Deck Builders in Cottonwood Heights, UT

Deck Builders in Cottonwood Heights face different conditions than builders on the valley floor. The city sits at about 4,820 feet, roughly 500 feet higher than central Salt Lake City. A high ridge separates the Big and Little Cottonwood Creek valleys, which narrow into Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons at the city's east edge, and suburban housing covers that ridge. Sloped lots, more precipitation and heavier snow all come with the views.

Higher elevation, heavier snow

Salt Lake City applies a minimum 28 psf ground snow load only at or below 4,239 feet. Above that, it points builders to the Utah Snow Load Study. Cottonwood Heights sits well above that line. The study's map, maintained by Utah State University, uses elevation as its main predictor of ground snow load, so higher sites generally carry heavier design loads. We confirm the exact value Cottonwood Heights requires for your address and size the joists, beams and any cover to match. A deck designed for the valley floor may not be enough here.

More water from the sky

Average annual precipitation in Cottonwood Heights is about 25.92 inches based on 1991 to 2020 data, with December, January and February each around 2.3 to 2.4 inches. Salt Lake City's airport averages about 15.52 inches a year. More moisture means wood stays wet longer and snow sits on the deck through more of the winter. We like composite boards here, metal railings and framing details that shed water, such as joist tape and spaced ledger flashing.

Sloped lots and walkout decks

Homes on the ridge often have walkout basements, a main floor well above the back yard or a yard that drops steeply away. That calls for taller posts, diagonal bracing, longer stair runs and sometimes two levels: an upper deck off the kitchen and a lower patio deck off the basement. We measure the slope during the estimate and draw the stairs before we price anything, because stairs on a hillside can be a large share of the cost.

• Raised decks with braced posts on sloped yards
• Two-level decks connecting main floor and walkout basement
• Composite decking for wetter, snowier conditions
• Railings and stairs built for long runs down a slope
• Snow-rated covered decks and pergolas
• Staining and sealing for cedar and pressure-treated wood

A newer city with settled owners

Cottonwood Heights was a census-designated place until it incorporated on January 14, 2005, after a 2004 referendum. Census estimates show 72.4% of homes are owner-occupied, 88.5% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier, and the median owner-occupied value is $694,100. Owners here often want decks that hold up for the long haul, and permits go through the city's own building staff, which we confirm for each project.

Getting here from the city

Cottonwood Heights lies along Interstate 215 on its northern border, with State Routes 190 and 210 leading to the canyons on its eastern edge. The drive from our Salt Lake City base is straightforward. Call (385) 506-4516 for a free, written estimate that includes slope, footings, stairs and snow-load design.

Get a Free Estimate