Saint Paul neighborhood
Deck building and rebuilds in Highland Park (55116)
Highland Park mixes 1920s Tudors and 1940s Cape Cods with brand-new homes at Highland Bridge, so one block may need a porch repair while the next needs its first deck.
- Answered 24/7
- Serving 55116
Highland Park at a glance
Building around the bluffs and Ford Parkway in Highland Park
Most of Highland Park filled in between the 1920s and the 1950s, and the houses show it: brick Tudors and stucco cottages on the parkway streets, story-and-a-half Cape Cods on the side streets, and ramblers in the later pockets. The decks behind them were usually added decades after the house, often by a weekend builder working from a lumberyard handout. We find posts set on concrete blocks, joists notched over beams, and stairs whose risers change height halfway down. None of that is unusual for a deck of that age, but it means every Highland visit starts with us under the deck holding a flashlight.
Homes closer to Mississippi River Boulevard often sit on lots that drop toward the bluff, which turns a simple kitchen deck into a tall structure on long posts. Over at Highland Bridge, the newer homes on the former Ford plant site have short yards, and the right project there is often a compact deck, a privacy wall or a pergola sized to the lot. Either way, footings still go below the 42-inch frost line and the permit runs through Saint Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections. We draw the plans, file them with DSI and schedule each inspection so you are not stuck in the middle.
Highland Park deck situations we see again and again
Blocks standing in for footings
Older owner-built decks here often rest on precast deck blocks sitting on the lawn. They rise with frost every winter, so we replace them with poured or helical footings that reach below 42 inches.
Breezeway decks off Cape Cods
Plenty of Cape Cods have a short deck tucked between the kitchen and a detached garage. We rebuild these with proper flashing at the house wall and keep the stairs clear of the garage service door.
Tall posts on bluff-side lots
Yards that fall toward the river can leave the outer beam eight or more feet off the ground. We size posts and bracing for that height and check the slope where each footing goes in.
Short yards at Highland Bridge
Newer homes on the old Ford site sit close together with shallow backyards. A ground-level composite deck, a privacy wall and a pergola can give you outdoor room without filling the whole lot.
Deck services Highland Park homeowners call us for
Typical prices for these jobs in Highland Park
Ranges from 2026 Twin Cities projects. Your price comes in a written scope after we see the site.
| Service | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Deck Footing and Post Repair | $465 to $1,290 | per footing |
| Deck Replacement | $42 to $98 | per square foot including tear-off |
| Second-Story and Walkout Decks | $63 to $118 | per square foot installed |
| Composite Deck Installation | $58 to $97 | per square foot installed |
| Deck Privacy Screens and Walls | $1,460 to $5,980 | per screen run |
| Pergola Building | $4,860 to $22,700 | per pergola |
Deck questions from Highland Park
Do decks in Highland Park need a permit from Saint Paul DSI?
Most attached decks, and most decks more than 30 inches above grade, need a building permit from Saint Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections. We prepare the drawings, file the application and meet the inspector for the footing and framing checks. A low platform that stands apart from the house can sometimes skip a permit, and we confirm that with DSI before building anything.
How do you build a deck on a sloped Highland Park lot near the river bluffs?
We study the grade first, then lay out footings so each one reaches below the 42-inch frost line on firm, undisturbed soil. Longer posts get heavier sizing and knee bracing. Where the slope is steep, helical piers are often the better choice, because they go in with less digging and less disturbance to the hillside behind your house.
What kind of deck suits a small backyard at Highland Bridge in Highland Park?
On those short lots, a low composite deck or platform usually works better than a tall one, because it keeps sight lines open and needs little or no railing. Pairing it with a privacy screen or a pergola adds shade and some separation from the neighbors. We check any rules attached to your lot before drawing the plan.
Deck work in Highland Park? Call any hour.
We are on the phone 24/7 and on site across Highland Park every week. Tell us about the deck and we will set a visit.