Deck addition in Wilmette

The situation

This is a deck we built to a Wilmette house. Not a kit. Wilmette stock is often older — plaster inside, original trim, and an exterior that has to meet the house instead of sitting on it. A deck that pulls away from the ledger, or traps water against the siding, is the kind of work we are called to undo.

The homeowner wanted outdoor space that belonged to the house: structure, flashing, railings, and a finish that will take North Shore weather. We took it as a licensed remodeling contractor from Northbrook — the same crew that does kitchens and baths, not a weekend deck crew that disappears after the bid.

Wilmette yards are not blank slabs. Setbacks, neighbors, and the way the house sits on the lot all matter. We look in person before anyone orders lumber. A deck that looks finished from the alley and leaks into the rim joist is not finished. Flashing is the unglamorous part of the job and the part we will not skip.

Scope and approach

A deck is the ledger, the flashing, the footings, the frame, the decking, and the railings. Code is the railing height, the stair geometry, and how the deck ties to the house. We do not skip the flashing because the boards look done from the yard.

If the door out to the deck needs a new threshold, or the house needs a landing that actually sheds water, that is part of building it to the house. Electrical for outdoor lighting is a licensed-electrician add when the plan calls for it — porch fixtures on proper outdoor boxes, not an extension cord.

The Village of Wilmette wants decks permitted. Community Development handles residential permits. We pull the permit and meet the inspector. A deck built without that look is the kind of problem that shows up at sale — setbacks, railings, and how the deck attaches to the house all get a look.

• Look at the house, the grade, and the village setbacks
• Footings, ledger, and flashing that keep water out of the house
• Frame, decking, stairs, and railings to code
• Finish that will take Wilmette weather
• Outdoor lighting on a real circuit when the plan includes it

Materials and brands

Structure, flashing, and fasteners are what keep a deck on the house. Decking and railings were the homeowner’s selection. We do not print a lumber brand on this page that we did not put on this job. If the plan includes lights, that is listed outdoor equipment on a proper box.

Railings have to meet height and infill rules. Stairs have to be walkable, not a guess. That is why a kit that looked fine in the yard fails inspection or fails in two seasons.

Permits and code

The Village of Wilmette wants decks permitted. Setbacks, railings, and how the deck attaches to the house all get a look. Community Development handles residential permits. We pull the permit and meet the inspector. A deck built without that look is the kind of problem that shows up at sale.

Timeline and result

Footings and weather set the calendar. We work weekdays, 8:00 to 4:30, and keep the yard usable where we can. When it is done, the deck is part of the house — not a kit that will sag in two seasons. Kenilworth and Winnetka lots next door get the same look at the ledger and the flashing. Call (847) 778-8053 for a similar Wilmette job.

Kenilworth and Winnetka lots next door get the same look at the ledger and the flashing. Footings and weather set the calendar. Railings have to meet height and infill rules; stairs have to be walkable, not a guess. That is why a kit that looked fine in the yard fails inspection or fails in two seasons. Call (847) 778-8053.