Extensions and added levels
More footprint or a level change, filed as new construction and tied into the audited existing structure.
- Structural audit first
- New footings sized to the new load
- Woven or contrast decking joint
Licensed & Insured Deck Contractor
Deck Remodeling in Bergen & Passaic County
Extend it, re-level it, re-route the stairs, correct the structure — filed as maintenance or new construction, whichever New Jersey's rule actually calls it.
500+
Projects completed
11+
Years rebuilding decks
5-Year
Workmanship warranty
Free
Structural walkthroughs
Deck Remodeling in Bergen & Passaic County
A remodel changes an existing deck instead of replacing it, and New Jersey's code treats that change two different ways depending on what's actually happening underneath. Swap the boards on a sound, unaltered frame and the work can be ordinary maintenance — no permit. Extend the footprint, add a level, or correct a structural problem, and the same job is new construction instead, because it changes the footing, joist, or guard layout the original permit was built around.
That line is easy to cross by accident, because a 'small' fix can turn into structural work without anyone deciding it should. A joist that turns out to be rotted, a ledger that needs rebuilding, a beam that has to move — none of that is maintenance anymore, whatever the job started as. The sections below cover which side of that line your remodel lands on, what a structural audit checks before we start, and when the honest answer is a full rebuild instead.
11+Years Experience
500+Projects Completed
What Happens at the Free Estimate
No pressure and no deposit — just an hour, a tape measure, and a written number you can hold anyone else's quote against.
- We measure and look underneath
- Grade, drainage, access for a truck, and how the existing structure was built. That is what makes a number real rather than a guess over the phone.
- You get it in writing
- Materials, dimensions and a timeline on paper, so you can compare our quote against anyone else's on the same terms.
- About an hour, at your convenience
- Evenings and Saturdays included. We work two counties, so we are rarely more than half an hour away.
- No obligation, no deposit to quote
- The estimate is free and yours to keep. Nothing is owed if you decide not to build, or decide to build later.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call (201) 321-2990.
How It Works
Our proven process from first call to final walkthrough.
1
1
Free walkthrough and wish list
What the deck fails to do today — space, flow, shade, looks — becomes the brief. We measure and probe while we talk.
2
2
Structural audit
Footings, posts, beams and ledger get checked hard, because whether any of them are cut into or altered decides if the job can still be ordinary maintenance.
3
3
Design against the structure
The new layout lands on what is sound. Extensions get their own footings sized to the new loads; reused framing is corrected where needed.
4
4
Maintenance filing, or full permit
A like-for-like surface swap generally needs no permit at all. An extension, a new level, or a structural correction is new construction and gets the full drawings-and-inspections path. We file whichever your scope earns.
5
5
Build in one mobilisation
Demolition of what goes, reinforcement of what stays, then the new work — one crew, one timeline, one cleanup.
What Deck Remodeling Covers
Typically 1–3 weeks on site, scope dependent.
Surface and railing upgrades
New boards and railings on your sound frame, filed as ordinary maintenance when the material stays identical or closely similar to what's there.
- Frame corrections to board spec
- Wood or composite options
- Code-current railing systems
Structural corrections
Ledger, footing and framing fixes done while the deck is open — filed as new construction because they touch load-bearing structure.
- Ledger rebuild and flashing
- Footing and post corrections
- Hardware generation replacement
Maintenance or new construction
Which Line Your Remodel Is On
New Jersey draws a real line between the two, and it decides whether your township needs a permit application at all.
Resurfacing can be ordinary maintenance
Swapping boards on a sound frame, in materials identical or closely similar to what's there and in the same location, is ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)1.xiii for any part of a deck that doesn't carry a roof — no permit, no notice to the township.
So can a railing swap, on the same terms
N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)1.vi treats railing replacement on one- and two-family homes the same way — ordinary maintenance, provided the new materials are identical or closely similar to the old and go in the same location.
Extending the footprint is new construction
New footings sized to the new tributary area and new framing tied into the existing structure are not a like-for-like swap of what's there — they're additional structure, filed under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14 and 2.15 like any new deck.
Adding a level lands in the same category
A new level changes post height, beam spans and often the guard-height trigger — decisions the original permit never accounted for, so it's filed as new construction rather than folded into a maintenance notice.
Correcting a structural problem, too
Ordinary maintenance explicitly excludes cutting or altering any load-bearing beam or bearing support, and any work affecting structural safety (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(b)). A sistered joist or a rebuilt ledger tied to a real structural fix is outside that definition, whatever the job started as.
No permit still means the code applies
The state's own 2021 rule-adoption response notes that ordinary-maintenance work still has to meet the Rehabilitation Subcode's requirements — it's exempt from filing with the township, not from being done correctly.
The audit
Where a Remodel Stops and a Rebuild Starts
The remodel promise is only honest if the structural audit underneath it is.
Footings get probed, not assumed
Footing size is set by the tributary area and soil bearing it has to carry (R507.3.1). An extension changes that math, so a heaved or undersized footing disqualifies itself before any new framing bears on it.
The ledger is the connection that fails suddenly
Toenailed ledger fasteners aren't allowed, and the code requires a verifiable positive connection to the house or the deck has to be freestanding (R507.8). Where our audit can't verify one, we rebuild it rather than leave it to chance.
Sound framing earns its keep
Joists and beams that are straight, dry and correctly sized under the span tables stay — that's the real saving a remodel offers over starting from the footings up.
Corrections happen while the deck is already open
Blocking, hardware and sistering cost little mid-remodel and a mobilisation on their own later. The audit finds them once; the remodel corrects them in the same visit.
Past a point, it isn't a remodel
When too much of the frame fails the audit, replacement is the cheaper answer per year, not the remodel. See Deck Replacement for that path, and we'll say plainly when the numbers point there.
The verdict goes in writing
Keep, correct or rebuild, member by member, before any board is ordered — the same standard we'd apply if you'd called us about a full replacement instead.
New Work Meets the Current Numbers
Whatever the permit path, anything added or rebuilt during a remodel is checked against New Jersey's code as it stands today.
- New footings follow the load, not the old ones
- An extension's footings are sized fresh, by tributary area and soil bearing (R507.3.1) — they don't inherit the spacing or depth of whatever the original deck used.
- A new level can trigger the guard rule
- Any walking surface more than 30 inches above grade within 36 inches horizontally needs a guard — 36 inches high, 34 on the open side of stairs, with a 4-inch sphere opening limit (R321.1.1). Raising a level during a remodel is checked against this the same as a new build would be.
- Re-routed stairs get New Jersey's amended numbers
- Riser height caps at 8 1/4 inches and tread depth runs no less than 9 inches — New Jersey's amended figures, not the model code's 7 3/4 and 10 — plus a handrail on any flight of four or more risers (R318.7).
- New footings still reach the frost line
- A footing tied to a frost-protected house has to reach New Jersey's frost depth — 36 inches across the northern zone that covers Bergen and Passaic County (Table R301.2, R507.3.3) — whether it's a new deck or new footings added during a remodel.
- Drawn to the current edition
- New Jersey adopted the IRC/2024 NJ edition effective August 17, 2026, renumbering stairs to R318 and guards to R321. A remodel filed today is checked against those sections, with a six-month grace window for applications already underway under the 2021 numbers.
- When it's really a redesign
- If the ask has outgrown the logic of the existing footprint entirely, that's a design conversation, not a construction one — see Deck Design for planning a layout from scratch instead of extending the one you have.
Cost and the fine print
What Drives the Price, and the One Undefined Word
Remodels range from a weekend's carpentry to most of a new deck — and one phrase in the regulation is genuinely unsettled.
The 'closely similar' question
Neither the regulation nor the state's own rule-adoption response defines 'closely similar.' Whether swapping in composite boards over an old wood frame still counts as ordinary maintenance is the local construction official's call, not ours — we ask before we assume it qualifies.
How much structure survives sets the baseline
Every sound beam the audit clears is money not spent; every correction it finds is money well spent before the surface goes back on.
Extension size prices like a new deck
New footprint carries its own footings, framing and boards, priced the same as new construction, plus the labor of tying it cleanly into the existing structure.
Levels and stairs move the price the most
Each new level or relocated stair run adds framing, footings and guards to code — the single biggest line items in most remodel budgets.
Permit scope changes the calendar, too
Structural work brings drawings and inspections under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14 and 2.15; a like-for-like surface swap generally doesn't. Where your scope lands affects the cost and the timeline together.
We say when it's replacement instead
Past a certain audit result, a full rebuild is the honest, cheaper-per-year answer. See Deck Replacement — we'll tell you plainly when that's where the numbers point rather than stretch a remodel past its logic.
Portfolio
Recent Deck Remodeling Projects
See examples of our deck remodeling work across New Jersey.
Deck Remodeling
Wayne Deck Remodel for a Worn Backyard Deck
Deck remodeling in Wayne, NJ by House of Decks LLC. A worn raised deck kept its frame and got capped composite boards, a black aluminum rail, and a rebuilt stair.
Wayne, NJ
Deck Remodeling
Saddle River Deck Remodel in Slate Gray with White Rails
Deck remodeling in Saddle River, NJ by House of Decks LLC. A faded two-level deck resurfaced in slate-gray capped composite with new white railings and stairs.
Saddle River, NJ
Ready to Get Started?
Get a free, no-obligation in-home estimate. We'll walk your property, discuss your vision, and provide a detailed quote, all at no cost.
Where We Serve
Deck Remodeling Near You
We provide deck remodeling services across these communities in New Jersey.
Paramus, NJHawthorne, NJWayne, NJFair Lawn, NJRidgewood, NJFranklin Lakes, NJGlen Rock, NJHackensack, NJWyckoff, NJMahwah, NJElmwood Park, NJGarfield, NJHo-Ho-Kus, NJMidland Park, NJOakland, NJPark Ridge, NJRochelle Park, NJSaddle River, NJTownship of Washington, NJWoodcliff Lake, NJHaledon, NJNorth Haledon, NJPaterson, NJTotowa, NJWoodland Park, NJ
What Our Customers Say
Real reviews from homeowners in your area.
Oct 2026
“House of Decks LLC built our new porch, and I’d hire them again. During the work, the crew answered my questions and made a helpful adjustment when I pointed out something I wanted handled differently. They were respectful around the house and kept the area organized. The porch has a sturdy, finished look without feeling too elaborate. I’m very satisfied with how everything turned out.”
Gast 20
Deck Remodeling
Oct 2026
“They did a great job building our new fence and were a really good crew to work with”
Olivia
Deck Remodeling
Oct 2026
“House of Decks LLC replaced our old deck. I wanted a sturdy space that looked neat and would be comfortable to use. The finished deck is solid and clean, and the simple look works well behind the house. Once the crew was done, there was very little for us to tidy afterward. I’m really pleased with the result. This was a hardworking, dependable crew to have on the job”
Jeremy Lawrence
Deck Remodeling
Oct 2026
“The new elevated deck and stairs came out even better than I expected. Before work started, Stiljano clearly explained what they planned to do, and he answered my questions so I knew what was happening. The crew was respectful around the house and pleasant to have around while they worked. They worked carefully, and the finished gray decking with white railings looks sharp beside the brick house. The stairs feel solid, and the whole deck has a clean, finished look. I’d call Stiljano and the crew again when I have another project.”
Raquel
Deck Remodeling
Oct 2026
“I wanted a contractor who would listen to what we had in mind and make sensible suggestions for our raised deck installation. The team did that without turning the decision into a sales pitch. They explained the available choices in plain language, which made it easier for me to choose the right direction. I also liked that they paid attention to the details we cared about instead of treating the job like a routine order. The finished gray deck with white railing looks clean and suits our house well, but their attitude was what convinced me that choosing them was the right decision in the end.”
carol ford
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“Found these guys online while looking for someone to build our raised deck. The first conversation went well, so we decided to go ahead with them. Their schedule worked with ours, and we didn’t have to be home for every visit, which helped a lot. The crew was polite and treated our home respectfully while they were here. We’re really happy with how the deck turned out. It looks good against the house without being overdone. From that first conversation through the installation, they were easy to deal with. Glad we found them, and a big thank you to the crew for the work they put in”
Besati Lionurs
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“Very happy with the quality of work and punctuality. Stiljano was a pleasure to work with. Definitely recommend to anyone in need of a deck contractor”
Embro Dhuli
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“Seeing the finished deck was a great feeling. House of Decks LLC built a raised deck with multiple levels, stairs and railings that give the side of our home a completely different look. The white posts and black balusters stand out against the brown decking. The space feels much more inviting now, and that’s what I’d tell anyone considering this kind of work”
Stacy Williams
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“The work done by House of Decks LLC was super when it came to replacing our old deck. Stiljano and his team is a very professional person who communicates well and explains everything from the start. His crew worked fast and left the area clean after all the small details were taken care of.The work done looks wonderful, and the deck is really strong. It was fair price for what we got, and everything went according to our plans. I definitely recommend House of Decks LLC for a deck replacement”
Nicole Gomez
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“House of Decks LLC performed a perfect installation of a new deck at our residence in Franklin Lakes, NJ. Both Stiljano and his crew were highly responsible and professional in their work. All aspects of their service were explained to us in detail, including the progress of the work and the cost of services, which was quite reasonable and without any surprises. The new deck made of composite material and white railings looks perfect, and everything seems sturdy and quality. Our backyard is transformed into a new space after that.”
Shelia Jones
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“Working with Stiljano and his crew was an absolute pleasure. They removed our old wood deck and installed our new one. They did a masterful job with great attention to detail. It looks amazing! We highly recommend House of Decks.”
Teresa Grillo
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“We had House of Decks LLC build our new deck in Fair Lawn and we’re really happy with how it turned out. The deck looks clean and solid, and the white railings with the black balusters came out really nice. The stairs and finishing details were done carefully, and everything feels sturdy. The crew did a great job from start to finish. Definitely recommend House of Decks LLC for anyone looking to build or replace a deck in the Fair Lawn area.”
Joshua Samford
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“They replaced the floor and railing on my deck. Very professional and quality workmanship. I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to update their deck”
Aurel Dhuli
Deck Remodeling
Sep 2026
“Our old outdoor space wasn’t working well for us, so we decided to have a composite deck built in Wayne. The finished deck gives us a much nicer place to spend time, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. The crew did a great job.”
Dana Golliday
Deck Remodeling
Aug 2026
“House of Decks LLC has done a wonderful job with our new deck installation. The team was relaxed, on time, and worked really well to leave little clean up at all. The end result is a sturdy and beautiful deck that I am truly happy with”
Orlando Valdez
Deck Remodeling
Aug 2026
“The job that was done by House of Decks LLC for our new deck was really good. They started by removing the old deck and then assisted us in choosing a layout and material options, explaining everything before beginning the process. Their workers arrived on schedule, were fast at working and kept our backyard clean. The end result is a very solid deck with straight boards and railings, which has greatly improved the backyard area. We are really pleased with their work and would recommend them for any deck installation. Thank you guys!”
Devonte King
Deck Remodeling
Mar 2026
“Great communication, fast install, and fair price. 10/10 overall great experience thank you guys”
Abbas Salem
Deck Remodeling
Mar 2026
“Did a great job from start to finish extremely professional and worth every dollar. The best craftsmanship and professionalism would highly recommend”
Noor Eljdid
Deck Remodeling
Mar 2026
“The absolute best decking company in the area hard workers and honest pricing. Agreed on a price and they went straight to work the crew was extremely pleasant and work oriented and the results were out of this world thank you guys”
Hunter The Game God
Deck Remodeling
Mar 2026
“House of Decks was friendly, efficient, extremely professional and had excellent craftsman. I was very pleased with their work and highly recommended them. They went above and beyond by helping move my mahogany wood nightstands when it was shipped my place. Thank for the help, 5 stars!”
Leo Acosta
Deck Remodeling
Feb 2026
“Contacted them via phone they were very communicative decides to go ahead and pull the trigger ! Bed decision of my life My new deck is absolutely amazing the craftsmanship is outstanding and the price was very fair ! Thank you guys for your hard work”
Ilias Elhaouss
Deck Remodeling
Feb 2026
“Choosing House of decks was the right decision !! Assessed the structural issues carefully and rebuilt my deck stronger and more attractive than before ! Couldn’t resist the affordable price and the attention to details ! Thank you guys”
Abraham Yassine
Deck Remodeling
Feb 2026
“It was an absolute pleasure to work with stiljano and his crew ! Contacted them about a deck demolition and to build me a new deck ! They were quick to reply and gave me a fair price that I couldn’t find anywhere ! I am so impressed w the results ! Thank you guys for your hard work”
Ke Xu
Deck Remodeling
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions homeowners ask us at almost every estimate.
Can I switch to composite or swap boards without a permit?
Often, yes. Swapping boards on a frame that's structurally sound, in materials identical or closely similar to what's there, is ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)1.xiii — no permit, no notice. Whether composite over an old wood frame counts as 'closely similar' isn't defined in the regulation, so it's genuinely the local construction official's call. We check with your township before we start rather than assume the answer.
When does a remodel need a full permit?
When you're changing the structure, not just the surface. Extending the footprint, adding a level, or correcting a load-bearing problem all fall outside the ordinary-maintenance definition and get filed as new construction — two sets of drawings, footing and final inspections, the whole path. A like-for-like board or railing swap on a sound frame generally doesn't need any of that.
Can you extend my existing deck?
Usually, and it's the most common remodel we do. The extension gets its own footings, sized to the new load, ties into your existing structure where the audit confirms it's sound, and is filed as new construction because it's more square footage than the original permit ever covered.
Can you add a second level or walk-out?
Yes — a new level means new post heights, beam spans and, past 30 inches above grade, a guard requirement that the audit checks against the current code. The audit tells us what the existing structure can carry and where new posts have to land before we design around it.
Is remodeling cheaper than replacing?
When the structure passes the audit, meaningfully — the footings and framing you already own keep doing their job. When too much of the frame fails, replacement is cheaper per year, and we'll say so with the audit numbers rather than talk you into a remodel that's really a rebuild in disguise.
Do remodels need permits?
It depends on what's changing. Structural work — extensions, new levels, corrections to a beam or bearing support — needs one; surface-only work on a sound frame generally doesn't, under New Jersey's ordinary-maintenance rule. We scope it precisely against those two categories and file whatever your township requires.
How long does a deck remodel take?
Most run one to three weeks on site depending on scope, plus permit lead time whenever the structure changes. It's one mobilisation regardless — demolition of what goes, corrections to what stays, and the new work, in a single run rather than staged visits.
How is this different from Deck Replacement?
Deck Remodeling keeps and builds onto the sound parts of what you have — an extension, a new level, a corrected beam. Deck Replacement is for when the audit finds too much has failed to make that worth doing, and starting over from the footings is the honest, cheaper path instead.
Sources
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-2 permit requirement, ordinary maintenance and minor work definitionsaccessed 2026-09-16
- NJ DCA 2021 rule adoption response on ordinary maintenance vs. minor workaccessed 2026-09-16
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.21 IRC/2024 adoption text, frost line and stair amendmentsaccessed 2026-09-16
- NJ UCC 2024 One- & Two-Family Dwelling Subcode, Chapter 5 (R507 footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger)accessed 2026-09-16
- NJ UCC 2024 One- & Two-Family Dwelling Subcode, Chapter 3 (guards R321, stairs R318)accessed 2026-09-16
- NJ DCA current code adoption table (IRC/2024 NJ edition, effective Aug 17, 2026)accessed 2026-09-16
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.6 six-month grace period ruleaccessed 2026-09-16
- NJ DCA model code adoption history (2021 and 2024 effective dates)accessed 2026-09-16
Other Work We Do
Most projects touch more than one of these. We handle them with the same crew.
Composite Decks
The buying guide for composite decking in Bergen and Passaic County: Trex, TimberTech, Fiberon and Deckorators lines by tier, the warranty term on each, the fine print that voids it, and the cases where composite is the wrong answer.
Learn moreDeck Design
Deck design for Bergen and Passaic County homes — the layout, level and footprint choices that decide the footings, the guard and stair requirements, and the permit drawings before any lumber is ordered.
Learn moreDeck Installation
New deck installation across Bergen and Passaic County, in wood or composite, built to New Jersey's 2024 code from footings to final railing, with the township permit filed by us.
Learn moreDeck Replacement
Deck replacement in Bergen and Passaic County — re-decking a sound frame or a full rebuild, in wood or composite, and which New Jersey permit rule applies to each.
Learn morePatio Decks
Patio decks in Bergen and Passaic County: pavers, natural stone, stamped concrete and low platform decks compared, the New Jersey permit rule most homeowners get wrong, and the base spec that keeps any of them flat for decades.
Learn morePatio Enclosure Construction
Patio enclosures in Bergen and Passaic County — screened rooms and three-season rooms built under New Jersey's own patio-cover code, not a room addition.
Learn more
Free Estimate
Plan the Remodel
Bring the wish list. We bring the probe, the audit and a written keep-or-rebuild verdict.
- No obligation, completely free
- We come to you for an in-home consultation
- Get your estimate within 24 hours