Deck Builder in Fairfax, VA
Fairfax sits at the center of Skip's home territory — a short drive from our Vienna shop, and an area he's been building decks in for 40+ years. From the established neighborhoods around Old Town Fairfax to the newer subdivisions on the city's edges, Skip builds decks that are straight, solid, and made to outlast the mortgage — with honest, transparent pricing and no corporate crew rushing the job.
Built right, from the footings up.
Craftsmanship you can stand on
A deck is only as good as what you can't see once it's finished — the footings, the framing, the ledger connection to the house.
Skip builds every one to full code from the ground up, whether it's a straightforward rebuild of an aging deck or a full custom multi-level build. How it's built today decides how solid it is twenty years from now.
Wood or composite — your call, honestly priced
Fairfax homeowners weigh the same trade-off everyone does: budget-friendly pressure-treated wood that needs regular sealing, or low-maintenance composite like Trex that costs more up front but shrugs off weather and stains for decades.
Skip lays out the real numbers with materials and labor quoted separately, so you decide with full information — no upsell, no single mystery price.
A few of our recent decks
A selection of decks from Skip's Northern Virginia portfolio — multi-level composite builds, tear-out rebuilds, railings, and stairs. It's the same footings-up craftsmanship we bring to every Fairfax project.
Fairfax permits — know which jurisdiction you're in
“Fairfax” is two different jurisdictions. The first thing Skip figures out is which one your address is in.
Inside the City of Fairfax
Permits go through the City of Fairfax's own building department — a separate jurisdiction from the County. Skip prepares the submission the City requires.
Just outside the city limits
Your address falls under Fairfax County's process through Land Development Services. Skip knows which one your home is in before the first board is cut.
Either way, an attached deck or one more than 30 inches above grade needs a building permit, a site plan, and code-compliant guardrails — and any HOA approval handled too. Skip pulls the permit as the responsible contractor.
Fairfax deck questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Fairfax?
Yes — attached decks and decks over 30 inches above grade require a permit. If you're in the City of Fairfax it goes through the City; just outside, through Fairfax County. Skip handles whichever applies.
Wood or composite for a Fairfax deck?
Both work well here — wood costs less up front but needs upkeep, composite costs more but is low-maintenance and long-lasting. Skip shows you the real price difference before you choose.
What Northern Virginia Homeowners Say
“I hired Skip and his crew to remodel my basement with a bathroom remodel, and they also remodeled my upstairs bathroom and kitchen. Then I hired them to expand my deck as well. Everything came out wonderful, on time and on budget — a great company that I will continue to work with on my home.”
“He rebuilt my deck after it was damaged by a fire from my grill. He and Tommy rebuilt it in record time, to my specs, and for a reasonable price. This is a good company that won't give you the runaround, and they are respectful to women — which means a lot if you're a single mom who owns your own house. Two thumbs up.”
“We hired Skip and crew to open up a stairwell in our 1939 Cape Cod. Their bid was competitive and the outcome is terrific! They showed up every day on time, the work was superb, and they cleaned up at the end of each day. The job finished on schedule. Highly recommend.”
“I told Skip I wanted to tear down my old deck and build a new one to Fairfax County code. The result: doubled in size, permitted, and it looks so much better. I'm convinced this well-built deck will be here long after the house falls away. Great job by great people. He's a straight shooter who does great work at a reasonable price — I whole-heartedly recommend Skip's Carpentry.”
“We had at least five bids for a complete remodel of our deck, pergola, and fence. Skip's quote was competitive and actually split into costs for materials and labor — very transparent. Skip is authentic and a straight shooter. One contractor said we needed a complete redo of the frame and posts; Skip disagreed, and it turned out he was right! We're very pleased with the end result.”
“I found Skip on Yelp and called based on the great reviews. I had a buckled board in my entryway. Skip answered my call — on a Sunday, when I expected to leave a message — and came by the next morning. He screwed the board down free of charge. I'm definitely planning on calling him again when we redo our deck next year.”
“Highly recommended. Skip and his crew built a new deck using existing structures and about doubled the size of usable space. The new deck is extremely solid and the finish work beautiful. Price was very competitive.”
“Skip was a breeze to work with on our deck replacement. Like other reviewers have said — he's no nonsense, but honest and forthright. I'd recommend him any day!”
We build decks throughout NoVA
See our full deck building & repair serviceGet a free deck estimate in Fairfax
Call Skip directly or send a few details and photos of your space. If we don't answer, expect a call or text back within the hour.