Minneapolis neighborhood
Deck repair, low decks and patios in Minnehaha (55417)
Minnehaha's bungalows and post-war Cape Cods line the blocks near Hiawatha Avenue and Minnehaha Creek, mostly on modest lots where a low deck or patio does a lot of work.
- Answered 24/7
- Serving 55417
Minnehaha at a glance
Getting more use out of a small Minnehaha backyard
Backyards in the Minnehaha neighborhood are rarely big, and the garage, a vegetable bed and a few shrubs already claim much of the space. What most owners want is a step out the back door onto something level and solid, with room for a small table. A ground-level deck or a paver patio usually beats a raised deck here, because the back door is close to grade and the lot is mostly flat. We plan around the garage door, the alley gate and the way rain runs off your roof before settling on a size.
Repairs make up a large share of our work in this part of Nokomis. Many back stoops and small decks were built on blocks or shallow posts, and after enough freeze-thaw cycles they tip toward the house or away from it. A stoop leaning toward the house sends water at your foundation. We pull the old supports, dig to 42 inches, and reset the frame so it drains away from the wall. If the frame is still good and only the boards are rough, resurfacing with new wood or composite can save you most of the cost of a rebuild.
Small-lot deck fixes we do around Minnehaha
Stoops tilting toward the house
A back stoop that slopes toward the foundation sends every rain into the basement wall. We rebuild the stoop on frost-depth footings with a slight pitch away from the house.
Resurfacing a sound frame
When the joists are dry and the hangers are tight, new boards and fresh rails can make an older deck look new again. We replace any weak joists first so the new surface lasts as long as it should.
Pavers instead of a raised deck
If your back door is only one step up, a paver patio with a wide stone step can be a better fit than a deck. It never needs stain, and a plastic shovel clears it easily in winter.
Privacy on close lots
Houses here sit close together, so a deck can feel exposed. A short cedar privacy screen on the side facing the neighbor creates a sheltered spot without blocking light to the rest of the yard.
Deck services Minnehaha homeowners call us for
Typical prices for these jobs in Minnehaha
Ranges from 2026 Twin Cities projects. Your price comes in a written scope after we see the site.
| Service | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-Level and Platform Decks | $31 to $69 | per square foot installed |
| Deck Resurfacing and Board Replacement | $27 to $54 | per square foot |
| Deck Repair | $385 to $4,850 | per repair visit and scope |
| Paver Patio Installation | $19 to $47 | per square foot |
| Deck Stair Building and Repair | $1,460 to $6,920 | per stair run |
| Deck Privacy Screens and Walls | $1,460 to $5,980 | per screen run |
Deck questions from Minnehaha
Should I build a deck or a paver patio behind my Minnehaha neighborhood bungalow?
If the back door is more than a couple of steps up, a deck usually makes more sense because it brings the floor level with the door. With a low door, a patio needs no staining and can be simpler to keep up. We look at the door height, drainage and how you use the yard, then lay out both options side by side.
Why is the deck behind my Minnehaha house pulling away from the siding?
That gap usually means the ledger was nailed rather than bolted, or the posts at the far end have settled on shallow footings. Either way, the deck is no longer properly tied to the house, which is a safety issue. We'd shore it, check the rim joist for rot, and reattach it with flashing and through-bolts or structural screws.
Can you work in a Minnehaha backyard reached only through a narrow side gate?
Usually, yes. Many jobs here are reached from the alley, and when they aren't, we carry materials through the gate by hand and dig footings with hand augers. It takes a bit longer but keeps your lawn and garden beds in good shape. We check the gate width and route on our first visit.
Deck work in Minnehaha? Call any hour.
We are on the phone 24/7 and on site across Minnehaha every week. Tell us about the deck and we will set a visit.