We’re a deck builder in Franklin, NC, and we build for the way these homes actually sit on a slope. Footings sized for the soil, framing sized for the span, and detailing that holds up to more than four feet of rain a year.
New decks in pressure-treated, composite and hardwood. Footings dug to depth and sized for the load, framing spanned correctly, and a ledger flashed so it is not quietly rotting the band board.
Rebuilding failed framing, replacing rotten boards, correcting undersized footings and bringing older railings up to a safe height and spacing.
Covered porches, including the roof tie-in to the existing house, which is the detail that decides whether the porch roof leaks into the wall.
Screening an existing porch or building one from scratch. Real value in this region, where the shoulder seasons are the best time to be outside.
Shade structures and patio covers, freestanding or attached, sized and anchored for wind.
Privacy, picket and wire fencing set on posts dug to depth, which matters more on a slope than most fence installs allow for.
A deck on a flat suburban lot is a straightforward build. A deck on a Western North Carolina lot is a structural problem, because the ground falls away from the house and the posts get taller, the loads get higher, and the footings matter far more than they would on level ground.
The failures we get called to fix are consistent. Footings that are too shallow or too small for the soil, so the deck settles unevenly. Posts notched wrong at the beam. And most often, a ledger board bolted to the house with no flashing, which is not a deck problem at all until the day the band board behind it has rotted through and the whole thing is unsafe.
That last one matters more here than in a drier climate. This region gets rainforest-level precipitation, so any joint that holds water against framing will eventually rot it. The ledger flashing, the post bases that keep wood off concrete, and the gaps that let a deck actually drain and dry are the difference between a deck that lasts twenty years and one that needs rebuilding in six.
Covered porches add a roof tie-in on top of all that, which means flashing where the porch roof meets the wall, and a kickout at the bottom of the run. We do the roof work anyway, so that transition gets detailed by the same crew instead of being handed between two trades.
Both work here, and we build with both. The difference is the upkeep each one asks of you over the years.
Costs more up front and never needs staining or sealing. That’s worth real money in a county that gets more than four feet of rain a year, where a shaded deck can stay damp for days. It still needs washing, because leaf litter and pollen will grow algae on any surface.
Costs less and looks good for a long time if you keep up with it. Skip the sealing for a few years on a north-facing deck and the boards cup, split and go green.
Either surface sits on the same pressure-treated frame, the same footings and the same flashed ledger, so we build that part the same way whichever one you pick. We’ll price both for you.
“Ken and his top notch crew of carpenters Dylan and Justin completed a very difficult assignment for me. They added a roof the entire length of the front of my cabin. The skills I observed with these two was nothing short of amazing. They worked so hard to achieve the end goal in the extreme heat that at times I wanted them to stop and take a break. I felt comfortable with Ken’s assessment of the 3 contractors I called for estimates ,and hiring someone for me was difficult since I normally did everything myself in the past but steel roofing was something I had never done and I am getting way to old for roofing.I also have seen some extremely shaky things with contractors but I had a complete sense of trust with Justin and Dylan and would trust them doing a job for me even if I wasn’t here! So look no further and they are not limited to roofing they do all sorts of carpentry and May have them do a deck for me as well…”
Yes, for a new deck or any structural repair. A deck is a load-bearing structure, and North Carolina G.S. 160D-1110(c) requires a building permit to add, repair or replace one no matter what the job costs.
The same law carves out the surface work. Replacing decking boards, pickets, railings and stair treads on a deck that is already there doesn’t need a permit when the job is $40,000 or less and built to code. So a re-deck usually doesn’t need one, and new footings or framing always do.
Permits go through Macon County Planning, Permitting and Development at 1834 Lakeside Drive in Franklin, 828-349-2072, including for homes inside Franklin town limits. We pull the permit and meet the inspector.
Deck requirements from the North Carolina Residential Code wood deck provisions. Permit rules from G.S. 160D-1110. The county inspector makes the final call on your deck.
No sales pitch. No trip charges. No pressure.
Tell us what’s going on. We respond fast and set a time that works.
Josh or Ken walks your property with you. No charge if you don’t proceed.
An honest number in writing, permits pulled. No surprises later.
Clean site, on-time crew, and we stand behind the work after we leave.
Josh or Ken comes out to your property, looks at the project, and listens. We want to hear what you’re picturing, what you want out of it, and anything you’re worried about.
Then we put together a free, personalized quote. Look it over, ask us anything, and compare it to any other quote you’ve received.
We like being compared. We show up on time and prepared, our pricing is competitive, and our customers have given us a 4.9-star rating across 70+ Google reviews.
Every Appalachian Contracting job is backed by a firm handshake. If it isn’t right, we make it right. No job is fully billed until you are satisfied with it, and the workmanship carries a 3 to 5 year warranty depending on the job.
Permitted from footing to punch-list, built for mountain grade.
Learn more →One accountable crew instead of five subs pointing at each other.
Learn more →Tear-offs and repairs detailed for the rainfall this region actually gets.
Learn more →Composite costs more up front and eliminates staining and sealing, which is genuinely worth it in this climate where wood stays damp. Pressure-treated costs less and looks good if you maintain it. Both work. We will price both so you can decide.
Yes for a new deck or any structural repair, and no for replacing boards, railings and stair treads on a deck that is already there. That split comes straight from North Carolina G.S. 160D-1110(c). We pull the permit through Macon County, because an unpermitted deck is a real problem at resale and a real liability if someone is hurt.
Often. If the footings and framing are sound and it is just decking and rail, that is a straightforward refresh. If the ledger was never flashed and the band board is rotten, that has to be dealt with regardless.
Most decks run one to two weeks depending on size, height and footing work. Steep sites with tall posts take longer because the foundation work is the bulk of it.
Usually yes, if the existing structure and roof are sound. We check the framing and the roof edge first, since screening in a porch that leaks just moves the problem indoors.
Yes. Steep is normal here. It means taller posts, bigger footings and more engineering, and we will price that honestly rather than discovering it after we start.
Free on-site estimate, an honest written price, and a firm handshake guarantee on every job across Western North Carolina.
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We run out of 33 Riverview Street in Franklin, NC 28734, and build decks within about 50 miles. That covers Franklin, Otto, Highlands, Cashiers, Sylva, Dillsboro and Bryson City.
Decks rarely happen alone. If the siding behind the ledger or the gutters above it need work too, the same crew handles it. See siding installation in Franklin, gutter installation in Franklin, additions and screened rooms, or general contracting in Franklin.
