The backyard is usable roughly five months a year here, which makes the deck worth getting right and makes rot the constant enemy the rest of the time. Whether you are replacing a twenty-year-old cedar deck or fencing a new lot, describe the project and licensed Hillsboro builders will bid it.
Compare the same design, footing, framing, ledger, flashing, railing, stair, decking, permit, cleanup, and warranty scope. Confirm an active Oregon CCB license and ask how the builder protects cut framing ends and creates airflow. In Hillsboro's wet season, connection and drainage details matter more than brand names.
In a climate with eight wet months, capped composite decking removes the annual sanding-and-sealing chore that most people abandon by year three. It costs noticeably more up front and looks slightly less alive than cedar. Pressure-treated framing still carries the structure underneath either way, so the decking choice is about maintenance and appearance, not strength.
Almost every serious deck failure traces to the ledger board where it attaches to the house — improper fasteners, no flashing, or bolted through siding into nothing solid. Water gets behind it, the rim joist rots quietly, and one day the deck moves. Any builder worth hiring will describe how they flash and fasten the ledger without being asked, and the inspector will look at exactly that.
Cedar remains the standard fence material here, typically six-foot dog-ear or board-on-board. Posts set in concrete with the wood kept out of standing water is what determines whether you get twelve years or twenty. On the newer subdivision lots, confirm the property line before anyone digs — fences built a foot into a neighbor's yard are an expensive and awkward mistake to undo.
A deck with sound framing and tired decking is a good candidate for a surface-only replacement, which costs far less than starting over. Once the joists, posts, or ledger show rot, or the railing fails a firm push, it is a rebuild. Have someone crawl underneath and probe the framing with a screwdriver before deciding — the top boards tell you very little.
Give each builder the same dimensions, stair location, railing style, decking choice, lighting needs, and demolition scope. Ask whether engineering, permit drawings, utility locating, hauling, and restoration around the footings are included. When one quote assumes a simple rectangle and another includes stairs and fascia, the totals are not competing bids; they are different projects.
Describe your project once and we help connect your request with relevant local contractors who serve your area. The request is free, there is no obligation to hire, and you decide whether anyone is right for the job.
Decks over a certain height above grade, or those attached to the house, require a permit from the City of Hillsboro Building Division, with Washington County covering addresses outside the line. Fences have their own rules on height, especially in front yards and at corner lots where sight lines matter. Many local HOAs add material and color approval on top. Confirm all three before ordering lumber.
Persistent damp from October through June means north-facing deck boards grow moss and stay wet for weeks. Skirting that traps air, planters sitting directly on boards, and leaf litter left in the gaps are the three habits that shorten a deck's life most. Clearing debris from between boards each fall does more for longevity than any sealer.
Much of Hillsboro sits on relatively flat ground with dense Tualatin Valley clay, so most decks are low to the ground rather than perched on tall posts. That is good for cost but bad for airflow — low decks with little clearance underneath stay damp. Good builders address it with proper footings, gravel below, and enough ventilation to let the framing dry.
| Material | Best for | Ongoing care |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | Budget-conscious structures and framing | Cleaning plus periodic stain or sealer |
| Cedar | Natural appearance and lighter surface temperature | Regular cleaning and finish renewal |
| Capped composite | Low-maintenance family decks | Cleaning and careful heat/expansion detailing |
| PVC decking | Maximum moisture resistance | Higher material cost and manufacturer-specific installation |
Pressure-treated deck construction commonly runs $30 to $50 per square foot installed; cedar generally $40 to $65; capped composite with aluminum or composite railing typically $60 to $95. A standard 300-square-foot composite deck therefore often lands between $18,000 and $28,000. Surface-only board replacement over sound framing is much less, frequently $8,000 to $15,000. Cedar fencing usually runs $35 to $60 per linear foot installed, more where old fence removal, gates, or hard digging in clay is involved. Prices well under these bands usually mean undersized framing or posts set without proper footings.
Our old deck framing was rotted at the ledger and we had no idea. They rebuilt it properly with flashing and the inspector signed off first pass.
Two hundred feet of cedar fence with two gates, done in three days. Posts are set deep and everything is still dead plumb after two winters.
Composite over pressure-treated framing, and they confirmed the setback from the lot line before drawing anything up. The footings went deeper than I expected for the clay and the inspector had nothing to add.
Composite if you want to stop maintaining it — the wet season makes annual sealing of cedar a chore most people quit doing. Cedar if you prefer the look and genuinely will keep up with it. Both are common on Hillsboro streets and both perform well when framed properly.
Usually yes if it is attached to the house or raised more than a modest height above grade. A low, freestanding platform often does not require one. The builder should confirm with the City of Hillsboro or Washington County depending on your address and include the fee in the bid.
Late spring through early fall, when the ground is workable and concrete cures properly. Crews book that window early. Winter builds happen but get delayed by rain and by clay soil that turns into a mess around the footing holes.
Pressure-treated framing commonly holds 20 to 25 years when it can dry. Cedar decking realistically gives 12 to 18 with maintenance; composite surfaces generally last 25 or more. The ledger and the post bases usually determine the true lifespan, not the decking.
Oregon convention has adjoining owners share the cost of a boundary fence, but it is a conversation, not an automatic entitlement. Talk with the neighbor and get agreement in writing before work starts. Have the line confirmed if there is any doubt about where it runs.
Yes when joists, beams, posts, ledger, fasteners, and footings remain sound and the spacing suits the new decking. The builder should inspect from below and document any repairs. Composite products may require tighter joist spacing than the old wood surface used.
Separate the manufacturer's material warranty from the builder's workmanship warranty. Ask how callbacks for loose rails, fasteners, drainage problems, or movement are handled and what maintenance is required to preserve coverage. Keep product names and color codes with the contract.
Yes. Stair, post, and under-rail lighting is cleaner when wiring paths and transformer placement are designed before framing is closed. Decide whether electrical work is included in the deck bid or handled by a separate licensed trade so the schedule and inspection sequence stay clear.
Share the dimensions, material preference, and photos of what is there now. Licensed local builders will respond with pricing and their build calendar.
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