Deck & Porch Builders in Knoxville, TN
East Tennessee gives you about eight good months outside, if you’ve got somewhere to be.
Gold’s Carpentry builds decks, covered porches and screened porches across Knoxville, from footings through railings, built for the weather we actually get here rather than the weather in the brochure. Humidity most of the summer, pollen every spring, and a thunderstorm most July afternoons.
That climate is hard on outdoor structures, and it shows up in the details: how the roof sheds water, how the decking is fastened, where the flashing goes, where the structure meets your house. Those are the parts that decide whether you’re looking at this deck in twenty years or replacing it in eight.
What we build
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Decks — single level, multi-level and wraparound
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Covered porches
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Screened porches and three-season rooms
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Porch rebuilds and restorations on older homes
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Railings, stairs and built-in bench seating
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Pergolas and shade structures
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Outdoor ceilings, beadboard and finish detail
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Deck repair, resurfacing and structural replacement
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Frame only builds
Wood or Composite?
The biggest question we hear: There isn’t a right answer, only tradeoffs.
Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable option and it holds up fine, but our humidity means it needs cleaning and resealing on a schedule. Skip that for a few years and it looks its age quickly.
Cedar costs more, weathers beautifully, and still wants maintenance ( just less of it). It’s the choice for people who want the deck to look like wood in ten years rather than look like it did on day one.
Composite or PVC costs the most up front and asks almost nothing of you afterward, which is why most people who’ve owned a wood deck choose it the second time. Worth knowing: composite gets hot in direct sun, and the framing underneath is still wood. PVC decking tends to conduct less heat than composite decking.
Want the structure now and the rest later?
Not every project has to be finished in one go. We’ll build the part that has to be right: the footings, framing, structure, the connection to your house, and leave the decking, railings or finish work for you to do later, or for us to come back for.
It’s a reasonable way to spread a project across two budget years, and it means the structural work is done by someone who does it every week. That’s the part where a mistake matters.
Ask us about it when you call.
Our Process
How a deck or porch project runs
01
First Conversation
You call or write, and we get back to you within one business day. We'll ask enough on the phone to know whether it's worth a visit.
02
On-Site Visit
We look at the space, talk through what you want, and flag anything structural or mechanical that might shape the plan. Bring pictures or kitchens you like — they tell us more than adjectives do.
03
Estimate
Back to you in 5-7 business days, broken out so you can see where the money goes. To be clear about what this is: a written estimate, not a rendering or a design package.
04
The Build
Most decks and porches take two to six weeks on site, weather permitting — and in East Tennessee, weather does not always permit. We’ll tell you when rain moves the schedule rather than leaving you to work it out.
Timeline & Investment
Most decks we build run between $50 to $100 per square foot, depending on height off the ground, material, etc. A covered porch usually runs between $150 to $250 per square foot.
Most projects take 2 to 6 weeks on site once we start.
The best time to call is winter.
Almost everyone calls about a deck in April, which means almost everyone gets it in July.
If you want to be using a new porch by the first warm weekend, the time to start is January or February. Estimates and planning happen indoors, permits take as long as they take, and we can be building the moment the ground allows it rather than joining a queue behind everyone who called in spring.
It’s also the quieter half of our year, which usually means a shorter wait and more of our attention.
Deck and Porch Questions We Get a Lot
How much does a deck cost in Knoxville?
How much does a covered porch cost compared to a deck?
Most decks we build run between $50 to $100 per square foot. Size is the obvious factor, but height off the ground matters more than people expect — a deck eight feet up needs much more structure and labor to reach than one a step off the lawn. Material makes up the rest of the difference.
Considerably more — usually starting around $150 per square foot. A roof means footings sized to carry it, posts, a structure that ties properly into your house, and flashing at the connection. It’s closer to a small addition than to a deck, and it’s worth knowing that before you set a budget.
How long does it take to build a deck?
Do I need a permit for a deck in Knoxville?
Most take 2 to 4 weeks on site. Covered and screened porches take longer. Weather moves outdoor schedules more than anything else, and we’ll tell you when it does rather than leaving you guessing.
Usually, yes. Most decks require a permit, and the requirements vary depending on height, size and where you are in the county. We handle permitting as part of the job, so it’s not something you need to work out.
Should I choose wood or composite?
What’s the difference between a deck, a covered porch and a screened porch?
It depends on how much maintenance you want. Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable and needs regular cleaning and sealing in our humidity. Cedar costs more and weathers well. Composite or PVC costs the most up front and asks almost nothing afterward, which is why most people choose it the second time around. Whichever you pick, the framing underneath is still wood.
A deck is open to the sky, so you use it when the weather is good. A covered porch adds a roof, which means shade and somewhere to sit during a summer thunderstorm. A screened porch adds walls of screen, which in East Tennessee mostly means you can use it in the evening without the bugs. Each step up costs more and adds months of usable time per year.
Can you just build the frame and let me finish it?
How long will a deck last in East Tennessee?
Yes. We’ll do the footings, framing and the connection to your house: the parts where a mistake matters and leave the decking and railings for you or for us later. It’s a good way to split a project across two budget years.
There are a lot of factors that play into the longevity of a deck in our area. With reasonable maintenance, 15 to 20 years for pressure-treated and longer for cedar. Composite or PVC can easily be 30-50 years. Our humidity and summer sun are hard on outdoor wood, so the honest answer depends more on upkeep than on material. Good framing and proper flashing where the deck meets the house matter more than the surface you walk on.
Can you repair or rebuild an existing deck?
When should I book for spring?
Yes. Sometimes the frame is sound and it only needs new decking and railings, which is far cheaper than starting over. Sometimes it isn’t, and we’ll tell you honestly which one you’ve got.
January or February. Almost everyone calls in April, which is why almost everyone gets their deck in July. Starting in winter means planning and permitting happen while the ground is too wet to build anyway, and you’re using the porch by the first warm weekend.