Deck Builders in Portland, OR: Get a Free Quote From a Pro

Last updated October 9, 2026

Deck builders in Portland: what a free quote covers

Portland Deck Pros puts Portland homeowners in touch with a local deck builder for a free quote. Describe the project once: a new deck off the back door, a second-story deck on a sloping lot, new boards on a tired frame, or a roof over the deck you already have. Your request goes to one independent deck contractor who works in your part of the metro, and they contact you to price the job. The site does no construction itself, and asking costs nothing.

What goes into a new deck

Every deck, whatever it is surfaced with, is a structure first. The posts sit on concrete footings, beams and joists carry the boards, and an attached deck hangs from a ledger board fastened to the house, flashed so that water does not reach the house framing behind it. Then come the decking, the stairs and, once the deck is more than 30 inches above the ground, guards (the code’s word for railings). A quote for a new deck should cover all of it, plus the permit when the deck needs one.

The boards are where most of the choice is: pressure-treated wood, cedar, which Oregon State University Extension notes costs more but resists decay, or composite and PVC boards, which carry long manufacturer warranties and a higher price. Our guide to the best decking for Portland’s climate compares them for our rain and shade, and the composite deck builders page explains what changes when the boards are composite. If you want the deck usable in winter, see covered decks and deck roofs. For an existing deck that has gone soft, wobbly or mossy, start with deck repair and replacement.

Decks in Portland: the permit line

In Portland, the City’s deck guidance puts it plainly: if the walking surface is over 30 inches from the ground, you need a building permit. That follows the statewide exemption in the Oregon Residential Specialty Code, which measures the 30 inches at any point within 3 feet of the deck. Two Portland rules catch people out even on low decks: covered decks have zoning requirements at any height, and the City’s deck plans must show the root protection zone of nearby trees under Title 11. Portland’s zoning code lets a deck no more than 2-1/2 feet above the ground extend into the whole required setback, while a higher deck may extend only 20 percent of the setback’s depth and must stay at least 3 feet from the lot line. All of this, and how the suburbs differ, is in our deck permit rules guide.

The houses are older than in most of the metro, too: the median Portland home was built in 1966, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. On an older house, the ledger connection and the flashing behind it deserve a close look before new boards go down, and a contractor’s quote should say what they found.

For prices, our page on what a deck costs gives the most recent published Portland figures for a wood and a composite deck, what that standard project includes, and what moves a real quote up or down.

How to check a deck contractor in Oregon

Oregon law requires anyone who bids on construction work for pay to hold a current license from the Construction Contractors Board (ORS 701.021). Before you sign anything, look the contractor up on the CCB’s public license search. The CCB says the record shows:

• whether the contractor is actively licensed and has a surety bond;
• whether they gave proof of liability insurance when first licensed and at renewal;
• whether they carry workers’ compensation insurance;
• complaints or disciplinary actions filed with the CCB over the past 10 years, if there are any.

Ask for the quote in writing, with the deck size, the board and railing materials, who pulls the permit and what happens to the old deck if one is coming out. A contractor’s quote is theirs: Portland Deck Pros does not set prices or check licenses on your behalf, so the license search is worth the two minutes.

We also cover deck builders across the Portland metro, including Lake Oswego, Tigard, Happy Valley and Oregon City, where the permit rules differ from Portland’s.