Pressure-Treated Deck Building
Handis pressure-treated deck building puts ACQ or MCA-treated southern yellow pine decking (5/4 by 6-inch radius-edge premium or 2x6 standard) on PT framing — installed with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners sized for the modern ACQ chemistry, capped with PT railing and trim, through-bolted Z-flashed ledger on attached builds per IRC — from $14,000 for a standard 200 to 300-square-foot build to $28,000 for a larger build with PT cap-rail and railing detailing, fascia, and stair work. PT is the budget deck-build option in the Pacific Northwest. The material is rated for ground-contact and wet-exposure framing, lasts 15 to 25 years on a properly built deck with the right fastener grade and a maintenance stain cycle, and is the right choice when budget is the primary driver. The single install detail that turns a 15-year PT deck into a 25-year PT deck — fastener grade. The modern ACQ copper-based preservative chemistry corrodes electroplated zinc fasteners within years; only hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel fasteners hold up against ACQ. Handis builds with hot-dipped galvanized as standard or stainless as upgrade — never electroplated.
Service
What Does a Pressure-Treated Deck Build Include?
A pressure-treated deck build is a full new-construction build with PT decking — covering site staking and footing layout, concrete pier or helical pier footings, PT framing in southern yellow pine (joists, beams, posts), through-bolted Z-flashed ledger on attached builds per IRC R507.9.1.3, ACQ or MCA-treated PT decking install with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel deck screws sized for the ACQ chemistry, PT 2x4 cap-rail and railing system, PT fascia at the rim joist, low-voltage stair lighting, and final cleanup. Stain or sealer is applied 4 to 6 months after install (PT lumber needs the cure window before staining) or left raw at the homeowner's request. Handis covers PT builds from $14,000 for a standard 200 to 300-square-foot build up to $28,000 for a larger build with PT cap-rail and railing detailing, fascia, and stair work.
PT Decking — 5/4 by 6-Inch Radius-Edge Premium Standard
We install 5/4 by 6-inch radius-edge premium PT decking as the standard — kiln-dried-after-treatment lumber with eased edges for splinter resistance and finished smooth-side-up. PT 2x6 (full 1.5-inch by 5.5-inch dimensional) is the budget option for builds where every dollar matters. Decking goes on with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel deck screws set flush — top-driven on PT (PT's grain hides screw heads less than cedar but the cost-vs-benefit on hidden fasteners does not work at this price point). 1/4-inch gap between boards for drainage and expansion.
PT Framing — Joists, Beams, Posts
Standard PT builds use pressure-treated southern yellow pine framing throughout — joists at 16-inch on-center, beams sized to the span and the load per the IRC deck table, posts on galvanized steel post bases anchored into concrete piers. PT is rated for ground-contact and wet-exposure framing — the right structural choice for the entire deck structure.
ACQ Chemistry — The Fastener-Grade Detail That Matters
Modern pressure-treated lumber uses ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) or MCA (micronized copper azole) preservative chemistry — replacing the old CCA (chromated copper arsenate) chemistry that was phased out for residential use in 2003. ACQ and MCA contain significantly more copper than CCA — and copper corrodes electroplated zinc fasteners within years. The modern PT deck requires hot-dipped galvanized fasteners (the standard) or stainless steel fasteners (the upgrade) — never electroplated zinc, never standard interior deck screws. Every Handis PT build uses hot-dipped galvanized or stainless throughout — joist hangers, lag bolts, deck screws, all rated for ACQ contact.
PT Railing and Cap Rail
PT 2x4 capped railing system on every PT build — vertical PT balusters at the 4-inch sphere rule, PT 2x4 top rail capped with a PT cap. The aluminum baluster upgrade replaces the vertical PT balusters with powder-coated aluminum for a thinner-baluster look at $2,500 to $4,000 added cost. The cap rail is sanded smooth for hand contact.
Stain or Sealer — Applied 4 to 6 Months After Install
PT lumber leaves the treatment plant with significant moisture content — the wood is saturated with the preservative solution. Staining or sealing PT immediately after install does not work; the stain does not penetrate the wet wood and beads off the surface. PT needs a 4 to 6-month cure window after install before the first coat of stain or sealer goes on. Handis applies the first coat at the homeowner's request 4 to 6 months after the build (returned at no charge when scheduled at install). Some homeowners prefer to leave PT raw — it weathers to a silver-gray similar to unstained cedar, the structural life is the same, and there is no maintenance cycle.
How a Pressure-Treated Deck Build Works
Seven sequential phases from site staking through optional cure-window stain — the actual sequence Handis runs on every new pressure-treated deck build.
Site Staking + Footing Layout + Permit
Estimate visit confirms the footprint, the PT decking grade (5/4x6 radius-edge premium or 2x6 standard), the railing (PT 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.
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.
PT Framing + Ledger
PT beams set on post bases, PT joists hung at 16-inch on-center with hot-dipped galvanized joist hangers (the ACQ-compatible grade). 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.
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.
PT Decking Install with Hot-Dipped or Stainless Fasteners
5/4 by 6-inch radius-edge premium PT decking laid out (or 2x6 PT on budget builds), top-driven with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel deck screws sized for ACQ chemistry, set flush in the board, 1/4-inch gap between boards for drainage. Radius-edge boards installed smooth-side up.
PT Railing + Cap Rail + Fascia
PT 2x4 capped railing system at 36-inch (or 42-inch on raised decks per WA Residential Code), 4-inch sphere baluster spacing rule met. PT fascia installed at the rim joist. Cap rail sanded smooth for hand contact.
Final Inspection + Cure-Window Stain (4-6 Months Later)
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. If the homeowner has elected the stain-after-cure option, Handis returns 4 to 6 months later to apply the first coat — the cure window is necessary because freshly-treated PT is too wet to accept stain immediately after install.
Pressure-Treated Deck Pricing
Final pricing depends on deck square footage, PT grade (5/4x6 radius-edge premium standard or 2x6 budget), railing system (PT 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. The post-build stain cure-window visit (4 to 6 months after install) is included on builds where the homeowner elects it. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the square footage, the decking grade preference (5/4x6 radius-edge premium standard or 2x6 budget), and the railing material — we will quote the project with permit and engineering included.
Why Homeowners Book Handis for Pressure-Treated Decks
Pressure-treated is the deck material that built American back yards. PT southern yellow pine has been the standard residential deck-build material for over four decades — and the 2003 transition from CCA chemistry to ACQ and MCA changed exactly one thing about how it has to be installed: the fastener grade. Electroplated zinc fasteners that worked fine with CCA corrode within years against the higher-copper ACQ chemistry. The aging PT decks that show streaking and structural failure around their fasteners are almost always the ones built between 2003 and 2010 by a contractor who did not catch up to the chemistry change. Every modern PT deck (built post-2003) must use hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel fasteners — joist hangers, lag bolts, deck screws, all rated for ACQ contact. Skipping this detail is the difference between a 15-year deck and a 25-year deck on the same lumber. Handis catches the detail on every PT build — no electroplated fasteners anywhere on a PT deck we build, period. PT is the budget deck-build option in the Pacific Northwest and it earns the position when the install is done correctly.
Hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners — never electroplated zinc on ACQ-treated PT
Modern ACQ and MCA pressure-treatment chemistry corrodes electroplated zinc fasteners within years. We use hot-dipped galvanized fasteners as standard and stainless steel as upgrade on every PT build. Joist hangers, lag bolts, deck screws — all rated for ACQ contact. Skipping this detail is the difference between a 15-year deck and a 25-year deck.
IRC ledger schedule, through-bolted, Z-flashed, bottom-plate-inspected
Every attached PT-deck ledger gets through-bolted with 1/2-inch hot-dipped galvanized or stainless lag bolts at 16-inch on-center staggered top/bottom per IRC R507.9.1.3, Z-flashed under the siding with the flashing leg tucked behind the WRB, and the wall behind the ledger gets opened, the bottom plate inspected, and replaced if rotted.
5/4 by 6-inch radius-edge premium PT decking as standard
We install 5/4 by 6-inch radius-edge premium PT as the standard decking grade — kiln-dried-after-treatment lumber with eased edges for splinter resistance and smooth-side-up install. The 2x6 grade is the budget option for builds where every dollar matters; the 5/4x6 radius-edge is the right pick for the deck most homeowners want to walk barefoot on.
Post bases on concrete piers — never wood against wet soil
Every PT post on a Handis-built deck sits on a hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel post base anchored into a poured concrete pier. Wood directly against wet Pacific Northwest soil rots from the bottom up — measured in years, not decades. The post-base hardware lifts the post off the concrete by 1 inch, lets the wood drain and dry between rains, and the concrete pier carries the load down to undisturbed soil.
Cure-window stain visit included when elected
Freshly-treated PT lumber is too wet to accept stain immediately after install. The stain does not penetrate the wet wood and beads off the surface. PT needs 4 to 6 months of cure time after install before the first coat of stain or sealer goes on. Handis returns 4 to 6 months after the build to apply the first coat of stain or sealer at the homeowner's request — included in the build price when scheduled at install. Some homeowners prefer to leave PT raw to weather to silver-gray; we ask on the booking call.
Insured, background-checked, 2-year structural + 1-year decking warranty
Handis carries general liability and workers' compensation; every carpenter has cleared a background screening. Two-year Handis warranty on structural framing — joists, beams, posts, ledger flashing. One-year Handis warranty on PT decking install, PT railing, cap rail, fascia, and the cure-window stain application. The natural-wood material itself (splitting, checking, warping that falls within normal PT's lifecycle) is not under warranty; that is the maintenance cycle the homeowner commits to.
Estimate
Tell us the square footage you have in mind, the decking grade preference (5/4x6 radius-edge premium standard or 2x6 budget), the railing system (PT standard or aluminum baluster upgrade), the fastener preference (hot-dipped galvanized standard or stainless steel upgrade), the stain preference (cure-window stain at 4 to 6 months, 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 PT spec, the fastener spec, and the permit/engineering pass-through line items named.
Customer Reviews
Recent pressure-treated deck reviews from real Handis customers across the Puget Sound.
240-square-foot PT deck rebuild in Renton — replacing a 1992 build that had rotted at the posts and the ledger. Handis demoed the old deck, inspected the wall behind the ledger (rotted bottom plate, replaced), rebuilt to current code. Used the stainless-steel fasteners they explained were necessary for the new ACQ-treated PT — apparently regular galvanized corrodes against the new chemistry. Came in at $19,500 for the build with full PT railing.
Standard 280-square-foot PT deck with 5/4x6 radius-edge premium decking on our Beacon Hill back yard. Hot-dipped galvanized fasteners throughout, PT railing, cap rail. Handis explained the cure-window stain timing — said the deck would not accept stain for 4 to 6 months and they would come back to apply it then. Came back exactly at 5 months, applied a semi-transparent honey-brown stain. The deck reads warm and intentional. $16,500 total.
320-square-foot PT deck (left raw, no stain) on our Tukwila back yard. We wanted the silver-gray weathered look from year one and Handis was happy to skip the cure-window stain visit. The deck has been in service 16 months and has weathered to a silver-gray that fits the suburban back yard perfectly. PT framing, PT decking, hot-dipped galvanized fasteners, PT railing. $18,000 total.
PT deck with the aluminum baluster railing upgrade on our Federal Way build. Standard PT decking and framing, hot-dipped fasteners, but the railing has powder-coated aluminum balusters for the modern look. Handis explained the cost difference (about $2,500 over the standard PT railing) and we went with the aluminum. Reads cleaner than a full-PT railing without breaking the budget. $20,500 for 280 square feet.
460-square-foot PT deck on our Maple Valley back yard — larger footprint, 5/4x6 radius-edge premium decking, PT cap rail, mitered fascia at the corners, low-voltage step lights at the stairs. Handis built it in 11 working days, pulled the permit, came back 5 months later to apply the stain. Cure-window timing exactly as they explained on the booking call. $24,500 total. The right material decision for our budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about pressure-treated deck building — pricing, ACQ chemistry and fastener grades, decking options, stain timing, and how PT compares to cedar and composite.