Decks and porches in Bethesda, built like the rest of the house.
Pressure-treated and composite decks, covered porches, code-compliant rails and stairs — engineered, permitted, and flashed at the house by a roofing-born general contractor.
Free on-site design consult anywhere in Maryland. You get a written Good/Better/Best ballpark — and it's yours either way.
Real measurements, real options, a real number — before you commit to anything
- ✅ On-site measure of grade, height & sightlines FREE
- ✅ Pressure-treated vs. composite priced side by side FREE
- ✅ Permit & footing requirements checked for your county FREE
- ✅ Written Good/Better/Best ballpark — yours to keep either way
Want a number right now? The Project Builder gives you a live deck & porch ballpark in about two minutes — then the on-site visit confirms it in writing.
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Free deck & porch estimate
30 seconds. A real person confirms within one business hour (8am–7pm).
Free on-site design consult + written Good/Better/Best ballpark — free. You keep the numbers either way. $0-down financing available.
Book My Free Design Consult →Three ways to build it — priced honestly
Typical Maryland ranges for an average single-family deck. Size, height, stairs, and site conditions move the number — every price is confirmed on-site, in writing. Our 2026 Maryland deck cost guide breaks down the per-square-foot math and permit process.
Pressure-treated deck
$9,000–$15,000The classic wood deck — strong, code-compliant, and the most budget-friendly way to add real outdoor living space.
- Pressure-treated framing & decking
- Flashed ledger connection at the house
- Code-compliant guards & stairs
- Permit & county inspections handled
Composite deck
$14,000–$24,000Composite decking on pressure-treated framing — no staining, no splinters, no rot, and color that holds up season after season.
- Composite deck boards, hidden fasteners
- Composite or aluminum rail options
- Flashed ledger + proper drainage details
- Permit & county inspections handled
Covered porch or premium build
$22,000–$38,000A covered porch with a roof that ties into your existing shingles correctly — or a premium composite build with upgraded rails and low-voltage lighting.
- Porch roof framed & flashed by roofers
- Premium composite + upgraded rail systems
- Low-voltage stair & rail lighting
- Ceiling, fan-rated blocking & trim options
Typical ranges, not quotes — confirmed on-site in writing. Want a live number now? Configure your deck in the Project Builder →
Pressure-treated vs. composite
| Pressure-treated wood | Composite decking | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical project cost* | Quoted off a measurement | $14,000–$24,000 ($22,000–$38,000 with premium rails & lighting) |
| Maintenance | Stain or seal every 2–3 years to prevent graying, checking, and splinters | No staining or sealing — soap-and-water cleaning only |
| Expected life | 15–25 years with consistent upkeep | 25–30+ years; most brands carry long fade-and-stain warranties |
| Feel & look | Real wood grain; can warp, check, and splinter over time | Consistent color and texture; stays smooth underfoot |
| Best for | Tight budgets and owners who don't mind maintenance | Set-it-and-forget-it outdoor living; strongest long-term value |
*Typical Maryland ranges for an average single-family deck — square footage, height off grade, stairs, and rail choices move the number. We quote both systems side by side, in writing, confirmed on-site.
The part of the deck you never see is the part that matters
Permits — we pull them
Most Maryland jurisdictions require a building permit for attached decks and most freestanding decks, with plan review before work starts. We prepare the drawings, pull the permit, and schedule every county inspection — you never touch the paperwork.
Footings below the frost line
Deck posts bear on concrete footings dug below the local frost line and inspected by the county before framing begins. Skipping that step is how decks heave, sag, and pull away from the house — ours are dug, poured, and signed off before a single joist goes up.
Rails & stairs built to code
Most Maryland jurisdictions follow the residential code: guards are required on decks more than 30 inches above grade, typically 36 inches high with balusters spaced so a 4-inch sphere can't pass, plus graspable handrails and consistent riser heights on stairs. We build to your county's adopted code and the inspector verifies it.
And the detail most builders get wrong: the ledger connection. Where the deck bolts to the house is where water gets in and where decks fail. We're roofers first — the ledger gets properly flashed and integrated with the housewrap, so the connection stays dry for the life of the deck.
From sketch to final inspection
One team, one contract, one accountable schedule — with the county inspecting the work at every required stage.
On-site design consult
We measure the site — grade, height, doors, sightlines, sun — talk through how you'll actually use the space, and leave you a written Good/Better/Best ballpark. No pressure, no obligation.
Day 1 · FreeMaterials, rails & options
Pressure-treated and composite priced side by side against your actual layout, with rail styles, stair runs, and lighting options you can see and hold. $0-down financing from 12 to 180 months (on approved credit) is quoted alongside.
Your call, real numbersPermit & footings
We submit drawings, pull the county permit, then dig and pour footings below the frost line. The county inspects the holes before concrete and the framing before decking — that's how it's supposed to work, and we schedule all of it.
County-inspectedFraming, decking, rails & lighting
Flashed ledger, framed structure, decking, code-compliant guards and stairs — and on covered porches, a roof structure flashed into your existing shingles by people who do roofs for a living. Most decks take about 1–2 weeks on site.
1–2 weeks on site, typicalFinal inspection, walkthrough & warranty
County final inspection, full site cleanup with a magnet sweep for fasteners, and a walkthrough of the finished build — then the manufacturer's warranty plus our 2-year workmanship warranty, in writing.
In writingCredentials on paper, not just on the truck
Family-owned and operating across Maryland since 2005. Every contract carries our license numbers, every crew is fully insured, and every job is backed in writing.
Deck plus roof, siding, or a whole remodel? Configure it all at once.
The Project Builder lets you scope your deck alongside anything else the house needs — pick your areas, choose Good/Better/Best, and watch the ballpark update live. One team, one written scope, one plan.
Configure Your Project — See Your Ballpark Live →Decks and porches in Bethesda and Montgomery County
A deck is one of the few projects where the permit shapes the design: setbacks, lot coverage and rail and stair geometry all get reviewed before anything is built, and the footing inspection has to pass before framing goes on.
Bethesda is not a city. It is unincorporated Montgomery County, so permits, plan review and inspections run through the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (DPS), 240-777-0311. Rockville and Gaithersburg run their own permit offices: the City of Rockville (240-314-8200) and the City of Gaithersburg (301-258-6330). We confirm which one covers your address before anything is filed.
Much of Bethesda inside the Beltway is 1920s–1950s colonials and capes, with 1990s-onward tear-downs and rear additions between them, and Rockville’s older neighborhoods are 1950s ramblers and split-levels. That mix is why we measure and photograph the actual house before pricing, rather than quoting from a phone call.
Straight answers
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Maryland?
In most Maryland jurisdictions, yes — attached decks and most freestanding decks require a building permit, with footing and framing inspections along the way. We pull the permit, schedule the county inspections, and build to the local code, so you never touch the paperwork.
Pressure-treated or composite — which should I pick?
Pressure-treated lumber is the budget leader but needs staining or sealing every couple of years. Composite costs more up front, never needs staining, and won't splinter or rot — most owners come out ahead over the life of the deck. We price both against your actual layout so you compare real numbers.
What does a new deck or porch cost in Maryland?
El precio lo determina el techo, no un número en una página: los cuadros que mide, la inclinación, cuántas capas ya tiene, en qué estado está la madera debajo y qué tan difícil es llegar. Medimos las cinco cosas gratis y se lo damos por escrito. These are typical ranges, not quotes — size, height, stairs, and site conditions move the number, and every price is confirmed on-site in writing. $0-down financing is available.
How long does a deck or porch project take?
Permit review time varies by county — typically a few weeks. Once the permit is in hand, most decks are built in about 1–2 weeks on site, including footings, framing, decking, rails, and stairs. Covered porches run longer because of the roof structure and inspections.
Why hire a roofing contractor to build a deck or porch?
Because the two places decks and porches fail are water details: the ledger connection at the house and the porch roof tie-in. We're a roofing-born general contractor — GAF Certified — so the ledger gets flashed correctly and a covered porch roof integrates with your existing shingles and gutters the way a roofer would do it, under one contract and one warranty. See everything we build on the general contracting page.
Free design consult. Real options. A real number.
Anywhere in Maryland. You keep the written ballpark either way.
Prefer to talk? (240) 880-2108
Areas we serve
Local crews across Montgomery County and the rest of Maryland.
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Financing Disclosures
Representative example: $15,000 financed at 9.99% APR for 120 months = approximately $198/month. Total of payments approximately $23,760. Your actual rate, term, and payment depend on the lender, your credit, and the amount financed.
All financing is provided by independent third-party lenders on approved credit. United Developers is a home improvement contractor, not a lender, broker, or financial advisor, and does not make credit decisions or set rates. Rates, terms (12–180 months), and $0-down availability vary by lender and applicant and are subject to change. Not all applicants will qualify. Full financing disclosures →