Planning a new deck in Lakeville or anywhere in the Twin Cities Metro? Understanding what happens before the first board goes down makes the entire project less stressful and helps you ask the right questions before work begins. Every professional build starts the same way: with a solid foundation and a framing system engineered to hold up through Minnesota’s freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, and everything in between. Here is a straightforward look at what the process actually involves when you hire a deck framing contractor for your home.
The Design and Permit Phase Comes First
Before any digging or cutting happens, your deck framing contractor handles design and permitting. A professional contractor offers 3D deck modeling so you can see exactly how the finished structure will look before construction begins. This step catches layout issues early and gives you a clear picture of material choices, dimensions, and how the deck connects to your home.
Permit acquisition is part of the service. Minnesota municipalities require structural permits for deck builds, and a licensed deck framing contractor pulls those permits, ensuring your project meets local building codes from the start. Skipping this step creates problems at resale and can result in fines or required teardowns, so it is not something to cut corners on.
Understanding Footing Installation in Minnesota
Footings are what keep your deck from shifting, heaving, or sinking as the ground freezes and thaws each year. Minnesota’s frost depth reaches 42 to 60 inches in most areas, which means footings need to go deep enough to sit below the frost line. A qualified deck framing contractor installs three types of footings depending on the site conditions and project requirements.
Helical piers are steel screw-type anchors driven into the ground using hydraulic machinery. They work well in a wide range of soil conditions and go in faster than poured concrete, making them a strong choice for projects where minimizing disruption to the yard matters.
Diamond Piers use a pre-cast concrete head with four steel pins driven diagonally into the soil. They install quickly, require no concrete curing time, and perform well in stable soil conditions.
Traditional concrete footings involve drilling holes to the required depth and pouring concrete into tube forms. They are the most common footing type and work well across most residential applications. Once cured, they provide a stable, permanent base for the post system above.
Your deck framing contractor will assess the site, soil type, and load requirements to recommend the right footing for your specific project.
Framing Materials and Why They Matter
The framing is the skeleton of your deck. It carries the weight of the decking surface, railings, furniture, and people, and it needs to perform reliably for decades in a climate that cycles through extreme cold and summer heat. A professional deck framing contractor will offer several framing material options depending on the project.
Pressure-treated lumber remains the most widely used framing material. The company works with ProWood and premium wood treated (PWT) lumber, including KDAT (kiln-dried after treatment) options that are more dimensionally stable and less prone to warping.
Pressure-treated LVL (laminated veneer lumber) provides greater structural strength than standard dimensional lumber, making it the right call for longer spans or heavier deck designs.
Steel framing through Fortress Building Products offers corrosion-resistant performance with a much longer lifespan than wood. It will not rot, warp, or be eaten by insects.
Aluminum framing and composite framing round out the options for homeowners who want a low-maintenance, long-lasting structural system beneath their deck surface.
A skilled deck framing contractor matches the framing material to the deck style, load requirements, and budget, whether the project is a platform deck, raised deck, multi-level deck, freestanding deck, pool deck, rooftop deck, cantilevered deck, or covered deck.
What Happens During the Actual Build
Once permits are in hand and footings are set, the deck framing contractor installs posts, beams, and joists according to the approved plans. Joist spacing, beam sizing, and hardware selection all follow Minnesota building code requirements. Ledger attachment to the house uses through-bolts and proper flashing to prevent water infiltration, one of the most common failure points on poorly built decks.
After framing passes inspection, decking material goes down. Top composite brands include Trex, TimberTech by Azek, Deckorators, and Barrette Outdoor Living, and wood options range from cedar and redwood to exotic hardwoods like Ipe, Tigerwood, and Cumaru.
Warranties That Back the Work
A reputable deck framing contractor backs their work with strong warranty coverage. Look for a 2-year workmanship warranty and a 10-year structural warranty at minimum. Depending on the materials selected, product warranties can extend up to 50 years. Financing options are also worth asking about if you want to get started without paying the full project cost upfront.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are planning a new deck and want a deck framing contractor who handles the entire process from design through final inspection, call Decked Out Construction at (612) 978-5553 to request your free estimate. The team serves Lakeville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Burnsville, and communities throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area.