A Straight Answer About Your Deck's Condition
A Skyline deck inspection tells you exactly what shape your deck is in: we check the structure from the ledger to the railings and hand you a written report with photos, findings, and what they mean. No pressure attached; the report is yours, whatever you decide to do with it.
Call 737-363-4018 to book an inspection.
What do we actually check?
The parts that fail, in the order they matter. The ledger connection to the house, because it’s the single most serious failure point a deck has. The flashing above it, because that’s where water gets in. Posts and footings, for rot at the base and movement in the ground. Joists and beams, for softness, splitting, and sagging. Fasteners and hardware, for rust and pull-out. Railings and guards, for the wobble that turns into a fall. Stairs, stringers, and the walking surface last, because they’re what you can mostly see yourself.
Everything gets photographed, including the underside views most homeowners have never seen of their own deck.
When is an inspection worth booking?
Some clear moments: the deck is older than you can remember and nobody’s ever looked underneath it. Something changed, like new movement, a soft spot, or a railing that gives when leaned on. You’re buying a house with a deck and want the structure checked by people who build them. You’re selling, and a clean report answers the buyer’s question before it’s asked. Or you’re deciding between repair and replacement and want the decision made on findings instead of guesswork.
There’s also a code angle many owners don’t know: even a deck small and low enough that it never needed a permit still has to comply with the building code (source: City of Austin, Work Exempt from Building Permits). An inspection checks the deck you have against the standards it’s supposed to meet, permit or no permit.
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What do you get from it?
A written condition report, delivered to you, with photos of what we found and plain-language explanations of what each finding means: what’s fine, what’s wearing, what needs attention soon, and anything that shouldn’t wait. Where something needs work, the report says why, so you can understand the reasoning instead of taking our word for it.
The report stands on its own. Take it to any contractor you like, use it in a home sale, or just file it knowing your deck is fine. If you want us to price the work it recommends, that becomes a deck estimate, built as its own written scope.
What does a deck inspection cost?
It depends on the deck: size, height, access underneath, and whether it’s a straightforward backyard platform or a multi-level structure all change what’s involved in inspecting it properly. Call 737-363-4018 with a photo and the basics, and we’ll tell you the cost for yours before you book anything. What we won’t do is publish one teaser number here that half of Austin’s decks wouldn’t actually qualify for.
What happens if the inspection finds problems?
You get the findings straight, ranked by what matters. Most decks we inspect need something, and most of that something is ordinary: re-fastening, a few boards, flashing attention. When findings are structural, the report says so plainly, and the honest path is usually deck repair work for contained problems or a full deck replacement when the frame itself is done. Either way, the inspection fee bought you the truth, and what you do next is your call, on your timeline.
With 1,000+ projects completed since 2011, we’ve inspected enough Austin decks to know the difference between cosmetic aging and a real problem, and the report reflects that difference honestly.
Where do we inspect decks?
Across the Austin metro: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Westlake Hills, Georgetown, Pflugerville, and Hutto.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an inspection take?
It depends on the deck’s size and how accessible the underside is. We’ll give you a time window when you book, and the written report follows after.
Do I have to use you for the repairs?
No. The report is independent of any work. Plenty of people take it and handle things themselves or shop it around, and that’s exactly how it should work.
Should I get the deck inspected before buying a house?
If the house has a raised deck, it’s one of the cheapest pieces of certainty in the whole transaction. General home inspections look at decks briefly; we look at nothing else.
Is my deck dangerous right now?
We can’t answer that from here, and we won’t guess. If something moves, sags, or feels soft, keep weight off it and book the inspection; that’s the honest version of an answer over the phone.
Ready to know for sure?
Call 737-363-4018 to book your deck inspection. You’ll get the truth about your deck in writing, and what happens next is up to you.