Over-slab platforms
Level decking over existing concrete, no demolition required.
- Slab assessment
- Sleeper levelling system
- Vented edge detail
Licensed & Insured Deck Contractor
Patio Decks in Bergen & Passaic County
Pavers, natural stone, stamped concrete or a low deck platform — every at-grade option, the New Jersey permit rule most homeowners get wrong, and the base spec that keeps it flat for decades.
500+
Projects completed
11+
Years building decks
5-Year
Workmanship warranty
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In-home estimates
Patio Decks in Bergen & Passaic County
A patio deck covers every flat, ground-level living surface — pavers, natural stone, stamped concrete, or a low wood or composite platform — built where a full-height deck would be more than the yard needs. Most homeowners treat this as landscaping, something below the radar of building permits. In New Jersey, that assumption is often wrong: the state's own rulebook doesn't carry forward the at-grade exemption many people expect for flat, ground-level construction, so a patio can end up needing the same permit review as a raised deck.
What decides whether it lasts is what happens under the surface: base preparation, drainage and material choice are the difference between a patio that stays flat for decades and one that heaves within a few winters, and your town's lot-coverage limit can cap how big you're allowed to build. Below, we cover the permit reality, the base specification, and how pavers, stone, concrete and a framed platform compare.
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 estimate and grade check
We measure the yard, watch where water goes, check any existing slab, and run the lot-coverage math against your town's zoning limit.
2
2
Permit reality check
We confirm with your township whether the footprint and structure need a construction permit — New Jersey's own rules don't assume a patio is exempt, so we don't either.
3
3
Base and drainage plan
Gravel depth, edge restraint and slope get specified for the material you've chosen, whether that's pavers, stone, concrete or a framed platform.
4
4
Build the surface
Pavers or stone set on prepared base, concrete poured and finished, or a low platform framed at grade — built to the plan, not by eye.
5
5
Edges, joints and walkthrough
Joint sand, edge restraint or skirting finished, and a walkthrough that covers where the water goes now that the surface is down.
What Patio Decks Covers
Typically 3 days to 2 weeks depending on material and base.
Ground-level platforms
Freestanding or attached low decks over prepared grade.
- Drainage and gravel base
- Moisture barrier
- Ground-contact framing
Island and fire-pit decks
Freestanding platforms placed anywhere the yard wants a room.
- Placement planning
- Optional fire-pit pad
- Step and border detail
The permit reality
The Permit Surprise Most Homeowners Miss
New Jersey's own regulation, not a general model code, decides whether your patio needs a permit — and it is stricter than most people assume.
New Jersey's broad definition of 'structure'
New Jersey's construction code defines a 'structure' broadly: any combination of materials assembled for occupancy, use or ornamentation, installed on, above or below the ground. A patio meets that definition plainly. It is not automatically outside the code just because it sits at grade with no walls or roof — the starting assumption in New Jersey is the opposite of what many homeowners expect.
The permit requirement itself
The state's permit rule is equally broad: building, enlarging or altering a structure needs a permit unless it fits one of two narrow exceptions — 'ordinary maintenance' or 'minor work,' each separately defined. There's no general carve-out for small or simple projects. Whether a patio needs a permit comes down to fitting one of those exceptions, not how modest it looks.
The exemption list has no patio item
New Jersey's own list of permit exceptions runs to eleven items — sheds under 200 square feet, fences six feet or less, small retaining walls, temporary tents, and so on. We checked it closely: nowhere on that list is a patio, walk, or at-grade platform. Many general guides describe an at-grade exemption for low platforms; New Jersey's regulation doesn't carry that forward.
Ordinary maintenance and minor work don't cover a new patio
The two provisions that do cover part of this ground — 'ordinary maintenance' and 'minor work' — are scoped to an existing deck, porch or stoop: repairing or replacing part of one without a permit, or rebuilding one entirely as minor work. Neither provision is written to cover a new, standalone patio built where none existed before.
Covering it later counts too
New Jersey's own code newsletter has stated twice that adding a roof over a patio — even with no walls — counts as an 'addition' to the house, since the roof's footprint adds to the building's area. One bulletin ties that to a real consequence: it can trigger the smoke-alarm retrofit rule for the existing house. If a roof is part of the plan, see Patio Enclosure Construction.
The guard rule isn't the permit rule
The 30-inch height most homeowners have heard about is real, but it controls whether a guard, meaning a railing, is required — not whether a permit is. New Jersey's exception list doesn't set a height or grade threshold for a permit at all. A low platform can still be fully permitted; we confirm with your township before we build.
Material choice
Pavers, Natural Stone or Stamped Concrete
Three ways to surface flat ground, one base spec underneath all of them, and a real durability difference between a jointed system and a solid slab.
Pavers
Pavers are a jointed system: individual units set on a compacted base with sand or stone joints between them. That jointing is the point — a paver manufacturer's own literature frames it as a genuine freeze-thaw advantage over a monolithic slab, because the joints let the surface flex with small base movement instead of cracking under it.
Natural stone
Natural stone reads as the highest-end at-grade surface, in irregular flagstone or cut modular pieces, dry-laid on a base much like pavers or set in mortar over a slab like concrete. Which method it uses matters more than the stone itself for how it ages, and we specify that method up front.
Stamped and poured concrete
Stamped and poured concrete form a single continuous slab with no joints to absorb movement. The same manufacturer literature that credits jointed pavers with a freeze-thaw advantage names poured and stamped concrete as exactly what that advantage is measured against — a slab that can crack where a jointed surface would simply flex instead.
The base and drainage spec
A patio's gravel base runs six to eight inches of compacted crusher-run gravel or clear stone, built up in two-to-three-inch lifts so it compacts properly rather than in one pass. Pavers then sit on roughly an inch of coarse sand or fine chip stone, with edge restraint spiked into the compacted base to keep the whole field from creeping outward.
Salt, sealing and de-icing
Dense, low-absorption pavers resist the salt scaling that can pit some concrete surfaces over a New Jersey winter, and the sealers made for them are formulated to survive freeze-thaw cycles and de-icing salt without becoming slippery. None of that is automatic — it depends on the product and sealing schedule.
Impervious surface and your lot-coverage limit
Any solid patio surface counts as impervious. The state's own stormwater rule only steps in at a quarter acre of new impervious surface, far beyond a residential patio — so the limit you'll actually run into is your town's zoning lot-coverage ordinance, not a state regulation. We do that math against your lot before finalizing a footprint.
When a Framed Platform Beats a Patio
A low wood or composite platform is the other at-grade option — its own physics, its own failure points, its own honest permit answer.
- Covers a failed slab
- A cracked, settled concrete patio can disappear under a level platform without demolition or disposal — sleepers on a sound slab absorb its slope and unevenness, and a low deck goes down on top. It is the fastest route from a patio you're tired of looking at to one that reads flat and finished.
- Water and drainage physics
- A platform built close to the ground has almost no air moving under it compared with a raised deck, so where the water goes before it reaches the frame matters more here, not less. Grading and a gravel base move rainwater out from underneath before the platform goes down; standing water is the failure clock starting.
- Ground-contact lumber and airflow
- Framing this close to soil needs lumber rated for that exposure, and a moisture barrier below the frame stops ground damp from ever reaching it. Ventilation gaps at the skirting keep the underside able to dry out between rains — seal a low deck up tight and it rots from its own trapped humidity, not from the weather above it.
- Freestanding islands
- A freestanding platform needs no ledger tying it to the house, which means it can sit anywhere in the yard a seating area or fire-pit zone makes sense — away from the foundation, over a bad patch of lawn, wherever the plan actually wants it. It is the most placement-flexible build in this category.
- Composite pays off fastest here
- Near-soil humidity is harder on a wood finish than open air ever is, which makes this the height where composite decking earns its price premium fastest. Wood still works fine on a tighter budget, with a real finish schedule to match it — see Composite Decks for how the boards themselves actually compare.
- The permit myth, corrected
- The same New Jersey rule applies here as to a paver patio: there's no built-in permit exemption tied to being low or being a platform rather than a raised deck. A guard isn't required below 30 inches, but that's a railing rule, not a permit one — we check both before we build.
Decision & cost
Choosing Between Patio, Platform and What Comes Next
The levers that move the price are mostly the same across every surface in this category, and two decisions are worth making before the base goes in.
Ground preparation
Grading, gravel and barrier work happen entirely below what you'll ever see, on every surface in this category — paver, stone, concrete or framed platform alike. It is also the first thing a cut-rate quote skips, and the reason a cheap patio needs to be rebuilt inside a few winters while a properly based one does not.
Footprint and the lot-coverage math
Square footage drives materials and labor the way it does on any project, but here it does one more thing: it counts against your town's lot-coverage limit alongside your driveway, walkways and any other hard surface already on the property. We check that math at the estimate, before a footprint gets finalized.
Material tier
Pavers, natural stone, stamped concrete and a framed wood or composite platform occupy genuinely different price tiers, roughly in that order, and each carries its own maintenance profile alongside its price. We quote against your actual site rather than a single default material, because the right tier depends on the base condition as much as the budget.
Extras on the surface
Fire-pit pads, built-in bench framing and planter boxes are furniture-grade additions to the base surface, priced and detailed as their own line items rather than folded silently into a footprint rate. Say what you want to do on the surface at the estimate and it gets designed in from the start, not bolted on afterward.
Want it roofed later?
If a roof over the space is part of the eventual plan — even an open-sided one — that changes how New Jersey classifies the project and what it can trigger for the existing house. Plan for it now; see Patio Enclosure Construction for what a roofed structure actually requires.
Want it raised instead?
A platform at grade is not the only way to use this footprint. If the yard's slope or a walk-out door makes a raised structure the better fit, Deck Design lays out that option properly; if you already have a platform and want to extend or upgrade it, that is Deck Remodeling.
Portfolio
Recent Patio Decks Projects
See examples of our patio decks work across New Jersey.
Patio Decks
Paterson Patio Deck Build with Low-Maintenance Finish
Patio deck installation in Paterson, NJ by House of Decks LLC. TimberTech decking, black railings, and a custom backyard layout.
Paterson, NJ
Patio Decks
Saddle River Patio Deck Installation with Composite Finish
Patio deck installation in Saddle River, NJ by House of Decks LLC. Composite decking, white railings, and custom steps for backyard living.
Saddle River, NJ
Patio Decks
Patio Deck Build for Paterson Home
Patio deck installation in Paterson, NJ by House of Decks LLC with composite decking, railings, and custom outdoor design.
Paterson, 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
Patio Decks Near You
We provide patio decks 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
Patio Decks
Oct 2026
“They did a great job building our new fence and were a really good crew to work with”
Olivia
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
Mar 2026
“Great communication, fast install, and fair price. 10/10 overall great experience thank you guys”
Abbas Salem
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
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
Patio Decks
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions homeowners ask us at almost every estimate.
Do patios need a permit in New Jersey?
Often yes, and that surprises people. New Jersey's own list of permit exceptions — sheds, fences, small retaining walls and a few other items — doesn't include patios, walks or at-grade platforms, unlike the general exemption many homeowners assume applies to anything built flat on the ground. Ordinary maintenance and minor work, the two provisions that do cover some of this ground, are written for an existing deck, porch or stoop, not a new standalone patio. We check with your township before building.
What's the difference between a patio and a patio deck?
Both describe flat, ground-level living space; they differ in surface. A patio is pavers, natural stone or poured or stamped concrete on a prepared base. A patio deck is a low wood or composite platform, framed just off the ground. We build both under this service — concrete and pavers want stable soil and good drainage, while a framed platform can bridge an uneven yard or a slab that's already failed.
Can you build a platform over my existing concrete patio?
Often, yes. A sound, properly sloped slab becomes a free foundation: sleepers level out its pitch and unevenness, and a wood or composite platform goes down on top without demolition. A badly heaved or cracked slab is the exception — at that point the slab itself is the problem and needs to come out first. The site visit tells us which situation yours is.
Pavers, natural stone or stamped concrete — which should I choose?
It depends on budget and how the surface ages. Pavers are a jointed system that a paver manufacturer's own literature credits with a real freeze-thaw advantage over a continuous slab, since the joints flex with small ground movement instead of cracking. Natural stone can be laid the same jointed way or mortared over a slab like concrete — the method matters as much as the material. Stamped and poured concrete are the most affordable per square foot but have no joints to absorb movement.
Will my patio count against my lot coverage?
Yes — any solid surface counts as impervious, whether it's pavers, stone or concrete. The state's own stormwater rule only engages at a quarter acre of new impervious surface, far more than a residential patio, so it isn't what you'll actually run into. The limit that matters is your town's own zoning lot-coverage ordinance, and we check your footprint against it before finalizing a design.
Do low deck platforms need railings?
Below 30 inches in height, a guard — the code term for a railing — generally isn't required, which is much of the appeal of building this low. That height threshold controls the railing question only, though; it isn't a permit exemption, and New Jersey's regulation doesn't tie permit requirements to height or grade the way homeowners expect. We confirm both separately.
Wood or composite for a low deck platform?
This is the height where composite earns its price premium fastest, because near-soil humidity is harder on a wood finish than open air ever is. Wood remains a fine choice on a tighter budget, with a real finish schedule to go with it. See Composite Decks for how the board lines, warranties and finishes actually compare before you decide.
Can this connect to a bigger project later?
Yes — a patio or low platform makes a natural first phase. If a roof over the space becomes part of the plan, even an open-sided one, that changes how New Jersey classifies the structure, so it's worth deciding early; see Patio Enclosure Construction. If more platform or a raised structure is the direction instead, Deck Remodeling and Deck Design cover those paths.
Sources
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-1 — definition of 'Structure'accessed 2026-09-17
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14 — permits and the permit-exception listaccessed 2026-09-17
- N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 / 2.17A — ordinary maintenance and minor workaccessed 2026-09-17
- DCA Construction Code Communicator, Summer 2023 — covered patio as a 'Building Area' additionaccessed 2026-09-17
- DCA Construction Code Communicator, Summer 2026 — smoke-alarm retrofit triggeraccessed 2026-09-17
- New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules — impervious surface / major development thresholdaccessed 2026-09-17
- Unilock Basic Tech Guide — paver base and bedding specificationaccessed 2026-09-17
- Unilock Advanced Tech Guide — freeze-thaw performance and sealersaccessed 2026-09-17
- New Jersey UCC IRC-2024 — guard requirement, R321.1.1accessed 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 Remodeling
Deck remodeling in Bergen and Passaic County — the New Jersey rule that decides whether reshaping the deck you have is ordinary maintenance or new construction, and which applies to your job.
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 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
Price a Patio Deck
We check the grade, the slab, the drainage and the permit picture, then quote it in writing.
- No obligation, completely free
- We come to you for an in-home consultation
- Get your estimate within 24 hours