★★★★★ Five-star rated on Google · SC Lic. CLG.127339

Decks and Patios for the Lowcountry

Charleston weather is unusually hard on outdoor structures. Material choice here is a twenty-year decision, not a finish selection.

Get Your Fixed Price → ☎ (843) 718-8177

Covered outdoor kitchen at dusk with a stone-clad bar island, built-in grill, stained tongue-and-groove ceiling, paddle fans and string lights over the patio

Licensed CLG.127339

Quick answer: A deck or patio in the Charleston area typically runs $8,000 to $38,000, depending on material, elevation and whether footings must reach through soft soil. Southeastern Renovation is a licensed South Carolina general contractor (CLG.127339) serving Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, James Island, West Ashley, Summerville and downtown Charleston. Every project is fixed-price in writing and backed by a 1-year workmanship warranty. Call (843) 718-8177 for an estimate.

200+ Renovations

Deck and Patio Construction

Decks and Patios for the Lowcountry

Sun, humidity and salt do things to a deck here that they do not do inland. Pressure treated pine is the cheapest way to build one and the most expensive to own, because it wants cleaning and resealing every year or two in this climate and it will still cup and check. Composite costs more up front and stops costing anything after that.

The other Lowcountry particular is underneath. Much of the area sits on soft, saturated soil, and footings that would be adequate in the upstate are not adequate here. On a raised coastal house the framing also has to be detailed for wind uplift, which is a structural decision made at the start and impossible to retrofit.

Serving Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, West Ashley, James Island and Summerville — and the York County and Charlotte SC-metro side from Clover. Part of our Outdoor Living work.

Your Estimate in 3 Simple Steps

Look at the soil and the elevation

Footing depth, soil bearing and how high the deck sits drive both the structure and the permit. We check before pricing.

Fixed price, in writing

Framing, decking, rail, stairs and finish, priced and signed before anything is ordered.

Two to four weeks

Footings, framing, decking, rail. Permit and HOA submission included.

Recent Deck and Patio Construction Projects

Mount Pleasant

Composite deck with a covered section, three weeks

James Island

Elevated deck and stair run on a raised foundation

Summerville

Paver patio with a seat wall and a fire feature

Why Charleston Homeowners Choose Us

Honest about material cost

We will tell you what pressure-treated pine actually costs to own in this climate before you choose it to save money.

Footings sized for Lowcountry soil

Soft, saturated soil needs deeper and wider footings than the standard detail. It is the part nobody sees.

Detailed for wind uplift

On raised coastal houses this is a structural decision at the start, not an add-on later.

Permit and HOA handled

Decks over a certain height are permitted and inspected. We submit and track it.

Common Questions

How much does a deck cost in Charleston?

Generally $8,000 to $38,000. The drivers are material, size, and height above grade — an elevated deck on a raised coastal house needs far more structure, longer stair runs and guardrail, and costs substantially more per square foot than a ground-level one. Composite decking typically adds 30 to 50 percent over pressure treated pine up front.

Composite or wood in the Charleston climate?

Composite, in most cases here, and the reasoning is maintenance rather than looks. Sun and humidity are hard on pressure-treated pine in the Lowcountry — it wants cleaning and resealing every year or two and will still cup, check and splinter. Composite costs more up front and effectively nothing after. Over ten years the cheaper board is usually the more expensive deck.

Do I need a permit to build a deck?

In the Charleston area, generally yes once the deck is attached to the house or is raised more than a modest height above grade, and it is inspected for footings, ledger attachment and guardrail. A ground-level floating patio often does not need one. Setbacks and lot coverage still apply either way, and Daniel Island and most HOAs want the drawings regardless of what the county requires.

Can a deck be converted to a screened porch later?

Only if it was built for it. A roof, ceiling and screen framing add load a deck built for furniture was never sized to carry, so the conversion often means reframing from the footings up. If a porch is anywhere in your plans, say so now — building the deck to carry a roof costs very little extra today and saves rebuilding it later.

Ready to talk about your deck and patio construction?

Fixed price in writing · SC licensed CLG.127339 · Workers’ comp and liability on every jobsite

Get Your Fixed Price ☎ (843) 718-8177

Plan the cost around your scope and location

Compare a deck with a ground-level patio before comparing totals. Size, material, foundations or base preparation, stairs, railings, access and removal of existing structures affect the scope.

Review related deck and fence scope in the Charleston guide or York County guide. These component guides do not price every outdoor structure; browse other project guides as needed.

Published ranges are planning references for the scope and location named in each guide. Confirm your address, selections, allowances and exclusions in a written estimate. Fixed-price and cost-plus contracts are both available depending on scope.