Composite Decks in Twin Lakes, WI
Low-upkeep composite decking on a frame built to Wisconsin's deck standard, installed by one crew from footings to final railing.
Composite Decks
A deck that skips the yearly sealer.
Composite decking trades staining and sanding for a board that mostly needs a wash. For many homeowners, that is the draw. The boards are only half the story, though. The footings, framing and ledger under them decide how long a deck lasts. Pembroke Construction LLC builds composite decks on the same solid structure as any wood deck, then installs the boards the way the manufacturer's instructions call for.
Kyle Pembroke starts every project with a free design and a free written estimate, so you can see the layout, the board color and the railing before you commit. We are a licensed, insured and bonded contractor, and one crew handles the job from the first measurement to the final sweep. Discounts are available for military, seniors, teachers, first responders and people with disabilities.
What we do
What we handle on a composite deck.
Here is what is included, so you know what you are getting before you call.
Composite deck installation
New composite decks on a frame built for the load, with the board layout planned before the first cut.
Replacing worn wood decks
Old boards come off, and we check footings, ledger flashing, hangers and joist spacing before a new surface goes on.
Fastening done by the book
Hidden clips or face screws, with end and edge gaps set to the board maker's instructions, since methods differ by product.
Railings and stairs
Composite, metal or wood railings and matching stair treads, built to the 36-inch guard height and 8-inch riser limit where they apply.
Trim and border details
Trim boards and border details that hide cut ends and give the deck a finished edge.
Lighting and covered spaces
Step and post lighting, plus screened-in or covered sections that stretch the season you can use.
Signs it's time
How to tell it's time to call.
If a few of these sound like your place, it's worth a visit. We'll look at it and tell you straight what we would do.
- You are tired of staining and sealing your wood deck.
- Boards splinter or cup, and you worry about bare feet.
- The frame is sound, but the surface boards are worn out.
- You want a deck that stays tidy with a yearly wash.
- You plan to stay in the house and want less deck work.
How it works
How a composite deck goes, step by step.
From the first measurement to the final walk-through, you'll know what's happening and what comes next.
Plan the deck
We measure the site, note how much sun and shade the deck gets, and talk through color, board style and railings. You get a free design and a free written estimate to compare options.
Frame and footings
Footings go in at least 48 inches below grade, or deeper where frost requires. Wisconsin's deck standard caps joist spacing for wood-plastic boards at 16 inches on center unless the maker allows more, and we frame to match.
Permits and inspections
Permits and inspections go through your local municipality, and we walk you through them. We confirm footing and guard requirements, have utilities marked through Diggers Hotline before digging, and schedule inspections so the deck is signed off when finished.
Install the boards
Boards go down using the maker's spacing, gapping and fastener rules, which differ by product. Gaps leave room for boards to expand and contract, mostly along their length. Hidden clips set the edge gaps for you.
Railings and walkthrough
Railings, stairs, trim and lighting go in last. Then we clean the deck, pass along the board maker's care instructions, and walk it with you, including a yearly wash and keeping leaves and debris off.
Your options
Composite decking choices
Composite boards vary a lot from one maker to the next, so compare samples side by side.
Color and grain
Boards come in many colors and textures and can fade over time. Look at samples outside, in sun and shade, because indoor light can mislead.
Capped or uncapped boards
Capped boards wrap a wood-plastic core in a plastic shell that helps with stains, fading and water. Uncapped boards have wood fiber near the surface.
Hidden or face fasteners
Hidden clips leave a clean surface and set the gaps between boards. Face screws are simpler. Follow the board maker's instructions either way.
Railing systems
Composite, aluminum, wood or glass-panel systems are all possible. Guards must be 36 inches high on decks over 24 inches up, and openings must not pass a 4-inch sphere.
Heat and surface feel
Composite can run somewhat hotter than wood, but color matters more. Any decking gets hot on a sunny day, so touch samples left in the sun.
Local know-how
Built for Wisconsin.
Composite changes the surface of a deck, not the structure under it. Wisconsin decks fall under the Uniform Dwelling Code section SPS 321.225, which many municipalities adopt by reference. The state's deck guidance puts footings at least 48 inches below grade or below frost, whichever is deeper, and the code excuses only certain detached decks, such as pool, spa and patio decks, from frost-protected footings. Frost, and a design load of at least 40 pounds per square foot, are what the frame has to handle, whatever boards go on top.
Composite boards carry maker-specific rules, and the state's deck standard adds one of its own: joist spacing for wood-plastic decking is capped at 16 inches on center unless the manufacturer allows more, and closer spacing may be needed for diagonal boards or stair treads. A Forest Products Laboratory release also notes composites are heavier and less stiff than wood. Permits vary by municipality, and we walk you through them. Ask any contractor which product they plan to use and to see its installation guide.
Questions
Composite decks questions.
The things homeowners ask us most about this work. Don't see yours? Just call.
Prefer to talk it through? Call and ask for a free estimate.
Is composite decking maintenance free?
No deck is maintenance free. Composite usually skips the staining and sealing that wood needs, but a Forest Products Laboratory release says periodic cleaning is needed to keep mold and mildew at bay, and Fine Homebuilding suggests a yearly wash with a hose, brush and mild soap. Dirt and debris left sitting can stain. Follow the board maker's cleaning instructions. We go over care when we hand the deck over.
Can new composite boards go on my existing deck frame?
Sometimes. The frame and footings have to be sound, and joist spacing has to suit the board, which varies by product and layout. Diagonal boards may need closer joists. We inspect the existing footings, ledger flashing, hangers and framing, tell you plainly what we find, and put any needed repairs in the written estimate before anything gets covered up.
Do composite decks get hot in the sun?
They can. Fine Homebuilding found wood-plastic composites run somewhat hotter than wood, but color matters more, and any decking material gets uncomfortable on a hot, sunny day. Lighter colors help. Set samples out in the sun and touch them before you decide, and ask each maker about the surface. If bare feet matter to you, that test is worth doing.
Do composite decks need the same footings and permits as wood?
Plan on it. Composite changes the boards, not the structure. Wisconsin's deck standard sets footings at least 48 inches below grade or below frost, whichever is deeper, and excuses only certain detached decks from frost-protected footings. Permit rules come from your municipality (Fox Crossing, for one, requires a permit to build a deck and inspects footings before the pour). We confirm both before work starts and walk you through the process from there.
Will composite cost more than wood?
That depends on the products you choose. Ask us to price wood and composite side by side in your free written estimate, so you see the difference for your own deck instead of a generic number. We also offer discounts for military, seniors, teachers, first responders and people with disabilities.
What should I ask a contractor before choosing a composite brand?
Ask which product they plan to use and to see the manufacturer's installation guide, and whether it is capped or uncapped. Ask how the frame will be spaced for that board, how ends and edges get finished, and how the ledger is flashed where the deck meets the house. A good answer is specific. We are glad to go through those points on your estimate.
Related services
Often done together.
Most jobs touch more than one trade. One crew keeps them on the same schedule.
Decks
Wood decks and railings built level and solid, sized for the way you use the yard.
Learn more
Siding
New siding and trim that sheds water, handles the weather and makes the house look sharp again.
Learn more
Painting
Careful prep, clean lines and finish coats that hold up, inside and out.
Learn moreWhere we work
Composite Decks across Twin Lakes and 19 towns.
We work about 45 minutes out from Twin Lakes, in southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Tap your town.
Where this information comes from
We checked the details on this page against public sources. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything specific with your local building office or with us.
- Rochester, WI: Uniform Building Code ordinance (adopts SPS 321.225 for decks)
- Clear Lake, WI: building code ordinance (deck fee and permit thresholds)
- Town of Fountain Prairie, WI: Uniform Dwelling Code ordinance
- Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 321.03(6): Egress Windows (path under a deck)
- Wisconsin DSPS: One- and Two-Family Uniform Dwelling Code
- Wisconsin DSPS: Deck construction presentation (footings, guards, wood-plastic decking spacing)
- Town of Holland, WI: Appendix B decks commentary (composite joist and stringer spacing)
- Village of Fox Crossing, WI: Decks brochure (permit, 40 psf design load, inspections, Diggers Hotline)
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory news release: Considering alternative materials for deck construction (2007)
- Mankowski, Manning and Slowik: Durability of Capped Wood Plastic Composites (USDA Forest Products Laboratory, 2015)
- Fine Homebuilding: Synthetic decking comes of age (capped vs uncapped, heat, gaps, joist spacing, cleaning)
Free estimate
Ready to talk composite decks?
Tell us what you've got in mind. We'll set up a time to look at it, and you'll get the scope and price in writing, with the design work on us.
- Free written estimates and free designs
- Discounts for military, seniors, teachers, 1st responders and people with disabilities
- Twin Lakes, WI and about 45 minutes around it