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Serving Duluth, MN and surrounding areas. (218) 514-1277
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Duluth Fence & Deck designs and builds custom decks, fences, pergolas, and outdoor living structures for homeowners across Duluth and the surrounding region. We handle the permits, dig the footings right, and build every project for the winters you actually live through.
Duluth Fence & Deck is a full-service deck builder based in Duluth, MN. We offer 16 services covering every part of your outdoor living project - from a simple deck repair to a complete multi-level outdoor kitchen build. Whether your yard is a flat suburban lot or a sloped Duluth hillside, we design structures that fit the terrain, the climate, and the way your family uses the space. We serve homeowners across 12 communities throughout the region.
No catalog decks here. We design around your yard, your slope, and how your family actually uses the space.
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Low-maintenance boards that hold up to Duluth's freeze-thaw cycles without rotting, splintering, or needing annual staining.
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Trex composite decking backed by a 25-year warranty - built on a frame engineered for northern Minnesota winters.
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Solid, affordable, and built to last when footings are dug properly below Duluth's deep frost line.
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Cedar holds up well in northern climates and looks beautiful - especially in yards with mature trees and natural surroundings.
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Soft boards, loose railings, or a deck pulling away from the house - we fix the problem at the source, not just the surface.
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Regular staining and sealing adds years to a wood deck's life - especially critical in Duluth's wet, freeze-thaw climate.
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Slip-resistant, moisture-tolerant decking built around your pool so it stays safe and good-looking season after season.
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A vinyl fence requires almost no maintenance and handles Minnesota winters without warping, rotting, or needing paint.
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Want to block the neighbor's view or keep kids and pets in the yard? A wood privacy fence does both.
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Enjoy Duluth's outdoor season without the bugs - a screened deck extends how long you actually use your outdoor space.
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Rain or shine, a covered deck means more usable days per year and protection for your furniture and decking surface.
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Add shade, structure, and a finished look to your backyard without the weight of a full roof addition.
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Grill outside the way you actually want to - with counter space, a built-in grill station, and a deck to match.
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Duluth's hillside lots often call for a multi-level design - one that works with your slope instead of fighting it.
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Railings are both a safety requirement and a design statement - we install them to code and built to last.
Learn MoreGetting a new deck does not have to be complicated. Here is what to expect from your first call to your finished project.
Reach out by phone or through the contact form. We will ask a few basic questions about your yard, what you have in mind, and your rough timeline. No need to have all the answers ready - our job is to help you figure out what is possible. We respond within 1 business day.
We come to your property, measure the space, assess slope and site conditions, and talk through your options in person. After the visit, we provide a written proposal with a detailed cost breakdown and material options. No pressure, no vague estimates - just a clear picture of what the project involves.
Once you approve the proposal, we handle the permit application, schedule inspections, and manage the full build. When the work is done, we walk you through the finished project, explain any maintenance it needs, and leave you with complete permit and inspection documentation.
We hold a residential contractor license with the State of Minnesota and carry general liability insurance on every project we take on. You can verify our license through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
Every estimate starts with a visit to your property - not a phone guess. We come to you, assess your site, and provide a written breakdown covering materials, labor, and permit fees before you commit to anything.
We have been building decks and outdoor structures in the Duluth region since 2018. We know the local permit office, the frost depth requirements, the hillside lot challenges, and the materials that actually hold up to Lake Superior winters.
Every footing we dig goes below Duluth's frost line - typically 48 to 60 inches down. That means your deck stays exactly where we put it, year after year, no matter how hard the ground freezes and thaws.
Ready to talk through your project? Call (218) 514-1277 or send us a message.
"They dug the footings deeper than anyone else I talked to and explained exactly why it matters up here. Our deck came in on schedule and it felt completely solid from day one. Two winters later, it has not shifted at all."
Mike T., Duluth - Custom deck design and build
"We replaced an old wood deck with composite and the difference is night and day. No more staining every spring. They handled the permit and kept us updated the whole way through. The crew was respectful and cleaned up every day."
Sarah K., Hermantown - Composite deck installation
"Our lot slopes toward the lake and I was not sure anyone could build what I had in mind. They designed a two-level deck that works perfectly with the grade. The railing is beautiful and the whole thing passed inspection without any issues."
Dan R., Two Harbors - Multi-level decks
We respond within 1 business day - no obligation, no pressure. After you submit the form, someone from our office will call you to schedule a free on-site estimate at a time that works for you. The estimate visit is where we see your yard, talk through your options, and give you a real written number.
(218) 514-1277Duluth Fence & Deck is based in Duluth, MN and serves homeowners across 12 communities in the greater Duluth area - including Superior, WI, Hermantown, Cloquet, and Two Harbors. Most projects are scheduled within the same week of the initial estimate during our building season, which runs from late May through early October.
Duluth's ground freezes to a depth of 48 to 60 inches in a hard winter - deeper than most of the country. Footings dug above that line will heave upward each spring, causing the deck to shift and tilt over time. Getting footings right the first time is the single most important thing a deck builder can do in this climate.
Both can work well when installed correctly, but composite and Trex decking handle Duluth's freeze-thaw cycles and Lake Superior moisture better in the long run. Composite boards do not absorb water, so they do not crack, rot, or require staining. Pressure-treated wood is more affordable upfront but needs sealing every two to three years to stay solid. Learn more from the North American Deck and Railing Association.
Yes - almost always. The City of Duluth requires a permit for new decks and most significant changes to existing ones. A permit means an inspector verifies the footings and framing before the surface boards go down. That inspection protects you: it confirms the deck can safely hold the weight it is designed for and gives you documentation that matters if you ever sell your home.
Plan in February or March - not June. Duluth's building season runs from late May through early October, and the best contractors book up fast once the ground thaws. Waiting until summer to start planning usually means a fall build at best, or getting pushed to the following year.
Many Duluth lots slope significantly toward Lake Superior, which means decks here often need to be elevated - sometimes quite high. Elevated decks require taller posts, more structural framing, and sometimes a multi-level design. This adds cost compared to a flat-lot build, but it also opens up design possibilities that a flat yard does not offer.
Boards that feel soft or spongy underfoot, a deck that is visibly tilting or pulling away from the house, or posts that wiggle when pushed - these are structural problems, not just cosmetic ones. In Duluth's climate, these issues tend to get worse over winter, not better. Having a builder assess the deck before the next freeze is the smart call.
Duluth Fence & Deck is a licensed and insured deck builder company based in Duluth, MN, serving homeowners across 12 communities in the greater Duluth region since 2018. We hold a residential contractor license issued by the State of Minnesota, verified through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Over the years we have completed hundreds of deck and outdoor living projects across the region - from small repairs on older homes to full multi-level builds on Duluth hillside lots.
Learn more about our companyNot at all. Elevated and multi-level decks are common in Duluth precisely because so many lots slope toward the lake. The design just needs more structural planning. A site visit is the only way to know what your specific yard allows.
If the framing is solid and the damage is limited to surface boards, repair often makes sense. If the posts have shifted, the ledger connection is failing, or the footings are too shallow for Duluth's frost depth, a full rebuild is usually the better investment. The American Wood Council publishes free guides on deck construction standards.
Ask three things: Do you hold a current Minnesota residential contractor license? Do you carry general liability insurance? Will you pull the city permit? The answers should all be yes without hesitation. You can verify any contractor's license through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's online lookup.
Have more questions? Call (218) 514-1277 - we are happy to talk through your project before you commit to anything.
Duluth, Minnesota sits at the western tip of Lake Superior on a long, steep ridge that rises sharply from the waterfront. The city of roughly 90,000 residents has a character shaped by the lake - cooler summers, dramatic winters, and a shoreline identity anchored by landmarks like the Aerial Lift Bridge and Canal Park. Neighborhoods like Congdon Park and the East End feature large, historic homes - some near the iconic Glensheen Mansion - built in the early 1900s when the city was booming from iron ore and timber.
That older housing stock, combined with Duluth's hillside terrain and extreme freeze-thaw climate, creates a specific set of demands for outdoor construction. Many homes sit on sloped lots where a simple flat deck is not possible - elevated or multi-level designs are the norm in neighborhoods from the Central Hillside to Woodland. The city's NOAA weather station records an average of around 86 inches of snow per year, and the deep frost makes proper footing installation more critical here than in almost any other part of Minnesota.
Duluth Fence & Deck has been working on Duluth properties since 2018. We know the permit office, the hillside lot challenges, and the materials that actually hold up here. Whether your home is near the water on the East End or out by the Miller Hill corridor, we build decks and outdoor structures that are right for where you actually live.
By appointment only, no walk-ins.
Call (218) 514-1277 or submit the form above - we respond within 1 business day and start every project with a free on-site estimate.