Deck & Porch Construction in Richmond, VA
Expand your living space outdoors with a custom deck or porch built to last decades.
Why Choose MAS Contractors?
Richmond's climate makes outdoor living spaces a year-round asset. MAS Contractors LLC builds custom decks, porches, and pergolas throughout Richmond, North Chesterfield, and Midlothian — designed to complement your home and built to withstand Virginia's seasons.
We work with composite decking (Trex, TimberTech), pressure-treated lumber, tropical hardwoods, and PVC materials. Whether you want a simple backyard deck, a wraparound porch, a rooftop deck, or a multi-level outdoor entertaining space, our team handles design, permits, and construction.
- Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon)
- Pressure-treated lumber decks
- Custom pergola design & build
- Covered & screened porch construction
- Multi-level deck construction
- Built-in benches, planters & railings
- Deck lighting systems
- Permit management included
Our Process
Free Design Consultation
We discuss your vision, measure your space, and help you choose the right size, layout, and material for your outdoor living goals.
Material Selection & Permits
Choose composite or wood decking, rail style, and colors. We handle all county permit paperwork and submissions on your behalf.
Foundation & Framing
Footings poured and inspected, ledger board anchored to the home, beam structure and framing built to Virginia code.
Decking, Rails & Final Details
Boards installed, railings built, lighting added if included, and a final walkthrough with complete cleanup of the work area.
11+
Years of Experience
500+
Projects Completed
100%
Satisfaction Rate
Always
Free Estimate
Cost & Timeline Guide
$5,000 – $35,000
Most projects: $12,000 – $22,000
1 – 3 weeks (after permits)
Permit approval times may add 2–4 weeks for certain projects
What Affects Your Cost
- Square footage of deck or porch
- Composite vs. pressure-treated lumber material
- Multi-level vs. single-level design
- Screened enclosure or covered roof addition
- Built-in lighting, benches, and custom features
What Every Homeowner Should Know
Common Challenges
Footing Depth and Frost Line
Chesterfield County requires deck footings a minimum of 24" below grade to get below the frost line. Footings that are too shallow will heave in winter, causing structural movement, deck board gaps, and railing failure over time.
Ledger Board Connection
The ledger — the board that attaches the deck to the house — is the most critical structural point and the most commonly failed one. It must be flashed with metal and connected with structural lag bolts into the house rim joist, not just through the siding.
Composite Board Expansion in Summer
Composite decking expands 1/8" per 12 feet in Virginia's summer heat. Boards installed too tight will buckle upward. Correct gap spacing at install prevents this — it's a common mistake that requires expensive re-work to fix.
Wood Rot at Post-to-Footing Contact
Pressure-treated posts set directly in concrete will rot at the concrete interface within 10–15 years in Virginia's humidity. We always use post bases that keep wood elevated and allow drainage — extending structural life by decades.
Pro Tips from Our Team
Use stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized hardware throughout — standard zinc screws rust and bleed red streaks into deck boards within 2–3 Virginia winters.
Install post bases anchored to concrete footings instead of burying posts in the ground — it's code-compliant and adds 20+ years to post life.
Add blocking between joists every 8 feet to prevent lateral joist movement — it's required for composite decking installation per most manufacturers' warranties.
Plan your decking board direction during design — boards parallel to the house make the deck feel wider; boards at 45° look dramatic but generate 15% more waste.
Budget for permit fees ($150–$400 in Chesterfield) and allow 2–4 weeks for permit approval before scheduling material delivery.
