Permission granted!
Before diving into the deck and permit details this post is really about, a quick note: we’ve been getting messages from readers who didn’t know we run a family/personal blog called Young House Life. We started it almost a year ago, and it’s where we share the everyday side of our lives—photos of our messy house, candid moments, family updates, and plenty of Clara and Burger. We typically post a few times a week and you can find it by clicking “Life” under our header or the “Our Family Blog” button on the sidebar. Recent posts cover everything from the Kool-Aid man and traveling with a toddler to left-handedness, kid-speak, The Hunger Games, and Clara’s impressive dance moves.
For example, today there’s a Memorial Day weekend roundup with a photo of Sherry getting a little too excited on a carousel, me attempting to exude “swagg” (yes, with two g’s), and a video of Clara enjoying a few boardwalk rides.
We only mentioned Young House Life once in passing last summer when we redesigned the main site, so if you missed that, now you know. Back to the deck progress: I’ll admit I was nervous about this project. Attaching a structure to our house that must safely support people is daunting if you think about it too much. Thankfully the deck will be only a few feet off the ground, not a second-story addition. Needing a permit added stress, since the county can be specific about decks—understandably, because poorly built decks can be hazardous. There are multiple inspections and more paperwork, but as the post title hints, I did get the permit and the work is allowed to begin. Woot! Here’s how we got to this point.
We started by deciding what we wanted. My rough Photoshop sketch and the decision to use wood decking were helpful starting points. That doodle wasn’t nearly enough for a permit, though. I spent a lot of time reading the county’s deck permit guide—probably five passes and a lot of Googling—before it made sense. After a couple of failed attempts at drafting usable plans, I admitted I needed help. Sherry suggested two trusted resources for project planning: Home Depot and Southside Builder Supply, the place we used for materials on our last outdoor project (the patio). Southside only handles stone and referred me to 84 Lumber, a lumber-focused supplier about 30 minutes away. Home Depot offered its own planning service, so I decided to try both and compare plans and estimates.
Home Depot invited me to bring measurements to their Pro Desk for a plan and estimate. The process was straightforward. The associate used their planning software and asked clear questions about footings and attachments—questions I could answer thanks to my prior research. In about 20 minutes they printed a comprehensive deck design that they assured me would work for the county permit. It was impressively detailed, down to every wood cut. Initially they drew a freestanding deck, but after I requested changes they revised the plan to show an attached deck, which saved a lot of digging. They even provided a cost comparison between composite and pressure-treated wood, which helped us decide on wood. I appreciated the face-to-face interaction and their willingness to make changes without eye-rolling.
84 Lumber handled things differently: their designs are created at a central office, so I submitted my information and sketches through an online form. Two days later I received a plan. It wasn’t as detailed as Home Depot’s printout, but it seemed like a clearer, more straightforward approach for our needs. My contact at 84 was responsive by email and made requested revisions quickly. The lack of in-person contact was a minor downside, but their plan and price ultimately won us over: their approach felt simpler and the cost was about $400 less than Home Depot’s estimate. It also felt right to work with a company specializing in lumber for a wood-heavy project. 84 Lumber sources wood regionally, meeting safety standards, and we plan to use an eco-friendly sealer later to keep the deck safe for Clara and Burger.
With two printed copies of the 84 Lumber plan, I gathered the paperwork required by our county and a few extras just in case. Unsure if I had everything, I told myself the worst outcome would be being sent away to return with additional documents. We chose the walk-through permit option at the county’s Office of Building Inspection so we could get the permit the same day. I admit I imagined a heavy-handed interrogation, so I dressed a bit nicer than usual—shirt tucked in, no tennis shoes. It felt professional but still hands-on-builder-appropriate.
The real process was far less dramatic. I checked in, filled out a form, and waited. I worried about being quizzed on joist sizes and footing depths, but instead a staff member came out and handed me the permit: “You’re free to begin work.” I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it went. I’m still a little nervous about future inspections, but having the permit in hand gave me a big confidence boost. Sherry, Clara, and Burger celebrated when I came home with that important paper.
I’ve ordered materials from 84 Lumber and am waiting for delivery. In the meantime, demolition of the old balcony will be our first step—except for an untimely rain delay that postponed the start. Hopefully tomorrow is sunny and we can get going. Have you gone through the permit process? Any tips, stories, or lessons learned? And did I overdress for the permit appointment—or was the outfit appropriate? A few dusty contractors in steel-toed boots did make me feel a bit less rugged by comparison.