — benches, planters, privacy screens, and gates.
What a deck costs here
For a properly engineered, permitted deck in this market, realistic installed prices run roughly $60–$90 per square foot for redwood and $75–$110 for composite with quality railings — meaning a typical 300-square-foot deck lands between $20,000 and $35,000. Ground-level platforms cost less; elevated decks, complex railings, and stairs cost more. Composite costs more upfront and repays it in maintenance: no sanding, sealing, or replacing cupped boards every few years.
Built for the coastal environment
Standard deck hardware rusts fast within a couple of miles of the bay. We build with hot-dip galvanized or stainless connectors and fasteners, ventilate framing so fog-season moisture escapes, and flash the ledger connection with modern membrane details — because a deck that pulls away from the house is not a maintenance problem, it is a safety failure. On sloped lots in Carmel Valley and the Highlands, we set proper concrete footings sized to the soil, not to habit.
Permits and safety
In most local jurisdictions, decks more than 30 inches above grade require a permit and engineered details, and attached decks of any height deserve them. If you have an existing deck, our repair assessments start at the ledger and the footings — the two places that decide whether a deck is safe — and we tell you in writing whether repair or replacement is the smarter spend.
Our work
Decks & Patios services we offer
- New deck construction
- Composite decking (Trex and similar)
- Redwood & cedar decks
- Deck repair & resurfacing
- Pergolas & patio covers
- Patio construction
- Deck stairs & railings
- Deck inspections
Frequently Asked Questions
A quality permitted deck typically runs $60–$90 per square foot in redwood and $75–$110 in composite, installed with railings. A standard 300-square-foot deck usually lands between $20,000 and $35,000. Elevation, stairs, railing style, and site access drive the spread.
Redwood looks and feels like the Peninsula and costs less upfront, but needs cleaning and sealing every year or two to stay that way. Composite costs 20–30% more and needs only a wash. Near the ocean, composite plus stainless hardware is usually the better long-term money.
Generally yes when the deck is attached to the house or more than 30 inches above grade — which covers most real decks. Permits are quick for decks and worth having at resale. We handle the drawings, permit, and inspections.
Most decks take one to three weeks of construction once permits and materials are in hand: a few days for footings and framing, the balance for decking, stairs, and railings. Pergolas and covers add a few days more.
Often, yes. If the frame and footings are sound, new decking and railings on the existing structure cost roughly half of a full rebuild. If the ledger, posts, or joists are compromised, we will show you photos and recommend replacement — we do not resurface unsafe framing.
Composite: an annual wash. Redwood: clean and re-seal every 1–2 years (coastal sun and fog are hard on finishes), and expect to refasten the occasional board. Either way, keeping drainage clear underneath is the cheapest longevity move there is.