Second-Level Deck Rebuild in Hidden View, Lake Tapps, WA

This Lake Tapps deck project started with a homeowner who wanted to make sure the next phase of work on their home was done right.

After working with another contractor on previous portions of the house, they weren’t completely satisfied with the experience or quality of the work. When it came time to rebuild the second-story deck, they reached out to MasterDecks and People Come First Construction Group looking for a team that could handle not only the construction, but the permitting, planning, engineering, and details required for a more complicated elevated deck.

The existing deck had already been demolished by the homeowner before our crew arrived, leaving the old ledger and portions of the framing in place. From there, our team could begin preparing the home for the new structure.

Permitting, Septic Setbacks & Site Planning

Long before the first new deck board went down, this project required considerable planning.

The property includes an on-site septic system, slope considerations, and critical-area requirements that had to be reviewed as part of the permitting process. The location of the septic tank also directly affected the structural design.

A required five-foot setback from the septic tank meant the deck posts couldn’t simply be placed wherever they were most convenient. Instead, the deck required substantial structural beams capable of spanning farther between supports.

One of those beams weighed approximately 450–550 pounds.

Because a mechanical beam lift would have placed too much weight directly over the septic tank, the crew built temporary support structures and used hoists to carefully raise the beams into position.

It’s one of those parts of the project most homeowners will never see once a deck is finished, but it’s a great example of how existing site conditions can influence the engineering and construction behind an elevated deck.

Building Through Pacific Northwest Weather

As construction progressed, the crew also dealt with plenty of familiar Western Washington rain.

Wet conditions don’t necessarily stop a deck project, but they do change how the jobsite has to be managed. Framing, joists, and protective joist tape can become extremely slick when wet, making proper footwear, waterproof clothing, and careful sequencing especially important.

Despite the weather, the structure continued taking shape with the major beams installed, framing completed, and decking installation underway.

Building the Deck, Stairs & Landing

Once the primary structure was framed, the project moved into the details that would define the finished deck.

The design included a large second-story deck with stairs descending to an intermediate landing before turning and continuing down to the yard. That configuration had to work around several existing site conditions, including:

• A large window along the side of the home
• Existing landscaping and substantial boulders
• The septic system and required setbacks
• An underground propane gas line
• Required footing locations for the stair landing

The propane line presented another potential challenge. Based on its route from the tank toward the house, there was a possibility that it could pass directly through one of the planned footing locations.

Fortunately, careful excavation revealed that the gas line ran immediately alongside the new footing rather than through it. That allowed the crew to install the landing as designed without bringing in another contractor to reroute the propane system.

With the stair footings poured and landing framed, the crew completed the stair system while continuing work on the main deck surface.

Detailed Decking Installation

With framing complete, installation began on the finished deck surface, including the perimeter border and divider boards that give the deck a more intentional, custom appearance.

The crew used the Cortex® screw and plug system, allowing exposed fastening locations to be finished with matching plugs for a cleaner deck surface.

From there, the deck was ready for the final major component: railing.

A New Second-Story TimberTech Deck in Lake Tapps

Approximately four weeks after construction began, this Lake Tapps home had an entirely new second-story outdoor living space.

The completed deck features TimberTech® Advanced PVC Vintage Collection® decking, a premium PVC decking product designed for long-term performance in demanding outdoor environments.

Unlike traditional wood decking, TimberTech Advanced PVC contains no wood fibers and is designed to resist moisture damage, mold, mildew, splintering, cracking, peeling, and rot. The Vintage Collection is backed by a 50-Year Fade & Stain Limited Warranty along with a Limited Lifetime Product Warranty.

For a Western Washington home exposed to months of rain and changing seasonal conditions, it’s an excellent fit for a long-term, low-maintenance outdoor living space.

Black Aluminum Railing by ResCom Railing

The deck and stairs were finished with a black aluminum picket railing system manufactured by American Structures & Design (AS&D).

AS&D aluminum railing provides the durability and weather resistance homeowners need in the Pacific Northwest while maintaining the clean, open appearance that works particularly well on elevated decks.

Once the deck construction was complete, our sister company ResCom Railing came in to complete the railing installation throughout the deck, landing, and stair system.

Using another PCF Group company for the railing allowed the transition from deck construction to railing installation to stay coordinated under one team.

A Stair System Designed Around the Property

One of the most satisfying parts of the completed project is seeing how naturally the stairs now fit into a site that presented several obstacles during construction.

The staircase clears the existing window, transitions onto the intermediate landing, passes directly over the large landscape boulders discussed at the beginning of the project, and continues safely down to grade.

At the bottom of the stairs, a new concrete landing provides the required stable transition between the staircase and yard while meeting applicable building-code requirements.

What initially looked like a complicated combination of rocks, utilities, septic setbacks, structural requirements, and elevation changes ultimately came together exactly as planned.

Built for Years of Outdoor Living

The finished project gives these Lake Tapps homeowners a substantial new outdoor space connected directly to the second level of their home.

More importantly, much of what makes this deck special is underneath the finished surface: oversized structural beams, carefully located footings, proper flashing, engineered spans, precise stair geometry, and thoughtful coordination around existing utilities and site conditions.

Paired with TimberTech Advanced PVC decking, American Structures & Design aluminum railing, and professional railing installation by ResCom Railing, the result is a low-maintenance outdoor living space designed to perform for decades.

Premium Deck Building in Lake Tapps & the South Puget Sound

MasterDecks, part of People Come First Construction Group, designs and builds custom decks throughout Lake Tapps and the greater Puget Sound region.

From straightforward deck replacements to complicated elevated structures involving permitting, engineering, septic systems, slopes, utilities, custom stairs, and specialized railing systems, our team manages the details required to take a project from initial planning through final installation.