Deck Builders in Murray, UT

Deck Builders in Murray work on soil that deserves attention. Murray sits in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley at about 4,301 feet, and its ground slopes gently west toward the Jordan River, which forms the city's western edge. According to the Utah Geological Survey, as cited on Wikipedia, most of Murray lies in High or Moderate Liquefaction zones. That does not stop anyone from building a deck, but it does shape how we think about footings, connections and bracing.

What liquefaction means for a deck

Liquefaction is when loose, wet soil loses strength during strong shaking. The Wasatch Fault lies about three miles east of Murray, in Holladay. We cannot change the ground, but we can build sensibly on it: footings sized for the soil we find, positive connections between posts, beams and footings, and a ledger attached properly to the house or a freestanding design when attachment is not a good idea. Nearby Salt Lake City assigns residential construction to Seismic Design Category D2, which gives a sense of the seismic demands in this part of the valley.

A city that runs its own services

Murray operates its own police, fire, power, water, library and parks departments and has its own school district. Its municipal power company dates to a 1912 city resolution. For a deck project, that means your electric service may come from Murray City rather than a regional utility, so if you want deck lighting or an outlet we account for that when planning.

Historic houses and a residential district

Murray has a Murray Downtown Historic District and a Murray Downtown Residential Historic District. The residential district, listed on the National Register in 2005 and expanded in 2020, is roughly bounded by 4800 South, Clark Street, Vine Street and Center Street, and its buildings represent styles popular in Murray between 1870 and 1954. Older homes like these often have tall foundations and back doors well above grade, which means taller decks, more stairs and careful railing design.

From smelter town to neighborhoods

Smelting in Murray began in 1869, and the ASARCO lead smelter closed in 1949. By the 1950s the industry was gone, and much of the housing filled in afterward. In the mid-2000s, the Cottonwood West area was annexed, adding about 17,000 residents. As a result, a Murray deck job might be on a century-old house near downtown or a newer home on the east side, and the approach differs for each.

Services for Murray homes

• Wood and composite deck building
• Tall decks with code-height railings and stair runs for raised back doors
• Repair and replacement of older decks, including new footings
• Covered decks and pergolas
• Staining and sealing to protect wood from summer sun

Owners who plan to stay

Census estimates show 64.7% of Murray homes are owner-occupied, 86.1% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier, and the median owner-occupied value is $507,500. Many owners are improving a home they intend to keep, so we give clear options at different price points rather than one take-it-or-leave-it number. We confirm permit requirements with Murray City for each project.

Close to home

Murray is a short drive south of our Salt Lake City base. Call (385) 506-4516 for a free, written estimate.

Call (385) 506-4516