Ramsey County
Deck repair and porch building in White Bear Lake (55110)
Older lake homes and post-war ramblers here carry decks and porches that have been patched for decades, and the lakefront ones take wind straight off a big stretch of open water.
- Answered 24/7
- Serving 55110
White Bear Lake at a glance
Rebuilding decks and porches around the lake in White Bear Lake
The city wraps around a large, open lake that has drawn summer visitors since the early 1900s, and you can still see that history in the houses. Some lakefront homes began as cottages and were winterized one room at a time, with porches enclosed, reopened and enclosed again. Back from the shore, streets fill in with 1950s and 1960s ramblers and split levels that gained a deck in the 1980s. Across both, we find decks hung on nails or a few lag screws, with no lateral connection to the house and footings that never reached 42 inches.
Lakefront lots here face a long reach of open water, so wind hits decks and railings harder than it does on a sheltered bay. We use heavier post connections, stainless or coated fasteners and railing systems tested for the loads. On the shore itself, the city and the watershed handle shoreland review, which can affect setbacks, grading and hard surface coverage, and we prepare drawings with those questions answered. Inland, the job is more often a tired rambler deck turned into a screened porch, because mosquitoes near the lake and the wetlands around town are relentless in July.
Deck and porch problems common around White Bear Lake
Porches enclosed, then reopened
Many lake homes have porches that were screened, glassed in, then opened up again by different owners. The framing underneath often carries old window loads it was never sized for, so we check beams and posts before refinishing.
Decks with no lateral ties
Older decks here commonly rely only on the ledger to stay attached. We add tension ties between the deck joists and the house floor framing, which keeps the deck from pulling away under a crowd.
Exposed rails on open water
Strong gusts off the lake rack tall railings and loosen balusters over time. Posts blocked into the framing, with through-bolts and tested brackets, stand up much better than posts notched and screwed to the rim.
Rambler decks becoming porches
A 1980s deck off a rambler kitchen is often the right footprint for a screened porch. If the footings and joists can carry a roof, we reuse them; if not, we reframe so the porch sits on solid ground.
Deck services White Bear Lake homeowners call us for
Typical prices for these jobs in White Bear Lake
Ranges from 2026 Twin Cities projects. Your price comes in a written scope after we see the site.
| Service | Typical range | Priced |
|---|---|---|
| Screened Porch Building | $24,800 to $68,500 | per porch |
| Deck Repair | $385 to $4,850 | per repair visit and scope |
| Front Porch Repair and Rebuilds | $1,870 to $18,600 | per porch |
| Deck Railing Installation | $68 to $212 | per linear foot |
| Three-Season Porch Building | $41,600 to $97,800 | per porch |
| Deck Safety Inspection | $185 to $395 | per visit |
Deck questions from White Bear Lake
How windy does it get on White Bear Lake decks, and does that change the railing?
Lakefront decks on the open side of the lake take steady gusts, especially in spring and fall, and that pressure works railing posts loose. We block and through-bolt each post into the frame, use railing systems built to tested loads and favor cable or aluminum where you want the view. Inland decks rarely need that much extra detail.
Can my White Bear Lake rambler deck become a three-season porch?
Often, yes. We check whether the footings reach frost depth and whether the beams and joists can carry walls and a roof. If they can, we build on the existing frame and tie the roof into the house. If not, we replace the framing first. A permit is needed either way, and we prepare the drawings for it.
Is a deck inspection worth it before selling a White Bear Lake lake home?
It can be. Buyers and their inspectors look closely at decks on lake homes because of the height and the water exposure. We check the ledger, footings, hangers, rails and stairs, then give you a plain written list of what we found and what each fix involves, so you can decide before listing.
Deck work in White Bear Lake? Call any hour.
We are on the phone 24/7 and on site across White Bear Lake every week. Tell us about the deck and we will set a visit.