How long does a deck project take, start to finish?
The build itself is often a matter of days to a few weeks depending on size and features. The full calendar is longer: design and material decisions, HOA approval if your community requires it, the permit process, and the builder’s schedule all come first. Starting the conversation a season ahead of the season you want to enjoy is the reliable rule — winter design conversations become spring builds.
Composite or wood — which should I choose?
It’s a trade, not a contest. Wood costs less upfront and asks for sealing and upkeep every few years. Composite costs more upfront and asks for a wash. Shade, sun, bare feet, and honestly-assessed maintenance appetite decide it; the Composite Decks page walks through the details.
Can my old deck just be resurfaced?
Sometimes — when the frame underneath is genuinely sound. That answer comes from an underside inspection of joists, beams, ledger, and footings, not from the surface. The Deck Replacement & Resurfacing page explains the decision points.
Do I need a permit? Who handles it?
In general, most new decks and porches in Charlottesville and Albemarle County go through a building permit process with inspections, and an HOA approval may also apply — see the Design & Permits Guide, which is general information only, not code advice; confirm the current requirements for your property with the relevant office. Builders typically handle or guide the building-permit process as part of the project.
Are the photos and project ideas on this site your work?
No. Any gallery or example imagery on this site shows examples/inspiration only — styles and layouts to inform your design conversation. They are not photographs of projects built by Albemarle Deck & Outdoor Living (which builds nothing) or by any specific company we may connect you with. The builder you meet can show you their own completed work and references.
Does Albemarle Deck & Outdoor Living build the deck?
No. Albemarle Deck & Outdoor Living is an information and referral service owned by Branch and Vine Capital, LLC. We connect homeowners with independent local deck and outdoor living companies, and those companies design, permit, and perform all construction work under their own licenses and insurance — including a Virginia DPOR contractor license licensed for the contract’s size. We don’t employ builders, and quotes come from the company that would build your project.
Request Your Free Estimate
Send the estimate form below with your name, town/area, project type, budget range, timeline, and anything special (slope, view, pool, existing deck to remove, HOA community). The more of that you include, the more useful the first design conversation will be.