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Cedar Deck Building

Handis cedar deck building puts western red cedar 5/4 by 6-inch decking on pressure-treated framing (or full-cedar framing on the upgrade builds) — installed with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners sized to cedar's chemistry, capped with cedar railing and trim, through-bolted Z-flashed ledger on attached builds per IRC, and stained and sealed on the first coat unless the homeowner asks for natural weathering — from $18,000 for a standard 200 to 300-square-foot build to $40,000 for a larger build with full cedar framing, cedar railing, cap rail, fascia, and stair detailing. Western red cedar is the traditional Pacific Northwest deck material. The grain is warm, the color new is honey-brown, and the surface weathers to a silver-gray patina if left unstained. Cedar accepts stain well — properly stained cedar holds its color through Pacific Northwest winters with biennial maintenance; cedar left raw weathers to silver in 12 to 18 months and stays that color for the deck's life. Cedar lasts 15 to 30 years on a residential deck in the Puget Sound depending on the homeowner's commitment to the stain cycle and the fastener grade used at install.

Cedar deck building image — finished western red cedar deck on a flat Seattle back yard in dry late-afternoon light, the grain reading warm honey-brown across 5/4 by 6-inch decking, cedar 2x4 capped railing on three sides, cedar fascia at the rim joist, stainless steel deck screws set flush in the boards.

Service

Photo of a cedar deck install in progress — Handis carpenter driving a stainless steel deck screw flush into a freshly-laid western red cedar 5/4 by 6-inch board, the warm honey-brown grain visible across the board surface, PT framing visible at 16-inch on-center below, a freshly-stained section of the deck reading darker in the background.
Process

How a Cedar Deck Build Works

Seven sequential phases from site staking through stain-and-seal first coat — the actual sequence Handis runs on every new western red cedar deck build.

Step 1/7

Site Staking + Footing Layout + Permit

Estimate visit confirms the footprint, the cedar grade and dimension (5/4x6 standard or 2x6 upgrade), the framing material (PT standard or full cedar upgrade), the railing (cedar standard or aluminum baluster upgrade), and any add-ons. Site staked, footing locations marked, Seattle DCI permit pulled under Handis's general-contractor license. Stamped engineering coordinated if required.

Step 2/7

Concrete Piers (or Helical Piers) + Post Bases

Pier footings poured to engineer's spec or to prescriptive depth — typically 18 to 36 inches deep. Galvanized or stainless post bases set into the wet concrete or anchored to cured piers.

Step 3/7

Framing + Ledger (PT or Full Cedar)

Standard builds frame in pressure-treated southern yellow pine (the right ground-contact framing material under cedar decking). Full-cedar framing on upgrade builds. On attached builds, the wall behind the ledger is opened, bottom plate inspected and replaced if rotted, then the ledger through-bolted with 1/2-inch hot-dipped galvanized or stainless lag bolts at IRC R507.9.1.3 spacing and Z-flashed under the siding.

Step 4/7

Framing Inspection

Seattle DCI (or jurisdiction equivalent) framing inspection. Inspector verifies pier spacing, joist hangers, ledger bolt pattern and flashing, post bases. Decking install holds until the framing inspection passes.

Step 5/7

Cedar Decking Install with Stainless or Hot-Dipped Fasteners

Western red cedar 5/4x6 decking laid out, top-driven with stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized deck screws sized for cedar (never electroplated zinc), set flush in the board, 1/4-inch gap between boards for drainage. Picture-frame border at the perimeter on premium builds.

Step 6/7

Cedar Railing + Cap Rail + Fascia

Cedar 2x4 capped railing system at 36-inch (or 42-inch on raised decks per WA Residential Code), 4-inch sphere baluster spacing rule met. Cedar fascia installed at the rim joist. Cap rail routed and sanded smooth for hand contact.

Step 7/7

Stain-and-Seal First Coat + Final Inspection

First coat of semi-transparent oil-based stain-and-sealer applied after install (Cabot, Penofin, Sikkens, or Defy — the right products for cedar's pore structure). Final inspection scheduled with the permit office. Inspector verifies railing height and baluster spacing, stairs and stair railings, and overall completion. Permit closed, permit copy provided. Maintenance schedule (re-stain every 18 to 24 months) explained at handoff.

Pricing

Cedar Deck Pricing

Final pricing depends on deck square footage, cedar grade (5/4x6 standard or 2x6 upgrade), framing material (PT standard or full cedar upgrade), railing system (cedar standard or aluminum baluster upgrade), and whether stamped engineering is required. Engineering, Seattle DCI permit fees, and any licensed-electrical portions are pass-through line items named in the project total. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.

Tell us the square footage, the framing preference (PT standard or full cedar upgrade), and the railing material — we will quote the project with permit and engineering included.

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Why Homeowners Book Handis for Cedar Decks
Trust

Why Homeowners Book Handis for Cedar Decks

Cedar is the deck material the Pacific Northwest grew up with. Every back yard built between 1960 and 2000 in Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, and the surrounding suburbs likely had a cedar deck on it at some point — and many of them are still on the second or third stain cycle decades later. Cedar earns the position for three reasons. The grain reads warm and honey-brown when new, weathered silver-gray when left raw, both colors that fit the Northwest landscape. The wood accepts stain better than nearly any other species — the open pore structure pulls semi-transparent oil stain deep enough to read color through the grain rather than as a paint film on top. And cedar's natural rot resistance, while less than pressure-treated, is high enough that a cedar deck on PT framing with proper fasteners and a regular stain cycle reliably lasts 20 to 30 years. The two cedar-build details that separate a 30-year cedar deck from a 12-year cedar deck — fastener grade (stainless or hot-dipped galvanized, never electroplated zinc) and the stain cycle (every 18 to 24 months, not "when it looks tired"). Handis builds for both.

Estimate

Tell us the square footage you have in mind, the cedar grade preference (5/4x6 standard or 2x6 upgrade), the framing preference (PT standard or full cedar upgrade), the railing system (cedar standard, aluminum baluster upgrade), the stain preference (semi-transparent oil first coat, or left raw for natural silver-gray weathering), and any add-ons (stairs, built-in bench, low-voltage lighting, hot-tub framing). We send a clear estimate with the cedar spec, the stain spec, and the permit/engineering pass-through line items named.

Service cost estimate illustration
Reviews

Customer Reviews

Recent cedar deck reviews from real Handis customers across the Puget Sound.

280-square-foot western red cedar deck on our Magnolia back yard. 5/4 by 6-inch decking, PT framing, hot-dipped galvanized fasteners, semi-transparent Cabot stain in honey color. Handis built it in 9 working days, pulled the Seattle DCI permit. The first coat of stain was applied the day after the decking went down and the deck reads warm and intentional. Came in at $19,500.

Frank B., 280 sq ft Cedar with Cabot Stain

Cedar deck with the stainless steel fastener upgrade on our Ballard build. We had the previous cedar deck (1996) that had the dark rust rings around every screw head and we did not want that on the new one. Handis used stainless steel deck screws throughout — no rust rings, no staining, and the screws will outlive the deck. $22,500 for 320 square feet. The right call for the long horizon.

Diane and Robert K., 320 sq ft Cedar with Stainless Fasteners

Full-cedar framing build on a 380-square-foot elevated deck in Bellevue — the framing is visible from below and we wanted the all-cedar aesthetic. Handis explained the tradeoff (shorter framing life than PT), helped us decide we wanted the look enough to accept the maintenance, and built the deck in three weeks. Cedar joists, beams, posts, decking, railing, cap rail. $34,000 total. Reads like a single piece of furniture.

Helen and Marcus F., 380 sq ft Full-Cedar Framing

480-square-foot cedar deck (left raw, no stain) on our Queen Anne back yard. We wanted the silver-gray weathered look from day one and Handis was happy to skip the first-coat stain. The deck has been in service 14 months and has weathered to a beautiful silver-gray that fits the Craftsman house perfectly. Cedar 2x6 boards, hot-dipped galvanized fasteners. $26,000 total.

Vincent and Lara T., 480 sq ft Cedar Left Raw to Silver

Cedar deck with aluminum baluster railing upgrade. Cedar 5/4x6 decking, cedar cap rail and top rail, powder-coated aluminum balusters for the modern look. Handis routed the cap rail smooth — feels good under the hand on every trip up the stairs. 360 square feet, $28,500. The aluminum balusters keep the view to the bay open in a way wooden balusters would have blocked.

Padma and Aiden K., 360 sq ft Cedar with Aluminum Balusters
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cedar deck building — pricing, framing options, fastener selection, stain cycle, and how cedar compares to composite.

How much does a cedar deck cost?
A standard cedar deck (200 to 300 square feet, 5/4x6 cedar decking on PT framing, cedar railing, hot-dipped galvanized fasteners, first-coat stain) starts at $18,000. Adding the stainless steel fastener upgrade brings it to $21,000. A mid-tier cedar build (300 to 400 square feet) starts at $25,000. Adding the aluminum baluster railing upgrade brings it to $29,000. Adding the full-cedar framing upgrade brings it to $32,000. A premium cedar build (400 to 600 square feet) with cap rail, mitered fascia, and low-voltage lighting starts at $36,000. The top-end cedar build (600+ square feet) with full-cedar framing, premium railing, full lighting, and stain runs $38,000 to $40,000 with all-stainless hardware. You get a written estimate with the cedar spec, the stain spec, and the engineering and permit pass-through line items named.
Cedar versus composite — which should I pick?
Cedar costs less up front (a 300 to 400-square-foot cedar build runs $18,000 to $32,000; the equivalent composite build runs $28,000 to $42,000) and gives the traditional Northwest warm wood look. The tradeoff is the maintenance cycle — cedar needs re-staining every 18 to 24 months to hold its color, and the deck's life depends on the homeowner committing to that maintenance. Cedar lasts 15 to 30 years depending on the stain cycle and the fastener grade. Composite costs more up front, lasts longer (25 to 50-year manufacturer warranties), and needs no annual staining — the right pick when the homeowner does not want the maintenance cycle. We will walk you through both on the booking call.
Why do cedar decks need stainless or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners?
Western red cedar contains natural acids (tannins) that corrode certain fastener grades faster than the equivalent fasteners would corrode in untreated wood. Electroplated zinc fasteners corrode within a few seasons against cedar's tannins — the dark rust rings around screw heads on aging cedar decks are the visible signature of the wrong fastener grade. Hot-dipped galvanized fasteners (the standard cedar-deck fastener) hold up for the deck's life. Stainless steel fasteners (the upgrade) hold up indefinitely and never stain the cedar around the screw head. Every Handis cedar build uses hot-dipped galvanized as standard or stainless steel as upgrade — never electroplated zinc.
PT framing or full-cedar framing — which should I pick?
Pressure-treated southern yellow pine framing is the standard structural choice under cedar decking. PT is rated for ground-contact and wet-exposure framing and lasts longer in that service than cedar would. Full-cedar framing is an upgrade option for builds where the framing is visible from below (elevated decks where the underside shows) and the homeowner wants the all-cedar aesthetic — most homeowners pick PT framing under cedar decking and never see the framing again after the deck boards go on; the all-cedar look matters most on elevated decks where the framing is part of the visible structure. Full-cedar framing adds $4,000 to $8,000 to the build and has shorter ground-contact life than PT.
How long does the cedar build take?
A standard cedar build (200 to 300 square feet) runs 8 to 12 working days. The framing is 3 to 5 days; the cedar decking install with top-driven stainless or hot-dipped fasteners runs 2 to 3 days (faster than composite because there are no hidden-fastener clips); the railing and cap-rail detailing runs 1 to 2 days; the stain first coat adds 1 day for application and 2 to 3 days for dry-and-cure before any furniture or foot traffic. A larger or multi-level cedar build can run 2 to 4 weeks. Permit and inspection time adds 2 to 4 weeks before any framing starts.
How often does cedar need re-staining?
Every 18 to 24 months for the homeowner who wants to maintain the original stain color. The maintenance routine is a light pressure-wash, a fresh coat of semi-transparent oil-based stain (Cabot, Penofin, Sikkens, or Defy — the same product line as the first coat), and 24-hour dry-and-cure before regular use. The Handis cedar build includes the first coat; subsequent coats are the homeowner's maintenance. Cedar left unstained weathers to silver-gray in 12 to 18 months and stays silver for the deck's life — also an acceptable choice. We ask on the booking call whether the homeowner wants the stain-and-maintain approach or the silver-gray weathered look.
What stain products does Handis use?
Semi-transparent oil-based stains from the major Pacific Northwest brands — Cabot Australian Timber Oil, Penofin (the cedar-specific line), Sikkens Cetol DEK (the SRD line), or Defy Extreme. All are the right product class for cedar's pore structure — they penetrate the wood grain rather than forming a film on top, letting the cedar's natural color and grain read through while protecting against UV and moisture. We ask on the booking call which brand and which color the homeowner prefers and stock accordingly for the build. Each brand has 6 to 12 stain colors ranging from clear (no color) through honey, cedar, and redwood tones to dark walnut and ebony.
Will the cedar deck splinter or split over time?
Cedar can develop surface checks (small cracks that form as the wood expands and contracts with humidity) and end-splits at the cut ends of boards — both are normal characteristics of natural wood and do not affect the deck's structural integrity. The stain-and-seal cycle minimizes both — properly stained cedar stays more dimensionally stable than unstained cedar. We use cedar that has been kiln-dried and grade-checked at the lumber yard for minimal splits at delivery, and we seal the end-grain of every cut board to slow end-splitting. Minor checks and surface cracks are not under warranty; they are normal cedar weathering.
Do I need a permit?
Standard deck permit rules apply. Decks over 30 inches above grade and attached decks of any height require a Seattle DCI permit (and the equivalent in other jurisdictions). Multi-level builds, hillside builds with engineered footings, and large pergolas require stamped engineering. Handis pulls the permit under our general-contractor license, coordinates the engineering if required, schedules the framing and final inspections, and provides the permit copy at project close. Permit fees and engineering fees are pass-through line items on the quote.
Can I leave the cedar unstained for the silver-gray weathered look?
Yes — many homeowners specifically want the silver-gray weathered look that cedar develops when left unstained, and we are happy to skip the first-coat stain on the build. Cedar left raw weathers to silver-gray in 12 to 18 months in the Pacific Northwest climate (UV plus rain breaks down the surface lignin and lifts the color out, leaving the silver patina) and stays that color for the deck's life. The unstained cedar requires no maintenance cycle — the deck weathers naturally. The structural life of the deck is the same whether stained or unstained as long as the framing is PT and the fasteners are hot-dipped or stainless.
Is the work guaranteed?
Yes. Handis carries general liability and workers' compensation; every carpenter has cleared a background screening before the first job. Two-year Handis warranty on structural framing — joists, beams, posts, ledger flashing. One-year Handis warranty on cedar decking install, cedar railing, cap rail, fascia, and stain-and-seal application. The natural-wood material itself (splitting, checking, warping that falls within normal cedar's lifecycle) is not under warranty; the homeowner's commitment to the 18 to 24-month re-stain cycle is what extends the deck's life.

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