New Decks · Minneapolis, MN
PVC deck installation in Minneapolis
Your deck stays damp, sits beside a hot tub or pool, or hides under heavy shade, and you want boards that won't rot, swell or need staining.
We install all-plastic cellular PVC decking on a flat, taped frame, with fastening and gapping planned for Minnesota temperature swings.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Written scope before work starts
$67 to $112 per square foot installed, based on 2026 Twin Cities jobs.
PVC deck installation uses boards made entirely of cellular PVC, with no wood fiber, laid over a sound frame with hidden fasteners or color-matched plugged screws. It's the top tier of synthetic decking for wet, shaded or low decks. Around Minneapolis, PVC decks typically cost $67 to $112 per square foot installed, depending on board line, frame work, height, borders and railing.
How PVC decking differs from composite, and why that matters
Composite boards mix wood fiber with plastic under a protective cap. PVC boards contain no wood at all; they're cellular PVC through and through, usually with a textured surface layer. With no organic material inside, there's nothing in the core to absorb water, swell or feed mold. That makes PVC the board we suggest for decks around hot tubs and pools, under heavy shade, close to the ground where air barely moves, or on balconies and rooftops where weight matters.
PVC is also lighter than composite, which makes long boards easier to handle and lowers the dead load on balconies. Several lines are marketed as staying cooler underfoot than comparable composite, and we'll set samples in your yard so you can judge for yourself. The surface can be a bit softer, so some lines show scuffs from metal furniture feet. AZEK boards, sold within the TimberTech family, and Fiberon's PVC line are the ones we install most, with wide color ranges and wood-grain textures.
The trade is movement. PVC expands and contracts along its length more than composite, so butt joints, borders and long runs need careful planning. We follow the maker's gapping chart for the day's temperature, keep board runs shorter with picture-frame borders or breaker boards, and fasten so the boards can move without working loose. Revo Deck Systems takes the same care with the frame below, since a board that never rots is only as good as the joists holding it up.
PVC board lines, fastening and trim choices
Wood-grain PVC collections
Most PVC lines mimic hardwoods with multi-tone color and embossed grain. Higher tiers add wider boards and richer color blends. All cost more than composite, so we match the tier to how visible the deck is.
Hidden clips or plugged screws
Grooved PVC boards use hidden clips, while solid-edge boards can take FastenMaster Cortex screws with color-matched plugs or CAMO edge screws. Each method lets the boards expand and contract as designed.
Borders and breaker boards
A picture-frame border hides cut ends, and a breaker board across a long deck splits board runs into shorter lengths. Both are close to a must with PVC, because shorter runs move less.
PVC trim and fascia
PVC fascia, riser boards and trim cover the frame in the same material as the deck. Fascia needs its own gapping and plenty of fasteners, since long fascia runs move with temperature too.
How a PVC deck goes together on your house
- 01Call
Frame inspection or build
We confirm the frame is flat and spaced to the maker's chart, adding joists or replacing worn framing on 42-inch footings when the old structure falls short.
- 02Visit
Flattening and taping joists
High spots get planed and low joists shimmed, since PVC boards show every bump in the frame. Butyl tape covers the tops so the wood lasts as long as the boards.
- 03Scope
Planning board runs
We lay out borders and breaker boards so no run gets too long, then cut boards at site temperature and set gaps from the maker's chart.
- 04Prep
Fastening and plugging
Hidden clips or plugged screws go in at every joist. Board ends get extra fasteners where the maker calls for them, so they stay tight through temperature swings.
- 05Build
Trim, stairs and railing
PVC fascia and risers go on with proper gaps, stair treads get closer stringer spacing, and railing posts bolt through solid blocking in the frame.
- 06Check
Care walkthrough
You get the care sheet for your board line, with notes on cleaners, shoveling and handling grill grease before it sets into the textured surface.
PVC deck costs and what pushes them up or down
PVC decks typically cost $67 to $112 per square foot installed around Minneapolis, the highest range of any decking we build. Board line, borders, frame repairs, deck height and railing all move the final number. Resurfacing a sound frame with PVC sits lower, while a new tall walkout deck with premium boards and glass railing sits higher. We set your actual price only after we've measured and checked the structure.
What changes the price
- PVC board tier, with wider boards and richer color blends costing more
- New framing versus reusing a flat, sound frame with correct joist spacing
- Picture-frame borders, breaker boards and inlays that add cuts and blocking
- Fascia, stair risers and trim covering every exposed piece of framing
- Railing system, such as aluminum, cable or glass, and the total run length
- Deck height and access, including second-story walkouts and balcony or rooftop locations
Signs PVC decking is worth the higher price for your deck
Water hits the deck daily
Hot tub splash, pool drips or a downspout that sheds onto the boards will wear wood quickly. PVC has no wood fiber inside to soak up that water.
The deck stays in shade
Decks under big oaks or on the north side of the house stay damp for days. PVC resists mold in the board itself, though the surface still needs washing.
It sits close to the ground
Low decks with little airflow underneath trap moisture. PVC boards over ground-contact framing hold up in spots where wood boards rot from the underside.
Weight is a concern
Balconies, rooftop decks and stacked porches have limited structure. PVC's lighter weight helps keep the added load down while still giving you a solid surface.
You want the least upkeep
If even a yearly composite scrub sounds like too much, PVC usually needs only an occasional wash, with no sanding, staining or sealing at all.
Bare feet are the norm
Families with kids running between a pool and the house often like how many PVC lines feel underfoot on hot days. Samples let you test that yourself.
Why PVC needs careful gapping in Minneapolis weather
The surface of a sunny deck in July and the same deck on a below-zero January night can be more than 100 degrees apart in Minneapolis. PVC moves more with temperature than composite, so a board laid tight in summer can open a gap in winter, and one laid in cold weather can push into its neighbor in August. We gap by the maker's chart for install-day temperature, keep runs short, and fasten board ends securely. That attention up front keeps a PVC deck looking tidy for years.
PVC also suits some very Minnesota situations. Lake homes on Lake Minnetonka and walkouts that back onto ponds often have low decks in damp, shaded spots, and hot tub decks get plenty of use for winter soaks. On older Minneapolis duplexes and triplexes, stacked rear balconies benefit from lighter boards. Snow care follows the composite routine: use a plastic shovel, skip rock salt where the care sheet warns against it, and consider calcium magnesium acetate after checking with your board maker.
Where we do pvc decks around Minneapolis
PVC Decks jobs take our carpenters to these cities and neighborhoods most weeks, and to the rest of the metro too.
- Minneapolis 55414
- Saint Paul 55102
- Bloomington 55420
- Brooklyn Park 55443
- Plymouth 55447
- Woodbury 55125
- Maple Grove 55369
- Lakeville 55044
- Blaine 55434
- Eagan 55122
- Burnsville 55337
- Eden Prairie 55344
- Coon Rapids 55433
- Apple Valley 55124
- Edina 55424
- Minnetonka 55305
- St. Louis Park 55416
- Shakopee 55379
- Maplewood 55109
- Cottage Grove 55016
- Richfield 55423
- Roseville 55113
- Inver Grove Heights 55076
- Andover 55304
- Savage 55378
- Fridley 55432
- Chanhassen 55317
- Prior Lake 55372
Questions about pvc decks
Is a PVC deck better than a composite deck for a hot tub area?
For the boards right around a hot tub, PVC is usually our pick. It has no wood fiber, so constant splashing and wet feet don't affect the core, and many lines weigh less than composite. The frame under a hot tub matters even more than the boards, though. We size footings, beams and joists for the tub's filled weight before choosing any decking.
Why do PVC deck boards open gaps at the ends in winter?
PVC shrinks along its length in cold weather and grows in heat. If boards were cut and gapped without accounting for install-day temperature, or the ends weren't fastened as the maker requires, those joints can open in January. Proper gapping, shorter runs broken up by borders, and extra fasteners at board ends keep the movement small enough that most people never notice it.
Can PVC decking be installed on a second-story balcony or rooftop deck?
Often it's the board we'd pick there, because PVC is light and handles constant moisture. The bigger question is the structure: we check what the balcony framing or roof can carry and how water drains below. On rooftops, sleepers and drainage come first. We'll tell you plainly if the existing structure needs work before any boards go down.
Do PVC deck boards fade or scratch over time?
Like any outdoor surface, PVC can lighten a little in its first months of sun before it settles, and metal furniture feet or a dragged grill can scuff some lines. Lighter colors hide wear better. PVC makers, like composite makers, back their boards with long limited warranties; we'll tell you which one applies to your line and what it covers.
How do I clean grill grease off a PVC deck?
Wipe fresh spills right away with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, since grease lifts more easily before it sets into the texture. For older spots, use a degreaser your board maker approves and a soft brush. Avoid harsh solvents and wire brushes. A grill mat under the cooker saves a lot of scrubbing, especially on lighter colors.
Talk to us about pvc decks
Call any hour about pvc decks, tell us what you are seeing, and we will set a time to look and write up a scope.