Frequently Asked Questions

On Oahu, yes in most cases. The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting's FAQ says a deck needs a building permit under Chapter 18 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu. Other counties have their own rules. We help prepare the drawings and walk you through the HNL Build application.

Angi's 2026 national guide puts the average deck at $8,321, with most projects between $4,339 and $12,653, or about $30 to $60 per square foot. Angi also notes labor costs run higher in high cost-of-living areas, and materials are shipped to Oahu, so local prices are often above those figures. Size, height, material and permit work set the price; we give you a written number after the site visit.

Most deck builders price by the job, not the hour. National guides put deck labor at about $15 to $35 per square foot (Angi, 2026), with framing alone around $9 to $12 per square foot. We quote a fixed, itemized price for the agreed scope.

It varies. Civil Beat reported in June 2026 that the median wait for a new building permit had fallen to about 2.5 months, while Hawaii Public Radio reported in September 2026 that residential permits issued this year averaged 218 days. DPP itself says timing depends on plan completeness and its backlog. Complete drawings help avoid correction rounds.

Composite boards are not food for termites and do not need staining, which suits Oahu, but they get hot in full sun and still sit on a frame that must be protected. Wood costs less up front and stays cooler, but it needs regular sealing under strong UV. Either way, the frame and hardware decide how long the deck lasts.

Yes. Formosan subterranean termites travel from the soil through mud tubes and cracks to reach wood. Keeping posts on concrete footings, using lumber rated for ground contact where it is needed, leaving room to inspect underneath and removing scrap wood all lower the risk. Look under an older deck each spring, ahead of the May and June swarm season.

Often, yes. Simpson Strong-Tie treats salt-air marine environments as a separate corrosion class and recommends Type 316, 305 or 304 stainless steel in the harshest treated-wood conditions. For decks farther inland, hot-dip galvanized hardware may be suitable. We match hardware to your exposure and the lumber treatment.

Composite boards are not a food source for termites the way solid wood is, but the frame under most composite decks is still wood. That frame needs the same protection as any wood deck: footings, rated lumber, and clearance from the soil.

Dark boards in direct sun can get uncomfortably hot. Lighter colors, heat-reducing board lines and shade over the main seating area help. We bring samples so you can test them in the sun on your site.

National guides put installed composite at about $25 to $54 per square foot (Angi, 2026). Prices on Oahu often run higher because of labor and shipping. After the site visit you get an itemized price in writing.

Sometimes. Composite often needs closer joist spacing than old wood decking, and an old frame may have hidden termite or rot damage. We inspect the frame first and tell you whether it can be reused, reinforced or should be replaced.

It depends on budget and upkeep. Pressure-treated lumber with the right use rating is the most common choice, cedar and redwood resist decay naturally, and dense hardwoods like ipe last a long time at a higher price. The frame and posts need ground-contact or exterior-rated lumber either way.

Not for exposed deck parts. The supplier's guide says HiBor's warranty excludes decking, deck framing and lumber exposed to weather without paint or cover. Outdoor deck framing needs lumber rated for exterior or ground-contact use.

There is no single number. Footings that keep wood off the soil, the right treatment rating, good drainage and regular finishing make the biggest difference. A deck built with wood touching the ground or with trapped moisture can fail far sooner.

Under Honolulu's strong sun, plan on renewing the finish more often than mainland guides suggest. When water stops beading and the color fades, it is time. We can tell you what to expect for the species you choose.

Look for mud tubes on posts or footings, wood that sounds hollow, and wood that crumbles in layers. Formosan termites nest in the soil, so damage often starts out of sight at the posts. We check every post when we inspect.

Repair when the damage is limited and the frame and ledger are sound. Replace when posts and beams are damaged in several places, the ledger is failing, or the deck was built with wood in the soil. You see photos of what we found before we suggest a path.

Angi lists deck repairs at about $800 to $3,500 nationally, and HomeAdvisor lists rot repair at $200 to $500 and termite damage repair at $200 to $600. Honolulu prices often run higher. We give you a written price after the inspection.

A full replacement or structural rebuild generally needs a building permit, since DPP says decks require one under ROH Chapter 18. Small board replacements may not. When it is unclear, we check with the city before starting.

A roofed cover is building work, and in most cases it needs a DPP building permit with drawings. We help prepare the drawings and walk you through the HNL Build application. If you are unsure about a small shade structure, we check with the city first.

It will if it is designed for uplift. That means footings sized for the load, uplift connectors at posts and beams, rafter ties, and a sound connection to the house. We detail these on the permit drawings.

Aluminum resists termites and needs little upkeep, and it comes in open or insulated panels. Wood offers a traditional look and can match older homes, but needs termite-aware detailing and regular finishing.

Often, but older decks were rarely built to carry roof posts. We check the footings and beams, and if they cannot take the load, the cover gets its own posts and footings.

Under the model residential code most U.S. codes are based on, a guard is required when the deck is more than 30 inches above the ground, and residential guards must be at least 36 inches high with openings that block a 4-inch sphere. We confirm the rules for your deck with the city's adopted code.

Powder-coated aluminum and glass with stainless hardware are common choices. Cable railings work too if they use marine-grade stainless parts. Ordinary steel parts rust quickly in salt air.

Yes. We check the posts and rim board first, since a new railing is only as strong as the frame it bolts to, and fix any termite or rot damage we find.

National installed ranges run from about $30 per linear foot for wood to $140 to $210 for glass (Fixr). HomeAdvisor's 2026 guide gives $35 to $210 per linear foot overall. Once we have measured, you get a written price.

More often than mainland guides suggest, because of the strong sun. When water stops beading and the color has faded, it is time. Floors and stair treads usually need it before railings do.

Angi's 2026 national average is about $850, with most jobs between $550 and $1,250, or roughly $2 to $4 per square foot. Angi notes costs run higher in high cost-of-living areas. A written price follows a quick look at the deck.

A clear sealer repels water but blocks little UV, so the wood will still gray. A semi-transparent stain or a pigmented oil gives more sun protection while showing the grain.

Not well. New finish will peel with the old layer. Loose finish needs to be stripped or sanded off first so the new coat bonds to clean wood.