Common questions
Are you the contractor?
This is a deck-project referral website, not a construction company. Any work would be agreed directly with an independent contractor. Contractor matching and availability must be confirmed; submitting a request does not guarantee a match.
Can you give a price online?
A meaningful scope depends on dimensions, access, materials, structural condition and permit requirements. Request an itemized written proposal from the contractor; this site does not quote construction prices.
Do I need a permit?
Check with the municipality for the actual property. Green Bay lists decks as permit-required, with an exception for non-structural decking-board replacement. Appleton includes decks in its building permit application.
Will composite stop winter movement?
Changing the surface does not correct movement in footings or framing. Footing design and the selected board manufacturer’s installation instructions both matter.
What should I check before hiring?
Ask who performs the work, how permits and inspections are handled, what the written scope includes and how changes are approved. Verify the contractor’s qualifications yourself before signing.
Built around Wisconsin conditions
Under Wisconsin’s prescriptive deck appendix, footings must bear on solid ground below frost penetration or at least 48 inches below finished grade, whichever is deeper. This is not a claim that every site has exactly 48 inches of frost. Soil, the house foundation and the proposed loads can require additional design.
Snow drift and sliding snow are explicitly identified as potential concentrated loads. Ask your contractor or designer to check the actual layout rather than treating a basic deck table as approval for a roof, hot tub or heavy planter.
Sources: Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code — SPS 325 Appendix B. Checked November 8, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your building inspector.
Sources: City of Green Bay — Do I Need a Permit? · City of Appleton — Permits and Applications · City of Appleton — Building Permit. Checked November 8, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your building inspector.