Deck Builders in Idaho: ID Deck Costs, Permits and a Faster Way to Build

Idaho homeowners can go three ways: hire a local deck builder, frame a deck themselves from raw lumber, or order an A-DIY engineered deck kit. The A-DIY kit is delivered to your door as a complete system, and you, a friend or a local handyman can assemble it in a few hours with nothing more than a drill.

A contractor’s price in Idaho depends on the deck’s size, the decking material, how high it sits, your part of the state and local labor rates, and quotes in the fast-growing Boise metro area tend to run above those in smaller towns. A-DIY deck kits start at $3,699 for pressure-treated wood and $5,700 for composite, typically 30–50% less than hiring a contractor. Use our deck cost calculator to compare prices in your area.

Yes. An engineered deck kit delivers a true structural deck without the cost of a contractor’s design time and a full crew. The A-DIY kit ships with everything required, footings included, so there is no measuring, cutting or chasing materials across town.

No. A-DIY is not a contractor and does not install decks. We design, engineer and deliver complete deck kits to addresses across Idaho. Assemble it yourself or hire any local handyman, carpenter or registered contractor to put it together.

Yes. Many Idaho homeowners have a local handyman assemble their A-DIY kit. Since the parts arrive ready to assemble with step-by-step instructions, the work takes a small fraction of the time a custom build would, which keeps the labor cost modest. If the job is worth $2,000 or more, Idaho law requires the person you hire to be a registered contractor.

Usually, yes. The Idaho Residential Code, enforced by your city or county building department, governs decks on one- and two-family homes, and the permit trigger depends on the deck’s height, whether it is attached to the house and whether it serves the required exit door. Local amendments vary, so contact your building department before you order.

In Boise, permits are issued by Planning and Development Services. A deck is exempt only when it is no more than 12 inches above grade at any point and does not serve the required exit door; otherwise you need a building permit. Boise’s design criteria set the frost depth at 24 inches and the ground snow load at 20 psf, and Planning and Zoning confirms setbacks for the location.

Under the Idaho Residential Code, footings for a deck supported by the house must extend below the frost line set by your jurisdiction, which is 24 inches in Boise and Coeur d’Alene but 36 inches in Pocatello. Decks not supported by the dwelling are exempt from the frost-line rule under the state code, though some cities set their own minimum, for example 12 inches for a freestanding deck in Post Falls, so confirm locally.

Yes. On a sloped or uneven Idaho lot, an A-DIY deck is leveled by adjusting the heights of the supporting posts rather than moving earth. Supported configurations can be elevated to approximately 40 inches using the appropriate posts, foundations and bracing.

Tuff Block footings come with every A-DIY kit. If your site, deck height or local code calls for a different foundation, the deck can instead be set on sonotubes, helical piles, ground screws, in-ground posts or an approved surface footing system.

Both perform well in Idaho. Pressure-treated wood costs less upfront and takes stain or sealer well, but Idaho’s strong high-elevation sun, dry air, big temperature swings and snowy winters dry out and check unprotected boards, so it needs regular cleaning and resealing. Composite costs more but needs no sanding, staining or sealing, resists fading and splintering, and its boards carry a 25-year warranty.

Applicable A-DIY deck configurations are engineered to hold up to 15,000 pounds when properly assembled, supported and installed according to the applicable specifications. Every A-DIY deck system also includes a five-year structural warranty.

A-DIY delivers to cities and towns across Idaho, typically within 10–14 business days. The full set of components and hardware arrives in one delivery, so you can start assembling as soon as it reaches your driveway.

Yes. You can choose Build Now, Pay Later financing through Affirm (subject to approval), 0% split payments over up to eight months, or A-DIY Reserve, a $250 deposit that locks in today’s price for a future delivery date.

Yes. For an applicable A-DIY configuration, the diagrams show the dimensions, structural layout, beam, joist and post locations, lumber sizes and major connections that Idaho building departments typically ask to see with a deck permit application. Your department may still request a site plan, survey or stamped documents, and because snow load and frost depth are set locally, it has the final say, so approval is not guaranteed.