Composite Deck Building in Washington, IL
Composite is the deck most Washington homeowners actually want once they've owned a treated one. Newer construction from the rebuild years alongside established homes, most with generous back yards and mature trees. A capped board holds its color through Illinois freeze-thaw, doesn't splinter under bare feet in July, and never needs a weekend of sanding and sealing. The trade is up-front cost, and it pays back somewhere around year seven.
How we build it in Washington
Every composite deck we build in Washington starts with framing that outlives the boards: pressure-treated joists at 12 inches on center for diagonal layouts and 16 inches for straight runs, a flashed and lag-bolted ledger, and rim boards that carry the rail posts properly. Silty loam over firm clay — good bearing, but tree roots in the older neighborhoods slow the auger down. Boards go down with hidden fasteners so there isn't a screw head in sight, and every cut end gets a finished edge or fascia.
- On-site measure, layout, and board-direction planning
- JULIE locate before any hole is dug
- Footings poured below frost, posts set and braced
- Ledger flashed and bolted, beams and joists framed and crowned
- Composite decking laid with hidden fasteners and picture-frame border
- Rail, stairs, fascia, cleanup, and walkthrough
Most composite builds take three to six working days once footings have cured.
What Washington neighbors say.
These are verified customer reviews of Tazewell County Fence Co. — the same owners, crew and phone line behind Grizzly Deck & Rail.
“A section of our fence was damaged during these storms, and Tazewell County Fence Co. was able to repair it without trying to sell us an entirely new fence. The repaired section blends in well with the rest of the fence, and the price was fair.”
“Tazewell County Fence Co. installed woven wire fencing around part of our property, along with a large equipment gate. They explained the different post options, gave us a clear estimate, and helped us choose something that fit our budget. The fence looks strong and everything was completed professionally.”
“We had a chain-link fence installed for our backyard and dogs. Communication was easy, the pricing was reasonable, and the finished fence looks great. They also made sure the gates opened smoothly and were placed exactly where we needed them.”
Composite Decks in Washington — questions we get
- What does a composite deck cost in Washington, IL?
- Installed composite in Washington runs roughly $38–$62 per square foot depending on board line, deck height, railing style, and stair count. A 16x20 with a short stair run typically lands in the $13,000–$20,000 range. We give you a written, itemized number — material, framing, rail, stairs, permit — not a per-foot guess.
- Does composite decking get hot in the sun?
- Every deck surface gets hot in full Washington sun. Lighter colors and boards with a scalloped underside run noticeably cooler than dark solid boards. If your deck faces west with no shade, we'll steer you toward a lighter tone or pair it with a pergola.
- Will composite hold up to Central Illinois winters?
- Yes. Capped composite doesn't absorb water the way wood does, so freeze-thaw cycles don't check or split it. What fails in this climate is framing and footings, which is why our posts go below frost depth and the ledger gets flashed — silty loam over firm clay — good bearing, but tree roots in the older neighborhoods slow the auger down.
- Do I need a permit for a composite deck in Washington?
- Washington requires a building permit and a site plan for decks; post-2013 rebuild areas are held to current wind and attachment detailing.