Step out the kitchen door and the little landing is crowded with two chairs and a grill, and past the rail the ground drops toward the trees. Half the township's houses are 1967 or older, many with a back yard that falls away. We build the wider, taller deck those lots call for, roofed if you want.
North Huntingdon Decks
No decade put up more township homes than the sixties, 89% are single detached houses, and 32% of households include children. Families like that outgrow a landing quickly, and here is what they ask us to build in its place.
Behind plenty of township houses, the grade falls off fast, leaving a deck at kitchen level standing well over the grass. Decks from 31 inches up are permit work here, and families want it rock steady.
Footings go below frost depth and the long posts get diagonal bracing so the frame stays still. Bolts pass through the ledger into the rim, flashing caps it, and drawings go in with the permit early enough to clear review.
DecksOwners often want a deck far past the size of what's there now. In the R-1 through R-3 districts the rear yard runs 30 feet, and coverage limits include accessory buildings, so the lot sets the ceiling.
First we measure back from your rear line and total up the roof and paving already on the lot, then ask the township how it counts a deck. You pick a layout knowing the largest one that will pass.
Township yardsPut a roof on the deck and supper outside survives a summer shower and the hottest July afternoon. Covered decks are on the township's permit list, and the airport's snow normal tops 44 inches a winter.
Framing is chosen for that load, and the new roof meets the house under step flashing to keep that seam tight. Its gutter empties well away from both the steps and the lot line.
Covered patiosSome families ask for the roof and screens together: a room where the kids eat outside all summer and the mosquitoes stay out. Others want windows instead, so the space works in April and October as well.
Under a roof, the deck or patio is wrapped in screen with a matching door, or fitted with glass for spring-to-fall use. First, though, the frame below is checked and strengthened for the added weight.
Screened roomsParents grab the railing and shake it the moment they step on. Decks from decades ago tend to have wide baluster spacing, posts screwed to the rim and steps without anything to hold.
Past 30 inches of height, guards rise to 36 inches or more, and no opening lets a 4-inch sphere through. Posts are bolted to the framing, risers are kept even, a handrail runs the stairs, and a gate can block the top.
Railings and stairsHaywood Road partly slid away in 2018, and the township has since debated a stormwater fee for projects across its creeks. On a hillside lot, owners worry about footings shifting once spring rain soaks in.
We map how runoff crosses the yard, keep posts out of its path and set footings past frost depth. On a covered deck, the downspout runs to a spot well clear of the footings rather than dumping beside them.
Township slopesHousing: Census ACS 2020–2024 for the township. Deck permits: the township's permit FAQ. Rear yards and coverage: Zoning Ordinance 765. Snow: 1991–2020 normals for Pittsburgh International.
The rest of the job
How it runs, what it costs and who builds it are on our main decks & covered patios page.
Decks in North Huntingdon
Three local facts steer a deck here: the township's list of what needs a permit, the zoning's rear yards and coverage caps, and hillsides that move water every spring.
31 inHeight on the township's permit list
Township inspectors permit decks that stand 31 inches or taller and every deck with a roof, and give themselves as long as 15 working days to review. Lower, open decks aren't on the list, so the township gets a call first. The office details are on our kitchen page.
North Huntingdon permits30 ftRear yard in R-1 to R-3
In R-1 through R-3, Ordinance 765 keeps 30 feet open behind the house and limits coverage to between 25% and 30%, counting accessory buildings. On a modest lot, those two figures size the deck. Every district is listed on our additions page.
Township yards2018Year of the Haywood Road slide
Spring rain has brought hillsides down onto Haywood Road, and in 2023 the township debated a monthly fee to fund creek and drainage projects. On a sloped yard, where the footings go and where roof water lands are planned together. The hub has more.
Township slopesDeck Questions
Families in the township ask these while we stand on the old landing. The decks service page covers each stage of the work.
Ask a QuestionHeight, footprint, decking and a possible roof are the main drivers. A deck high above a slope takes longer posts, bracing and more digging than one near the grass. The written price follows a walk around the yard.
What decks costThe township's list names decks 31 inches and up, plus any with a roof. A lower open deck isn't mentioned either way, so we call the township before starting, especially if steps or a patio are part of it.
North Huntingdon permitsMost residential districts keep a 30-foot rear yard, and coverage caps apply to the lot as a whole. We measure, total up what's already built, and show you the biggest layout the zoning allows.
Township yardsOnly if what's under it can carry a roof. The old posts, beam and ledger are inspected first, then strengthened or replaced before rafters go up. Either way, a covered deck goes through the township permit.
Covered patiosOver the winter. Across the county, deck-builder searches hover near 20 a month from November through February and pass 100 from March on. Drawings and permits done early put you near the front of the spring line.
How a deck job runsOther Services
Other township projects we take on, from kitchens and baths to attics, basements, additions, windows and siding or porch fixes, are linked below.
Kitchen RemodelingNew layouts, new cabinets, new counters: framed, built, and installed by the same crew.View Service
Bathroom RemodelingFull gut renovations with proper waterproofing, new framing, and tile set by hand.View Service
Attic FinishingUnused attics framed into bedrooms and offices: subfloor, insulation, drywall, and a proper stair.View Service
Basement FinishingUnfinished basements turned into real rooms: framed, insulated, drywalled, and finished by our crew.View Service
Additions & ADUsAdditions and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), framed from the ground up and tied in clean.View Service
Windows & Exterior DoorsWindows and exterior doors set, flashed, and trimmed so water stays out of the wall.View Service
Exterior Restoration & Structural RepairsRotted trim and siding, sagging joists, failed sills: opened up and repaired to solid wood.View ServiceVerified Google Reviews
5.0 out of 5 · 17 reviews
Written by the homeowners we've worked for across Westmoreland County. Every one verified on Google, every one pulled from the real feed.
Get in Touch
Tell us about the project in the form or give us a call. Either way, estimates are free and the number is the number — priced to the actual work, written down before anyone swings a hammer.
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Trafford, PA 15085
