Deck & Fence Repair in Tuscaloosa
Rotten boards, loose railings, failed posts, gates that stopped closing.
You call us, we do the work, and you deal with one company from the first look to the last coat. One call, one contractor, somebody actually answers.
What you should know before you book
Checkable facts about this work in Tuscaloosa, with sources. Not sales copy.
- Tuscaloosa requires a building permit for a deck whether it is new or a repair. The city’s permit table lists it as ‘Deck (New or Repair)’, so unlike painting, deck work is not exempt just because it is a fix rather than a build. source
- A fence in Tuscaloosa only needs a building permit if it is over 7 feet tall. Standard residential privacy fence heights fall under that line. source
- Tuscaloosa reviews every permit against the 2021 ICC codes. The RESIDENTIAL building permit fee is (building valuation / 1000) x $3.50 — commercial work is charged at $12.21 per $1,000 instead. There is no minimum fee. source
- Most residential permits in Tuscaloosa are processed within 24 to 48 hours. source
- IRC R507.9 allows only 1/2-inch bolts or 1/2-inch lag screws with washers to attach a deck ledger to the house. Framing nails and deck screws are not permitted fasteners for that connection, and the ledger is where decks most commonly pull away from the structure. source
- A guard is required wherever a deck walking surface sits more than 30 inches above the grade below it, and that guard has to be at least 36 inches tall (IRC R312). source
- Deck footings must bear at least 12 inches below undisturbed grade. Alabama’s frost depth is shallow enough that this 12-inch minimum governs rather than a deeper frost line, unlike northern states. source
- Alabama sits in the ‘very heavy’ termite infestation probability zone on IRC Figure R301.2(7) — the highest category on the map — which is why ground-contact rated lumber and post base detail matter more here than in most of the country. source
- The copper in ACQ-treated lumber corrodes ordinary galvanized fasteners. Hot-dip galvanized hardware meeting ASTM A153 Class D, or stainless, is required with it — standard fasteners on treated lumber are a slow failure built in on day one. source
- Deck posts, fence posts and any framing within 6 inches of grade fall under AWPA use category UC4A, general ground contact. Lumber rated only for above-ground use in those positions is a common reason a deck fails early here. source
What it costs
You get the price before we start.
$500-$3,000
A typical job runs around $2,200.
Your job could land above or below this. These are typical national figures for this kind of work, and a real quote moves with what materials cost the week we buy them, how many hours the job actually takes, how easy the work is to get to, what we find once we open it up, and whether a permit is involved. You get a firm number in writing after we have looked at it, and it does not change unless the job does.
- We quote the job, not an hourly rate.
- The number you agree to is the number you pay, unless the job itself changes.
- No trip fee inside 25 miles.
A typical job
Replacing failed boards and a run of railing, with the ledger and posts checked while we are in there.
How long it takes
Two to four days on site for most repairs. Permit review in Tuscaloosa usually runs 24-48 hours and happens alongside scheduling, not before it.
What moves the number
- Boards versus structure. Replacing deck boards is straightforward; joists, posts or the ledger is a different job.
- Access. A deck you can back a truck up to costs less to work on than one behind a gate at the back of a yard.
- What the lumber is rated for. Anything in ground contact needs the right rating, and finding the wrong one already in place changes the scope.
- Whether a permit is needed. Tuscaloosa permits deck work new or repair, and the fee is small but the inspection is real.
| Distance from Tuscaloosa | Trip fee |
|---|---|
| 0-25 miles | No trip fee |
| 25-45 miles | $65 |
| 45-60 miles | $110 |
Trip fee is waived on any job over $1,500.
How you get a price
- Send photos. Send photos with the form and you get a range the same business day, usually without anyone needing to drive out. That is faster for you, and it is why the form asks for pictures.
- We come out when the job needs it. Some jobs cannot be judged from a photo. Anything structural, anything still wet, decks, and whole-house work get looked at in person before we put a number on them.
- Then you get a firm number, in writing. No charge to come out inside 25 miles. Past that the trip fee above applies, and it comes off the job if you book it.
About the prices on this page. The figures shown are typical national ranges for this kind of work. They are not quotes, not offers, and not a promise that your job falls inside them — material prices, labor hours, access, hidden damage and permit requirements all move the number, in either direction. Your actual price is set in writing after we look at the work, before anything starts. About the permit and regulatory information. Current as of August 2026 and offered as general guidance, not legal, code or compliance advice. Requirements change, and how they apply depends on the specifics of your property and your job. Confirm anything you plan to rely on with the City of Tuscaloosa Building & Inspections, or the relevant agency, before acting on it.
Worth reading before you book
Decks fail here for reasons specific to this climate, and this is the work where the code requirements bite hardest.
Tell us about the job
Tell us what is going on and send a photo if you can.
Water or damage: we call you back within 2 hours, any day. Everything else: a real answer the same business day.
We are insured — general liability coverage, so damage we cause while working in your home is covered.
Office hours
- Mon-Fri
- 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Send the form whenever suits you — outside those hours it lands in the same inbox and we pick it up when we open. Water or damage should not wait on the form: call, any day.
Would rather talk? Call (205) 723-3595 or send a text.