Deck Builders in Kaimuki, HI

Our work as deck builders in Kaimuki starts with sun, not rain. Kaimuki is a residential neighborhood near Kahala and Diamond Head, with a small business district along Waialae Avenue, its main street. Unlike the wet valleys inland, Honolulu has a hot semi-arid climate with about 16.41 inches of rain a year, falling mainly from October through early April. That adds up to long, bright summers that bake deck boards and fade stain, and a shorter wet season that tests drainage.

The UV problem

Honolulu's average UV index is 9.7 across the year and climbs to 12.2 in July and August, with about 278 sunny days a year. A south- or west-facing deck in this neighborhood takes that sun for most of the day. Practical answers include:

• Lighter-colored composite boards that stay cooler underfoot
• Penetrating stains with UV inhibitors on wood, reapplied on a schedule
• A lanai cover or partial roof over the seating area
• Railing finishes rated for exterior exposure so they do not chalk

Building onto older homes

Kaimuki has deep roots. In the 19th century the land was a farm owned by King Kalakaua, and it later operated as a carnation farm growing funeral flowers. The Kaimuki Fire Station was built in 1924 in Spanish Mission style and is still in use. Many houses in the area have been added onto over the years, so we expect surprises: a ledger board fastened to old framing, a back porch nobody remembers permitting, or steps whose rise and run no longer suit a new design. We open up suspect areas and tell you what we find before pricing the new work.

Slopes around Kaimuki Hill

Pu'u o Kaimuki, also called Kaimuki Hill or Menehune Hill, is the area's predominant feature. It has served as a reservoir, telegraph station and observatory and is now a park. Streets that climb toward it often have lots that fall away from the house. A raised deck is frequently the simplest way to get usable flat space out of a sloped backyard. Raised decks need guardrails, solid stair stringers and footings sized for the height, and all of that goes into the plan.

Small yards, smart layouts

Most lots here do not have room to spare. Ideas we often suggest:

• A deck at floor level off the kitchen or living room, replacing a cracked patio
• Built-in benches along low edges to define the space
• Storage tucked under a raised deck
• Stairs turned to run along the house and save yard space

Termites still matter

Drier weather does not make a neighborhood termite-free. UH extension guidance notes that drywood termites infest dry wood with no connection to the soil, while subterranean termites come up through the ground and cracks in concrete. We keep framing off the soil, use treated lumber suited to the exposure and seal cut ends before boards go down.

Permit and quote

DPP's FAQ says a deck needs a building permit, and we help prepare the drawings. For a quote, call (808) 509-2733. We measure the space, look at sun exposure across the day and put the layout and materials in writing.

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