Deck Builders Near Me in Chicago, IL? Build Your Own Deck With an A-DIY Kit

You can do either. Chicago has many deck and porch contractors, so compare two or three written quotes, check insurance and ask about recent projects inside city limits. If you’d rather build it yourself, A-DIY delivers professionally engineered wood and composite deck kits to Chicago homes, and you or a local handyman can assemble one with a drill.

Contractor prices in Chicago depend on size, height, materials, permits and drawings, so get written quotes. A-DIY kits run from $3,699 for a 6x12 wood kit to $12,799 for a 16x28 composite kit, with framing, decking, footings and hardware included. Homeowners typically spend 30–50% less than hiring a contractor, plus any permit and drawing costs.

With A-DIY, a 12x12 deck kit is $4,899 in pressure-treated wood or $5,700 in composite. A 12x16 composite kit is $6,600; the closest wood size is 12x18 at $5,969. A 16x20 kit is $7,600 in wood or $10,199 in composite. Framing, decking, footings and hardware are included.

Inside city limits, plan on it. The City of Chicago Department of Buildings enforces the Chicago Construction Codes, and a new deck requires a standard plan-based building permit. The Express Permit Program covers only repairs to existing porches and decks, not new structures. Suburbs such as Evanston and Oak Park have their own building departments.

Chicago doesn’t use the model IRC, so the IRC’s exemption for freestanding decks under 200 sq ft and 30 inches high doesn’t automatically apply. The City’s porch guidance says no permit is needed to repair or replace a residential porch under 6 feet high with no more than 50 sq ft of landing. For a new deck, confirm with the Department of Buildings before you build.

Many customers use their A-DIY decks for hot tubs and saunas. Applicable configurations are engineered to hold up to 15,000 lbs when properly assembled and supported, but tub weight, placement and wiring vary, so talk to a deck specialist before you order and check local electrical and permit rules.

The Chicago Building Code requires footings at least 42 inches below grade, which protects structures from frost heave. A-DIY kits are freestanding and sit 15–17 inches off the ground on Tuff Block footings. Whether that foundation is accepted for your project is up to the Department of Buildings, so ask during permit review.

Expect around 38 inches of snow in an average season at O’Hare, hard freezes and freeze-thaw cycles in winter, occasional lake-effect snow near the lakefront, and humid summers with strong thunderstorms. Clear heavy snow with a plastic shovel, keep drainage away from the house and seal wood every one to two years.

May through early October is the main building window. Since new decks in the city need a permit, use the winter to plan, start the paperwork and reserve your kit so it arrives once the ground is thawed and dry.

Pressure-treated wood kits come in 15 sizes: Standard 12x12, 12x18, 12x20, 12x24, 12x28, 16x16, 16x20, 16x24 and 16x28, plus Compact 6x12, 6x16, 6x20, 8x12, 8x16 and 8x20. Composite kits come in 9 sizes from 12x12 to 16x28 in Amazon Gray or Forest Wood. Custom sizes are available on request.

Yes. A-DIY ships by LTL freight to Chicago neighborhoods and nearby communities including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Lawn and Des Plaines. The carrier calls ahead to schedule curbside delivery, typically within 10–14 business days.

Pay in full, reserve today’s price with the $250 A-DIY Reserve non-refundable deposit, split the cost into 0% payments over up to 8 months, or build now and pay later with Affirm, Klarna or Shop Pay, subject to approval.