Minneapolis neighborhood
Three-season porches and cedar decks in Hale (55417)
Hale's 1920s to 1940s brick Tudors and story-and-a-half homes just west of Lake Nokomis call for porches and decks with real craftsmanship, scaled to the house and built to last.
- Answered 24/7
- Serving 55417
Hale at a glance
Fitting a new porch to a Hale Tudor without fighting the house
Hale has some of the most detailed period homes in south Minneapolis, with arched doorways, steep gables and brick or stucco walls. A deck attached to that kind of house needs more thought than one on a vinyl-sided rambler. Hanging a ledger on brick veneer is a bad idea, because the veneer was never meant to carry a load, so we often build a freestanding frame with its own beam and footings right beside the house. That keeps water out of the wall and avoids drilling into old masonry.
Many Hale owners care less about a big open deck and more about a three-season porch they can use from April into October. Those rooms work well on these homes when the roofline follows the main house and the new windows line up with the ones already there. We frame on footings that reach the 42-inch frost line, size the floor for furniture and snow, and use cedar or painted trim that sits naturally against old brick. Then we sketch two or three versions so you can see which roof shape suits your home best.
Hale porch and deck details worth getting right
Brick walls and freestanding decks
Where the back wall is brick veneer or old stucco, we build the deck to stand on its own beam beside the house. That avoids hidden water damage and leaves the masonry intact.
Porch roofs that match the house
A porch roof that copies the pitch and eave detail of the house reads as original. We work out the flashing where the new roof meets the old one so the joint stays dry through snowmelt.
Restoring a weathered cedar deck
Cedar decks here are often structurally fine but gray and rough. We wash, sand and refinish them, replacing only the boards that are split, which keeps a good deck going for years.
Low lighting along steps
Lots in Hale are shaded by big trees, and steps get dark early in fall. Low-voltage riser and post lights make the stairs safer and show off the porch without glaring into neighbors' windows.
Deck services Hale homeowners call us for
Typical prices for these jobs in Hale
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 |
| Four-Season Porches and Sunrooms | $68,900 to $151,700 | per room |
| Cedar Deck Building | $46 to $78 | per square foot installed |
| Deck Restoration and Refinishing | $4.70 to $11.80 | per square foot |
| Deck Lighting Installation | $1,380 to $5,640 | per deck |
| Deck Design and Permit Drawings | $460 to $2,180 | per design package |
Deck questions from Hale
Why won't you bolt a ledger to the brick on my Hale home?
Brick veneer is a thin outer layer that was never designed to carry a deck, and bolting into it lets water reach the framing behind. On most Hale Tudors we build a freestanding deck with its own beam and footings next to the wall instead. It looks the same from the yard, and the house wall stays sealed.
Can a three-season porch on a Hale house be heated later?
A three-season porch is built without the insulation and heating a full room needs, so adding heat later usually means opening walls and floors. If you think you'll want year-round use, we'll price a four-season room next to the three-season option so you can compare them before we frame anything.
What wood suits a deck behind a brick home in Hale?
Cedar is a common pick because its warm color sits well against red or tan brick, and it can be stained to match the trim. Composite in a muted brown works too if you want less upkeep. We bring board samples to the house so you can see them in your own light, next to your own brick.
Deck work in Hale? Call any hour.
We are on the phone 24/7 and on site across Hale every week. Tell us about the deck and we will set a visit.