Top-Rated Deck Builder in Shoreview, MN

1. Shoreview Requires Detailed Permit Plans

If you’re building a deck in Shoreview, plan on pulling a permit — it’s not optional. The city asks for a building permit application, a scaled site plan or survey, and construction plans that spell out the deck’s size, framing, beams, posts, footings, stairs, guards, and materials. How long that review takes can vary. Zoning questions, how complete your application is, and Shoreview’s seasonal workload all play a role, so it’s worth building in some cushion before you finalize a start date.

Shoreview resource: View Shoreview’s deck permit guidelines

2. The Lot and Home Should Shape the Deck Design

Your property lines, setbacks, easements, existing structures, and the position of your home all affect how much deck footprint you actually have to work with. Shoreview requires applicants to show the deck’s proposed location and its setbacks from property lines right on the site plan. In our experience designing decks across the Twin Cities, we start with the home and the yard — not a template — and work the placement of stairs, railings, landings, and traffic paths around what’s actually there. At Voyager Exteriors, we design for around homeowner needs and balancing that with the challenges and features of each space.

Shoreview resource: Review Shoreview’s building permit and inspection information

3. Minnesota Freeze-Thaw Cycles Make Proper Footings Essential

Minnesota winters are hard on decks. Repeated freezing and thawing moves soil, and soil movement puts stress on a deck that isn’t properly supported. Footings need to be designed for the local frost depth, along with the right drainage, structural connections, and attention to site conditions. Ramsey County falls in Minnesota’s five-foot frost-depth zone, so getting the foundation right matters more in our Minnesota Climate.

Minnesota resource: Review Minnesota’s residential deck construction guidance