Under-Deck Storage & Skirting
Under-deck storage and skirting is the Handis carpentry that turns the four to eight feet of clear space under a second-story deck from a wasted open joist bay into bike storage, garden-tool storage, or just clean visual closure of the underside — cedar or composite vertical skirting boards with a proper 1-inch ventilation gap that prevents the trapped-moisture rot that closed-in skirting causes in the Seattle climate, a hidden access door with a magnetic latch sized to the clearance you need, and an optional under-deck drainage system (Trex RainEscape, TimberTech DrySpace, or equivalent) that catches the rain water that falls through the deck-board gaps and channels it to a downspout — turning the under-deck space into dry usable storage even in the wettest months. Two to five working days, from $1,500 for basic vertical cedar skirting on a small deck to $5,000 for full skirting with access door and an under-deck drainage system on a 14 by 16-foot deck. Pure Handis carpentry — no plumber, no electrician, no permit (skirting and access doors do not require permits in Seattle and most surrounding jurisdictions).
Service
How the Skirting and Storage Build Works
Five sequential phases from layout to finish — the actual sequence we run on every under-deck skirting and storage project. Pure Handis carpentry; no licensed-sub handoff.
Estimate Visit + Layout + Drainage Decision
On the estimate visit we measure the deck footprint and the deck-to-grade clearance, confirm the skirting material (cedar or composite to match the deck above), confirm the access door size and location (24-inch garden-tool door, 36-inch bike door, 48-inch tractor door), and confirm whether the optional under-deck drainage system (Trex RainEscape or TimberTech DrySpace) is in scope. Drainage decision is yes if you want truly dry storage; no if items can tolerate occasional dampness.
Pressure-Treated Framing Layout + Anchor
Pressure-treated 2x4 or 2x6 frame built around the perimeter of the deck, tied to the existing deck posts and beam with hot-dip galvanized Simpson Strong-Tie angle brackets. Frame is set true, plumb, and level — out-of-plumb frame makes every vertical skirting board lean by a small angle that the eye picks up immediately. Rough opening for the access door framed in the same lumber. Day 1.
Optional Under-Deck Drainage System Install
If the drainage system is in scope, the Trex RainEscape or TimberTech DrySpace troughs install above the joists and below the deck boards, channeling water to a gutter at the low end of the deck and routing to an existing downspout (or a new downspout if needed). Manufacturer-spec installation with the supplied hangers and sealant. Day 2.
Vertical Skirting Boards with Ventilation Gap
Cedar or composite vertical boards installed on the frame with a 1-inch ventilation gap between boards held by a spacer gauge so the gap is dead consistent across the run. Top edge trims against the deck rim joist with Z-flashing or paintable trim. Bottom edge has a 2-inch clearance to grade with a paintable trim or galvanized drip cap. Days 2 to 4.
Access Door Install + Trim + Walk-Through
Access door cut from the same skirting material, hinged on hidden cabinet hinges so the door is invisible when closed, magnetic catch and finger-pull recess installed. Corner boards trimmed (cedar or composite to match). Final walk-through with you, hand-off of warranty paperwork, manufacturer warranty paperwork for the drainage system if installed. Day 4 to 5.
Under-Deck Storage & Skirting Pricing
Final pricing depends on deck footprint, skirting material (cedar or composite), access door size, and whether the under-deck drainage system (Trex RainEscape or TimberTech DrySpace) is in scope. Pure Handis carpentry — no licensed-sub fees, no permit. Request a free in-home estimate for an accurate quote.
Tell us the deck footprint and the storage you want underneath — we will quote the skirting and the optional drainage so the space stays dry.
Why Homeowners Book Handis for Under-Deck Storage & Skirting
Under-deck skirting looks like a small simple build until you see what closed-in skirting does to a Seattle deck after five years. The deck framing above gets wet from rain falling through the gaps and never dries because the skirting trapped the moisture. The skirting boards themselves wick water at the bottom edge against grade and rot from the inside out. The trapped moisture and the dark space breed carpenter ants and powderpost beetles within three to five years, and now the deck has a pest infestation that the homeowner did not see coming. The first photo from one of those skirting-removal jobs is always the same — black streaks of rot on every joist face, beetle holes in the bottom plate, ant trails running up the posts. None of these are exotic mistakes; they are the predictable failure mode of skirting installed without ventilation by a contractor who never had to live with it. Handis builds skirting with the proper 1-inch ventilation gap between every board so air circulates and the under-deck space dries out after rain. Cedar or composite, hidden access door, optional drainage system, twenty-plus-year lifespan, no infestation.
Estimate
Tell us the deck (footprint, deck-to-grade height, board material above), the skirting material preference (cedar matches a cedar deck, composite matches a composite deck), the access door size and location (24-inch garden-tool door, 36-inch bike door, 48-inch tractor door, one door or two), and whether you want the optional under-deck drainage system for dry storage. We send back a clear estimate and a project timeline.
Customer Reviews
Under-deck storage and skirting reviews from real Seattle-area Handis customers.
Skirting and storage for the 14 by 16-foot raised deck behind our Issaquah house. They framed pressure-treated, ran cedar vertical boards with the proper ventilation gap (not closed-in like the previous owner wanted, which would have rotted out in five years here), put in a hidden access door for the bikes, and installed a Trex RainEscape system overhead so the storage space stays dry in the wettest months. Four working days. The bikes finally have a home.
Standard 10 by 12-foot Magnolia deck — cedar skirting and a hidden access door for garden tools. Three days. The 1-inch ventilation gap is visible across the run and looks intentional rather than sloppy. The access door is so well-hidden that visitors do not notice it; we open it from inside the magnetic catch and a finger-pull recess. Two years in, no rot, no surprises.
We had previous under-deck skirting that the original owner installed closed-in (no ventilation gap). Five years later the deck framing had rot streaks on every joist face from trapped moisture and we had to pull the entire skirting plus replace three rim joists. Handis did the framing repair and re-skirted with proper 1-inch gaps. Two years in the under-deck space stays dry between rains and the deck framing is back to clean wood. The difference is real.
Composite skirting to match our Trex deck above, with a hidden access door and a TimberTech DrySpace drainage system. Four days. The under-deck space is fully dry now — we keep cardboard boxes and seasonal decor underneath that used to live in the garage. The composite skirting will outlast us; the drainage system has a fifteen-year manufacturer warranty.
Basic cedar skirting on a small 8 by 10-foot Capitol Hill deck — no door, no drainage, just visual closure of the open joist bay so the yard looks finished from the property line. Two days. Cost came in right at $1,650. The cedar has patinaed to silver in eighteen months and the skirting blends into the deck above seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about under-deck storage and skirting — materials, ventilation, the access door, the optional drainage system, pricing, timeline, and what to expect.