Deck Builder in Apple Valley, MN
CHS Custom Decks & Design builds residential and commercial decks in Apple Valley, Dakota County. An attached deck here needs a city-reviewed plan showing where it sits on the lot and how it will be supported, so we start with the house, the ground, and the way you want to use the space.
Bring us your ideas, even if you have not settled on a size or material. Our deck builder team will help you compare a new build with an upgrade, work through the plan, and prepare a free estimate.
- Veteran-Owned & Family-Owned
- 30+ Years of Overall Experience
- TimberTech Platinum Pro
- 2-Year Craftsmanship Warranty
- Up to 50-Year Material Warranty
- NADRA & NARI Member
Start With the Lot Before You Choose a Deck
The deck’s height, the way it connects to the house, and what happens to drainage can all change the plan. Our deck builders look at those three things on your lot before choosing boards or settling on a footprint.
Deck Height Can Change the Rear-Yard Setback
Apple Valley lists different rear-yard setbacks for low and higher decks without a roof. That can change how far the deck reaches into the yard and where the stairs land. Bring a survey if you have one; we can mark the proposed location and check the applicable rear-yard setback requirements for your lot before you settle on a layout.
Direct Access From the House Calls for Frost Footings
If you walk straight from the house or attached garage onto the deck, Apple Valley requires frost footings at least 42 inches below grade. The city inspects the footing holes before concrete is placed. We need to account for that support early, especially if you might add a porch or hot tub later. The city’s deck permit requirements address these features because they can affect footing sizing.
Yard Drainage or Tree Work May Add Another Review
The city may require a Natural Resources Management Permit for a residential deck addition, even if the project is small. Work that changes the yard’s drainage or removes significant trees can also trigger that review. Tell us about low spots, trees, and any grading you have in mind so we can check the applicable Natural Resources Management Permit requirements before finalizing the stair or patio location.
What the City of Apple Valley Requires Before Deck Construction
A deck attached to a house or garage needs a building permit from the City of Apple Valley’s Building Inspections Division. The city accepts applications through ePermits and reviews plans through ProjectDox. A deck that is unattached and no more than 30 inches above grade is exempt from the building permit, but it still has to meet setback and building-code requirements. Our deck builders help with permit acquisition; the city makes the approval decision.
HOA Approval Is a Separate Decision
If your property has an HOA, send us its deck rules before we settle on the layout or finish. Depending on your property’s association rules and the proposed work, written HOA approval or additional documentation may be required before construction can proceed. We can plan around the rules you provide, but the association’s decision is separate from the city’s permit review./
Decking for Apple Valley Homes and Businesses
In Dakota County, our deck builder team starts with the property, not a catalog. For an attached deck, the city’s plan checklist calls out the survey, footings, joists, beams, posts, stairs, guards, and deck floor materials. We will help you decide which decking service fits the work you want done.
A deck off the back door should give you an easy route to the yard, with stairs that fit the actual lot. We start with the door height and survey before choosing the shape.
An outdoor deck at a business needs to fit the way people enter, gather, and move through the property. Tell us what the space must do, and we can discuss a layout and the approvals for that particular site.
Building an attached deck means putting its location and structural details on a plan for city review. Our deck builders work through the layout, materials, and support system before setting a construction date.
Want more room or a better layout than your old deck provides? We first look at the existing structure so you can choose between resurfacing, remodeling, and a rebuild, rather than assuming the old frame should stay.
A railing has to make sense at the stairs and edges, not just match the boards. We include its height and design in the plan the city reviews, then help you choose a style that suits the way you use the deck.
If you use the deck after dark, start with the steps and the path back to the house. We can plan lighting around those routes and discuss the electrical work as part of the project.
The visible boards are only one part of the build. We plan joists, beams, posts, footings, and house connections against the city’s submittal requirements, then match the frame to the deck above it.
Outdoor Living Around Your Deck
If the deck is one part of a larger yard plan, tell us now. We also work on gazebos, outdoor living spaces, patio construction, pergolas, louvered pergolas, and porch construction. We can consider how you will move between those spaces and what needs separate planning. The city asks you to identify a possible future porch on the deck application so the footings can be sized for it.
Commercial Work Beyond the Deck
For commercial properties, CHS Custom Decks & Design offers deck construction and can discuss complementary outdoor features, including privacy walls, and railing. We assess the property’s requirements, proposed layout, and intended use before defining the project scope and preparing an estimate.
Deck Materials and the Brands We Work With
Wood gives you a natural surface but calls for upkeep. Composite and PVC offer different looks and care requirements. Our deck builders compare them against your use of the space, the structure below the boards, and the amount of maintenance you want to take on.
For decking, our options include Trex and TimberTech by AZEK products, along with cedar and Ipe wood. For framing, we work with TimberTech aluminum systems and KDAT lumber. Railing brands in our selection include Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators, Viewrail, Barrette Outdoor Living, and Westbury. For lighting, we work with TimberTech, Deckorators, and Westbury. We will confirm which products fit your project and explain the applicable manufacturer’s warranty rather than treating every material as if it had the same coverage.
What Affects the Cost of a New Deck?
Size, height, access, footings, boards, railing, and lighting all change the scope. An upgrade also depends on what we find under the existing surface. Share a survey, a rough sketch, or photos of the current deck, and our deck builder team can prepare an estimate for the work you actually want instead of guessing from someone else’s project.
What Our Customer Say About Us
When Can Construction Start?
As your deck contractor, we can set a reliable start date once the design, materials and required approvals are clear. City review or an HOA decision may affect the schedule, as can material and crew availability. We will talk you through what is still open rather than promise an approval date the city controls.
How We Plan Your Deck
We start with what you want to do outside, then turn that into a layout, an estimate, and a build plan.
1. Tell Us About the Space
Where will you enter the deck? How will you use it? Let us know if a porch or hot tub could be part of the plan later.
2. Review the Lot and Materials
Bring a survey if you have one. We will look at the available space and talk through decking, framing, railing, and lighting choices.
3. Identify the Approvals
For an attached deck, we work through the city’s application and plan requirements. If there is an HOA, its written approval is a separate part of the process. We can help with permit acquisition, while the city and association make their own decisions.
4. Get a Free Estimate
We put the proposed scope together so you know what is included. If a question about the site or existing frame needs an answer, we will explain it before the plan is fixed.
5. Schedule the Build
Once the plan and required approvals are in place, we check materials and crew availability with you and set a start date.
Why Work With Us?
As a veteran-owned and family-owned deck company with 30+ years of overall experience, we help Apple Valley property owners plan and build decks suited to their homes and yards. Our TimberTech Platinum Pro status and NADRA and NARI memberships reflect our commitment to quality workmanship and industry standards.
Eligible deck installations include a 2-year craftsmanship warranty, with manufacturer material warranties of up to 50 years available on qualifying products. We’ll help you understand the options, plan your layout, and identify the requirements that apply to your property before construction begins.
Questions About Building a Deck in Apple Valley
Do you handle the deck permit process in Apple Valley?
We help with permit acquisition and the deck plan for an attached deck. The city reviews and approves the application. If an HOA applies, its written approval is separate.
Does a low freestanding deck need the same permit?
The city exempts an unattached deck no more than 30 inches above grade from its building permit. Setbacks and code still apply. Let us check the proposed location and height before treating your project as exempt.
What should a deck plan show before construction begins?
For an attached deck, the city asks for a survey and scaled plans showing the location and structural details such as footings, posts, beams, joists, stairs, guards, and decking materials. Tell us if you may add a porch or hot tub later so that the support can be considered in the plan.
Can a new deck replace an older deck with a different layout?
Yes. We look at the existing frame and connections first, then talk through whether resurfacing, remodeling, or a full rebuild makes sense. We also check the new footprint against the lot’s applicable setback and permit requirements before settling on the plan.
How do wood, composite, and PVC decking compare for upkeep?
Wood gives you a natural surface but calls for upkeep. Composite and PVC have different care requirements, so we compare the specific product and its care instructions with the amount of maintenance you want to take on.
Find CHS Custom Decks & Design
- Business Name: CHS Custom Decks & Design
- Address: 14607 Felton Ct #115, Apple Valley, MN 55124
- Phone: (952) 236-0276
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM
- Certifications: TimberTech Platinum Pro
- Website: www.chsbuildersmn.com
Request a Free Apple Valley Deck Estimate
Tell our deck builders what you want the deck to do and send a survey, HOA rules, or photos if you have them. We will talk through a new deck or upgrade and prepare a free estimate. Call (952) 236-0276 today.