Deck Builders in Kaneohe, HI

Deck Builders in Kaneohe spend much of their time on homes that families have owned for a long time. The Census counted 11,472 housing units in Kaneohe in 2000 and 11,445 in 2020, so the town has barely added homes in two decades. Most deck work here is on existing housing: decks and lanais that were built years ago, have been through many wet windward winters, and now need repair, a rebuild or an addition that matches the house.

A town that stays put

According to the Census, 76.4 percent of Kaneohe homes are owner-occupied and 90.8 percent of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. Households average 3.07 people, larger than in urban Honolulu, and 25.7 percent of residents are 65 or older. Put together, that describes multigenerational homes where a deck has to fit a family gathering, a grandparent who needs a solid handrail and kids running in and out, all at once.

Below the mountains, beside the bay

Kaneohe sits on the windward side in the Koolaupoko District, and Likelike Highway climbs over and through the Koolau range toward Honolulu. Historically, abundant rain made the area important for taro and sweet potatoes. That same moisture is what shortens the life of a poorly detailed deck. The National Weather Service notes that showers fall mainly on windward slopes and near the mountains, even in summer. Neighborhoods closer to the cliffs tend to stay damper than lots near the water, and we design ventilation and drainage accordingly.

Water management in the valley

Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, roughly 400 acres with a 32-acre lake, was designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection and established in 1982. It is a reminder that water moving off the Koolau is a fact of life here. Before we set footings, we look at where runoff crosses your yard, and we check the city's flood map, because structures in a mapped Special Flood Hazard Area must comply with ROH Chapter 21A. A deck should never block a drainage path or trap water against the house.

Termites in damp ground

Formosan subterranean termites enter through soil and cracks and build mud tubes up to wood, according to UH CTAHR. Damp windward soil gives them an easy start. When we repair an older Kaneohe deck, the first job is to open it up and find out how far any damage goes. Termite-damaged wood often looks lined, like the pages of a book, and may feel soft or hollow. We replace damaged members, remove any wood that touches soil and rebuild on concrete with posts lifted on metal bases.

What we do here

• Deck repair and replacement for weathered or termite-damaged structures
• New composite decks that shrug off moisture and need no staining
• Wood decks with exterior-rated framing and sealed ends
• Covered decks and lanai roofs that keep a usable outdoor room through the rainy season
• Railings and stairs built for all ages
• Cleaning, staining and sealing timed to dry weather

Next step

Call (808) 509-2733 or request a visit online. We inspect the existing structure, explain what is sound and what is not, and give you a free written quote.

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