Outdoor Living · Decks & porches
Decks and porches built for snow
A deck or porch is where a Methow home meets the outdoors: morning coffee, boots off, a place to watch the weather come in. We build both covered porches and open decks, framed for real snow loads and tied into the house so they stay dry and solid for decades.
Every option is compared on the same five things:
Start here
Covered porch or open deck
Both are framed for Methow snow. The difference is whether the deck gets its own roof.
Our recommendation
Covered porch
A deck with its own roof, built as part of the house or as a low shed roof off the wall. Snow and ice stay off the boards and the entry, and you get shade on hot afternoons.
- Look / Style
- Sheltered, part of the house
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 50+ years (roof and frame)
- Relative Cost
- $$$–$$$$
- Best For
- Entries and main living decks; snowy, sunny, or smoky sites
Why people pick it
- Snow and ice stay off the deck
- Protected entry and longer-lasting boards
- Shade in summer, shelter in smoke and rain
Trade-offs
- Costs more than an open deck
- Can darken the rooms behind it
Open deck
A deck open to the sky: full sun, open views, and the lowest cost. We lay out the roof lines so snow slides away from the deck, not onto it, and frame it for the snow that will pile up.
- Look / Style
- Open, sunny, view-first
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 25–50 years (frame); boards per decking
- Relative Cost
- $$
- Best For
- Sunny sides away from roof drip; budgets; decks added later
Why people pick it
- Full sun and open sky
- Lowest cost per square foot
- Easy to add later
Trade-offs
- Snow to shovel in winter
- Boards weather faster without a roof
Decking
What goes underfoot
Composite is our go-to: no staining, no splinters, and better fire resistance than wood. Wood and fire-rated PVC are available on request.
Our standard
Composite decking
Wood-and-plastic boards with a hard outer shell, in many colors and wood-grain textures. Our standard: no staining, no splinters, and better fire resistance than wood.
- Look / Style
- Wood-grain look, many colors
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 25–50 years (maker's warranty)
- Relative Cost
- $$–$$$
- Best For
- Most decks; low upkeep; fire-aware sites
Why people pick it
- No stain or sealer, ever
- Won't splinter, rot, or attract bugs
- Better fire rating than most wood
Trade-offs
- Gets hot in direct sun, dark colors most
- Costs more than wood up front
Wood decking
Real cedar or pressure-treated boards. Cedar has a warm color and smell; pressure-treated is the lowest-cost deck you can build. Both need a stain or sealer every couple of years.
- Look / Style
- Natural wood, warm
- Maintenance
- High
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years with care
- Relative Cost
- $–$$
- Best For
- Tight budgets (pressure-treated); wood lovers (cedar)
Why people pick it
- Real wood look and feel
- Lowest up-front cost (pressure-treated)
- Easy to replace a board
Trade-offs
- Re-stain every 2–3 years
- Burns more readily than composite
Fire-rated PVC decking
All-plastic (PVC) boards with the highest fire rating decking can carry. Low upkeep like composite, and the strongest choice for a deck close to the house on a high-fire-risk site.
- Look / Style
- Wood-grain look, many colors
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 25–50 years (maker's warranty)
- Relative Cost
- $$$–$$$$
- Best For
- High-fire-risk sites; decks right against the house
Why people pick it
- Top fire rating (Class A)
- No stain, rot, or splinters
- Lighter than composite
Trade-offs
- Highest cost
- Can feel less like wood underfoot
Decking side by side
| Tag | Composite decking | Wood decking | Fire-rated PVC decking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look / Style | Wood-grain look, many colors | Natural wood, warm | Wood-grain look, many colors |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Low |
| Lifespan | 25–50 years (maker's warranty) | 15–25 years with care | 25–50 years (maker's warranty) |
| Relative Cost | $$–$$$ | $–$$ | $$$–$$$$ |
| Best For | Most decks; low upkeep; fire-aware sites | Tight budgets (pressure-treated); wood lovers (cedar) | High-fire-risk sites; decks right against the house |
Railings
When your deck needs a railing
Most decks we build sit low enough that they don't need a railing. When one does, here are the two we build most. Code requires one where the deck is more than 30 inches above the ground.
Built most
Post-and-cable railing
Wood or metal posts with thin steel cables run between them. The railing almost disappears, so the view stays open: the one we build most.
- Look / Style
- Open, modern
- Maintenance
- Low
- Lifespan
- 30+ years
- Relative Cost
- $$$
- Best For
- Decks with a view
Why people pick it
- Keeps the view open
- Little to maintain
- Clean, modern look
Trade-offs
- Cables need re-tightening now and then
- Costs more than wood
Wood railing
Wood posts, rails, and pickets, in cedar or pressure-treated to match the deck. Classic and affordable, and easy for us to build to suit the house.
- Look / Style
- Classic, cabin
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 15–25 years
- Relative Cost
- $–$$
- Best For
- Budgets; traditional or cabin homes
Why people pick it
- Lowest cost
- Classic look that matches wood details
- Easy to repair
Trade-offs
- Pickets block more of the view
- Needs stain with the deck
Every Bedrock deck
How we build it
Every deck and porch gets the same footings, flashing, and framing care, whatever surface you choose.
Footings below the frost line
Every deck and porch post sits on a poured concrete pier that goes below the 2-foot frost line, so freezing ground can't heave the deck out of level.
No frost heave
Posts never sit in wet soil
Framed for snow
A deck in the Methow has to hold the snow that piles on it, not just people. We size the beams and joists for your site's snow load and bring in an engineer when the standard tables don't cover it.
Sized for real Methow snow
No bounce or sag
Ledger bolted and flashed
Where a deck attaches to the house, its ledger board is bolted to the floor framing and flashed, so water can't get into the wall and the deck can't pull away.
No rot hidden behind the deck
Deck locked to the house
Framing protected to last
Deck framing is pressure-treated lumber, and we cover the top of every joist and beam with tape so water can't sit in the screw holes. The frame should outlast the boards on top of it.
Frame outlasts the decking
Ready for re-decking later
Ember-smart details
Embers collect under and against decks. We keep the space under the deck clear with gravel, leave room for air, and use metal flashing where the deck meets the wall.
Nothing under the deck to catch embers
Wall protected where the deck meets it
FAQ
Common questions
Should I build a covered porch or an open deck in snow country?
If the budget allows, a covered porch. A roof keeps snow and ice off the deck, protects the entry and the boards, and gives you shade in summer. Open decks work well too; we lay out the roof lines so snow slides away from the deck, not onto it.
Is composite decking good in snow and cold?
Yes. Composite boards don't need stain, won't splinter, and shrug off snow, sun, and shoveling with a plastic shovel. They get hot in direct summer sun, and dark colors more so, so pick a lighter color for sunny decks.
Does my deck need a railing?
Code requires a guard where the deck is more than 30 inches above the ground. Many decks on our homes sit lower than that and don't need one. When they do, we most often build post-and-cable railings that keep the view open.
Planning a deck or porch?
We'll lay it out with your plans, so the roof sheds snow away from it and the framing is sized for your site.