Travis County

Deck & Patio Builders in Austin, TX

Austin is two different building sites depending on where you live. West of MoPac, many lots sit on limestone under a few inches of soil. East of I-35, expansive clay runs deep. Add the strictest permit process in the area and a tree ordinance that protects large trees, and planning matters more here than anywhere else we work. We build decks, covered patios, pergolas, gazebos, screened porches and outdoor kitchens across Austin.

"Austin soil changes more across town than people expect. West of MoPac you're often on rock with a little dirt on top. East of I-35 it's deep clay that moves. Same deck design, completely different footings. And in the central neighborhoods, the big oak in the backyard usually decides where the deck goes before we do."

- Peter Toomey, Founder

Building Since
1984
Typical Range
$15,000 to $85,000
Population
About 1,002,600

Austin Neighborhoods We Serve

DowntownSouth CongressEast AustinBarton HillsZilkerTarrytownClarksvilleHyde ParkRosedaleMuellerCircle CAllandaleCrestviewBrentwoodNorth LoopTravis HeightsBouldin Creek

ZIP codes: 78701, 78702, 78703, 78704, 78705, 78721, 78722, 78723, 78731, 78745, 78748, 78749, 78751, 78752, 78756, 78757, 78759

What We Build in Austin

Custom Decks in Austin

40+ Years - 5,000+ Decks Built - Same Crew Start to Finish

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Deck Repair & Replacement in Austin

Honest Assessments From Builders With 42 Years Under Central Texas Decks

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Covered Patios in Austin

Create Year-Round Outdoor Living in Central Texas

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Sunrooms & Screened Porches in Austin

Family-Owned Since 1984 - 5,000+ Projects - Same Crew Start to Finish

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Pergolas in Austin

Elegant Shade & Architectural Beauty

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Custom Railings in Austin

Safety, Style & Code Compliance

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Outdoor Kitchens in Austin

Bring Your Kitchen Outdoors

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Custom Built Gazebos in Austin

Austin's Most Experienced Gazebo Builders Since 1984

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Building a Deck or Patio in Austin: What to Know

Permits in Austin

Austin permits are handled by the City of Austin Development Services Department, the strictest residential review in our service area. Properties with protected trees also go through the City Arborist's tree review. We handle every step: plans, submission, review comments, and inspections.

HOA approval

Austin's approval picture varies by neighborhood. Mueller, Circle C and other master-planned areas have active architectural review. Older central neighborhoods such as Hyde Park and Travis Heights mostly have neighborhood associations without HOA approval power, though some streets fall inside local historic districts with their own review. Much of East Austin has no HOA. We check what applies to your address before finalizing the design.

Soil and footings

Austin straddles the Balcones Fault Zone. West of MoPac, areas like Tarrytown, Barton Hills and Circle C often have limestone close to the surface. East of I-35, including East Austin and Mueller, expansive clay runs deep. Central and north Austin is mixed. Rock lots get drilled footings; clay lots get footings designed for movement plus drainage.

Weather and materials

  • Summers regularly top 100 degrees; shade decides whether a deck gets used from June to September.
  • Hard freezes are rare but real, so exterior plumbing in outdoor kitchens needs a shutoff and drain plan.
  • Hail and straight-line winds call for well-anchored posts and durable roof panels.
  • Mosquito season runs long, which is why screened porches are so popular here.

Tips from our crew

  • Measure any large tree on your lot at 4.5 ft above the ground. At 19 inches or more, it shapes the permit and the design.
  • Avoid trimming or wounding oaks from February through June, when oak wilt spreads most easily.
  • Orient decks away from western exposure where you can. Late-afternoon sun is what makes unshaded decks unusable in summer.
  • Keep your permit and final inspection records. Buyers and their inspectors ask for them.

Austin-Specific Considerations

Protected and Heritage Trees

The challenge: The City of Austin protects trees 19 inches in diameter and larger, measured 4.5 ft above the ground, and heritage trees of listed species 24 inches and larger have added protection. Work inside a tree's critical root zone is regulated.

How we handle it: We locate protected trees on the site plan before design, keep footings and grading out of root zones where possible, and coordinate with an arborist when a design needs tree review.

Expansive Clay East of I-35

The challenge: East Austin, Mueller and much of the southeast sit on clay that swells when wet and shrinks in drought. Poorly designed footings heave or sink.

How we handle it: On clay we design footings for soil movement and grade water away from posts. On west-side limestone we drill into rock for a rigid base.

The Strictest Permit Process Around

The challenge: The City of Austin has the most involved residential permit review in the area, and unpermitted decks and covers can surface as a problem when a home sells.

How we handle it: We prepare complete plans, file with the City of Austin Development Services Department, answer review comments, and schedule every inspection.

"We got four quotes for a covered patio in Tarrytown. All Seasons wasn't the cheapest, but they were the only team that understood how to tie a new insulated roof into our existing 1940s house without creating drainage problems. The finished patio looks like it was always there - neighbors ask if it came with the house. Two summers in and it's exactly what we wanted."

- David & Christine H.

Tarrytown · Insulated Covered Patio with Ceiling Fans

FAQs for Austin Homeowners

In most cases, yes. Permits are issued by the City of Austin through its Development Services Department, which runs the strictest residential review in the area. Projects near protected trees also get tree review. We prepare the plans, file them, respond to comments, and handle inspections.

Often, yes, with care. Austin protects trees 19 inches in diameter and larger, and heritage species at 24 inches and up. The critical root zone is commonly figured as one foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter, so a 24 inch oak has roughly a 24 ft zone. Decks on piers can often bridge roots where a slab cannot. We plan around the tree and involve an arborist when needed.

Our published examples: a 12x20 aluminum cover runs $15,000 to $22,000, a 14x24 cedar beam patio $28,000 to $38,000, a 16x20 insulated cover with fans $32,000 to $45,000, and a 400+ sq ft patio with a full outdoor kitchen $55,000 to $85,000. Every quote is fixed and written.

A 12x16 basic deck runs $12,000 to $16,000, a 16x20 composite deck $20,000 to $28,000, a 400+ sq ft multi-level deck $35,000 to $55,000, and a 500+ sq ft composite pool deck $40,000 to $65,000 in our pricing.

For decking, capped composite at $35 to $55 per sq ft installed or Ipe at $50 to $75. For patio roofs, insulated panels at $50 to $80 per sq ft keep the space under them noticeably cooler than a thin metal roof. Lighter deck colors stay cooler underfoot.

For many households, yes, because mosquitoes are what empty most patios. Screening in an existing 12x16 covered patio runs $8,000 to $14,000 in our pricing, and a new 14x16 screened porch with roof $22,000 to $35,000.

Planning a Project in Austin

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