Custom deck builders inPortland, Maine
& The Lakes Region
Pressure-treated, cedar and composite decks, porches, pergolas and fences built for Maine winters, from the Portland waterfront to the Sebago lakes. Framed to code, flashed properly and built by the owners.
- Owners On Every Job
- Fully Insured
- Written Estimates
What We Build Outside
Most of our outdoor work is in Portland, Windham and the Lakes Region, where a deck has to handle snow load, lake moisture and a long freeze. These are the projects we take on.
- New decks and full deck replacements
- Deck resurfacing and railing upgrades
- Porches, front steps and landings
- Cedar pergolas and shade structures
- Privacy fences and gates
- Outdoor showers for lake houses
What A Maine Deck
Has To Handle
A deck in Portland or on Sebago is not the same build as one in a dry climate. These are the four things we design around.
Frost Footings And Snow Load
Footings go below frost depth and framing is sized for the snow a Maine winter actually drops. Undersized joists and shallow footings are why older decks around Portland heave and sag.
Lake Moisture And Shade
Shaded lots and lake air keep wood wet. We use ground-contact lumber where it matters, leave proper board gaps and specify fasteners rated for the exposure.
The Ledger Is Where Decks Fail
Most of the failed decks we replace in Greater Portland rotted at the ledger because it was never flashed. Ours get flashing, proper bolts and a water-managed connection to the house.
Permits And Shoreland Zoning
Attached decks and anything over 30 inches need a town permit, and lake lots add shoreland setbacks. We handle the drawings, the application and the inspections.
Decking Materials
And What They Cost You Later
The right material depends on the lot, the use and how much maintenance you want to do. We build all three and will tell you which fits.
Pressure-Treated
Lowest upfront cost and the most common deck in Maine. Needs sealing every couple of years to look its best, and it will check and gray without it.
View Service →Cedar
The best looking option, naturally rot resistant, and it weathers to a soft gray if you leave it. Costs more than pressure-treated and still wants a seal on the lake.
View Service →Composite
Highest upfront price, lowest maintenance by far. No sealing, no splinters, color holds. Worth it on a lake house you do not want to maintain every spring.
View Service →Railings And Stairs
Cable rail, black aluminum balusters, composite or wood. Railings and stairs are usually a third of the deck budget, so we price them as their own line.
View Service →Want one of the owners to look at it?Free site visit, written estimate, no pressure.
What You Get
When You Hire M&C
The same four commitments on every job, written into how we work.
Owners On Site Every Day
Caleb or Micah is on the tools on every project. The people who quote the job build it.
Written, Itemized Estimates
Scope and price in writing before work starts. If something changes once walls are open, you sign off first.
Fully Insured
M&C Carpentry LLC carries full liability coverage. A certificate of insurance is available before work begins.
Clean Site, Daily
Tools stored, debris hauled and floors swept at the end of each working day, not just the last one.
How The Job Runs,
Start To Finish
Four steps, no mystery pricing, no vague timelines.
Site Visit And Measure
One of the owners walks the lot, measures, checks grade and the house connection, and talks through how you will use the deck.
Design And Materials
We draw the layout, size the framing and price it three ways if you want to compare pressure-treated, cedar and composite.
Permit
We submit the drawings to the town and, on lake lots, handle shoreland zoning. Most deck permits come back in one to three weeks.
Build And Walkthrough
Footings, framing, decking, railings, stairs. We clean the site daily and walk the finished deck with you before we leave.
What A Deck Costs
In Greater Portland
Most decks we build in Portland and the Lakes Region land in the low to mid five figures. The number moves on six things, and we price each one as a line item so you can see where the money goes.
- Square footage and shape
- Height, stairs and landings
- Material: pressure-treated, cedar or composite
- Railing type
- Site access and footing conditions
- Permit and drawings
Get A Written Number
Send a few photos and rough dimensions and we will come measure. You get a written, itemized estimate, usually within a few days of the site visit.
Where We Do This Work
Based in Waterford, serving a 47-mile radius across Greater Portland, Lewiston-Auburn, the Lakes Region and the Oxford Hills.
Somewhere else in Southern or Western Maine? Call (207) 707-6208 and ask.
Common Questions
About Custom Deck Building
How much does a deck cost in Maine?
It depends on size, height, material and railings more than anything else. In Greater Portland and the Lakes Region most of the decks we build land in the low to mid five figures. A simple ground-level pressure-treated deck sits at the low end.
A raised composite deck with stairs, cable rail and a lake view sits at the high end. We price every deck as line items so you can see what each choice adds, and we are happy to price it two ways so you can compare.
Composite or cedar for a lake house?
If you want to do nothing to the deck each spring, composite. It does not need sealing, does not splinter and holds its color. Cedar looks better to most people and is naturally rot resistant, but on a shaded lake lot it still wants a seal every couple of years or it will gray and check.
Pressure-treated is the budget option and needs the most upkeep. We build all three and will tell you which one fits the lot.
Do I need a permit for a deck in Maine?
Usually yes. Attached decks and any deck more than 30 inches above grade need a building permit from the town. On lake and river lots, shoreland zoning adds setback rules on top of that. We handle the drawings, the application and the inspections as part of the job, and we will tell you up front if a setback affects what you can build.
How long does a deck take to build?
Most decks take one to two weeks on site once the permit is in hand and materials have arrived. Larger decks with stairs, multiple levels or cable railing can run longer. Permit timing varies by town, usually one to three weeks. We give you a start window and duration in the written estimate.
Can you replace just the boards and railings?
Yes, if the framing is sound. We inspect the joists, ledger and footings first. If they are solid, resurfacing with new boards and railings is a good way to get a new-looking deck for less. If the ledger is rotted or the footings have heaved, we will show you and recommend a rebuild instead.
Do you build pergolas, fences and outdoor showers?
Yes. Cedar pergolas, privacy fences and gates, and outdoor showers for lake houses are all regular work for us. They are often added to a deck project but we take them on their own too.
Planning a deck for next season?Get On The Spring Schedule
Tell us about the project and one of the owners will be in touch to arrange a site visit. If it makes sense to wait or phase the work, we will say so.
- Owners on every job
- Fully insured
- Written estimates
- Clean site, daily
Request Your Free Estimate
Fill this in and one of the owners will be in touch to book a time.
Prefer to talk? Call (207) 707-6208