Fulcrest builds custom cedar and composite decks in Fort Collins, from simple ground-level decks off the back door to elevated decks with stairs, railings and lighting. We also replace old decks that have reached the end of their life.
City resources identify exterior permit categories that include decks, patio covers, pergolas and permanent fire features. Project scope, site and utility work determine the required submittals and inspections.
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Probably. The City only lets you skip the permit on a small deck that stands on its own: 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches off the ground, not attached to the house and not serving as an exit door. Most decks people actually want don't fit that, so we plan for the permit from day one and handle the paperwork.
Older homes near Old Town usually come with mature trees, tight side yards and a back door that was never planned for a deck. Newer neighborhoods on the south end of town are more open, but they often have their own HOA rules and grading to work around. Same city, very different decks, so we start with your actual lot.
If your house is a designated City Landmark, the City's Historic Preservation office has to approve the deck, even a small one that wouldn't otherwise need a permit. It's easy to miss, and it can stall a project if nobody checks. We check it before design starts.
Ground-level, elevated and multi-level decks in cedar or composite, with stairs, railings, built-in seating and lighting. If you might add a pergola or patio cover later, tell us now. A roof over the deck changes the footings and framing underneath, and it's a lot easier to plan for than to add later.
Fort Collins switched to the 2024 building codes for permits submitted on or after April 1, 2026. That matters if you're comparing your plans to a neighbor's deck from a few years ago: what passed then isn't automatically what gets approved now. Homes closer to the foothills can also sit inside the City's wildfire-risk zone (the City calls it the Wildland-Urban Interface), so we check the City's map for your address before the design is final.
In most cases, yes. The only decks the City exempts are small, freestanding ones: 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above the ground at any point, not attached to the house, and not serving a required exit door. If your deck misses any one of those, it needs a permit. We confirm the current rules for your specific deck before we start.
A permit application, a site plan showing your house and where the deck will go, and drawings of the deck itself. The City even publishes its own deck plans and span charts. We put that package together and submit it for you.
Simpler decks in Northern Colorado commonly start around $40 to $60 per square foot. Composite decks with upgraded railings, stairs or elevated construction can run $80 to $120 per square foot or more. Height, materials, stairs, railings and tearing out an old deck all move the number, so two decks the same size can be priced very differently.
Sometimes. If the framing, footings and connection to the house are still solid, and the joist spacing works for the new boards, resurfacing can save real money. If the structure underneath is tired, new boards on top are money spent in the wrong place. We check the frame first and tell you which one makes sense.
It comes down to maintenance. Composite costs more up front, but you never stain or seal it, and darker boards do get hot in full sun. Cedar is real wood and costs less at first, but it needs cleaning and refinishing every so often to keep its color. For most people who want low maintenance, composite is the better long-term pick.
Share the address, current conditions, goals and timing. Fulcrest will review project fit and the next useful step.
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