Multi-Level and Specialty Decks in Louisville
Louisville lots aren't all flat, and a lot of the most interesting outdoor spaces in the city exist because a builder figured out how to work with a grade change rather than around it. A backyard that drops eight feet from the house to the property line is a liability with a basic deck design and an opportunity with the right one. Multi-level decks use the grade to create distinct outdoor zones at different elevations, connected by stairs and transitions that make the whole thing feel intentional.
The structural design of a multi-level deck is more involved than a single-level build. The post heights vary, the load paths are more complex, and the connection points between levels need to be engineered for the specific spans and loads involved. A multi-level deck built without proper engineering documentation and inspected footings is a liability in Louisville's freeze-thaw climate, where frost heave can move improperly set posts enough to stress the connections between levels. We build multi-level decks to code, with permits pulled and inspections completed.
Rooftop deck construction is a different category of project with its own set of structural requirements. The roof or structure being built on has to be assessed for load capacity before design begins. Waterproofing the surface below a rooftop deck is one of the most critical details of the build, because water intrusion into a roof assembly below a deck is expensive to find and more expensive to fix. Drainage has to be designed so water gets off the roof surface without being trapped. We handle rooftop deck projects with the additional engineering and waterproofing attention they require.
Other specialty deck projects we handle include wraparound decks on older Louisville homes in neighborhoods like the Highlands and Crescent Hill where the architecture lends itself to that style, elevated decks with significant clearance below that require enclosed underdeck systems to keep the space below usable, and decks with integrated built-ins like benches, planters, and outdoor kitchens.
If your project doesn't fit the standard description, call us. Non-standard projects are usually the most satisfying ones to build.
Learn about our covered deck and pergola building services in Louisville.