Ramsey County
Three-season porch and deck building in Maplewood (55109)
Maplewood's 1950s to 1970s ramblers and split levels usually carry small, low decks off the back door, and many owners near Lake Phalen want screened space instead.
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- Serving 55109
Maplewood at a glance
Why so many Maplewood decks are turning into three-season porches
The bulk of Maplewood's housing dates from the 1950s through the 1970s, when ramblers and split levels filled the streets east and north of Saint Paul. Decks were often added later by a previous owner, sometimes on footings that stop well short of the 42-inch frost line. Those shallow footings lift a little each winter and settle unevenly each spring, so the deck tips away from the house or pulls at the ledger. You can usually spot it in a door threshold that no longer lines up, or a widening gap where the deck meets the siding.
Summer evenings near Lake Phalen and the ponds scattered through town bring mosquitoes, which is why many Maplewood owners ask us to roof and screen an existing deck rather than just replace boards. That only works if the frame and footings can carry a roof plus a winter snow load, so we dig to check footing depth and diameter before we design anything. When the old deck can't take it, we build new footings and framing sized for the porch, then add screens, a three-season enclosure with windows, or a covered deck with open sides.
Common deck and porch situations at Maplewood homes
Deck tipping away from the rambler
Footings poured at 24 or 30 inches are common on older add-on decks. Frost heave shifts them every spring, so we replace them with footings below 42 inches, or helical piers when access is tight.
Split-level door at an odd height
A split level's back door often sits halfway up the wall, too high for a patio and too low for a full deck. A mid-height deck with a short stair run and a wide landing fits that height well.
Roof wanted over an old frame
Owners often want a porch roof over a deck that was never framed for one. We check joist size, beam spans and footings, then reinforce or rebuild so the roof and snow load have a proper path to the ground.
Tree roots near the footings
Mature maples and oaks crowd many Maplewood lots. We place footings to miss major roots, span beams farther when needed, and leave room for trunk growth so the deck and the tree both stay healthy.
Deck services Maplewood homeowners call us for
Typical prices for these jobs in Maplewood
Ranges from 2026 Twin Cities projects. Your price comes in a written scope after we see the site.
| Service | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Three-Season Porch Building | $41,600 to $97,800 | per porch |
| Screened Porch Building | $24,800 to $68,500 | per porch |
| Deck Footing and Post Repair | $465 to $1,290 | per footing |
| Deck Replacement | $42 to $98 | per square foot including tear-off |
| Covered Decks and Deck Roofs | $19,400 to $61,300 | per covered area |
| Ledger Board Repair and Flashing | $1,740 to $6,380 | per ledger repair |
Deck questions from Maplewood
Can my existing Maplewood deck hold a screened porch roof?
Sometimes. A roof adds weight, and Minnesota snow adds a lot more, so the footings, beam and joists all have to be sized for it. We dig at a couple of footings to check depth and diameter and measure the framing. If it falls short, we design new footings and a new beam under the porch rather than gamble on the old ones.
Why is the deck behind my Maplewood rambler leaning away from the house?
The usual cause is footings that were poured above the 42-inch frost depth. Each winter the frozen soil lifts them, and each spring they settle back unevenly, so the outer edge drops or twists. We replace the footings or set helical piers, then level the frame and check that the ledger connection was not pulled loose along the way.
Which porch type makes sense for a Maplewood home near Lake Phalen?
If you mostly use the space June through August, a screened porch keeps mosquitoes out at the lowest cost. A three-season porch with windows stretches your use into spring and fall. A four-season room needs insulation and heat and becomes part of the house. We talk through how you'd use it and price the options side by side.
Deck work in Maplewood? Call any hour.
We are on the phone 24/7 and on site across Maplewood every week. Tell us about the deck and we will set a visit.