Decks, Docks & Outdoor Structures
Small projects, unforgiving details
Decks, docks, boathouses, pergolas, patio covers and screen enclosures — drawn with the connection details and load paths inspectors check first.
Outdoor structures get treated as simple projects right up until plan review, at which point the questions turn out to be entirely about connections: how the ledger attaches, how the posts are footed, what resists uplift, and what happens where the new structure meets the house. These are small sets that fail for detailed reasons.
What we draft
- Decks — attached and freestanding, ground-level and elevated, single and multi-level
- Docks and boathouses — including piling layouts, decking structure and covered slips
- Pergolas and patio covers — attached and freestanding, wood and aluminum
- Screen enclosures and pool cages — with attachment and wind load documentation
- Outdoor kitchens and structures — where they involve foundations, roofs or utilities
- Stairs, ramps and landings — including code-compliant rise, run, guard and handrail detailing
Decks
The recurring failure points are consistent: ledger attachment to the house, footing size and depth, post-to-beam and beam-to-joist connections, guard post attachment, and lateral load resistance. A deck drawing that shows a plan and a pretty elevation but hand-waves the connections is the kind that comes back from review with comments.
We draw the framing plan, the sections, and the connection details, with fastener and hardware callouts, so the set answers those questions before they're asked.
From a completed Orlando deck addition: guard and handrail detailing with the code sections quoted on the sheet. Click to enlarge — more sheets here.
Docks and waterfront structures
Waterfront work adds a layer most homeowners don't anticipate. Beyond the building department, a dock may involve environmental review, water management district approval, or — depending on the waterbody — federal review. Which of those apply depends on your specific location and what you're proposing.
The practical implication is timeline. Dock projects should start earlier than you think they need to, and the drawing set often has to serve multiple reviewing bodies with different concerns. We'll tell you what we understand your situation to require, though the agencies themselves are the authority on their own jurisdiction.
Wind and uplift
Roofed outdoor structures in Florida are governed as much by what tries to lift them as by what they carry. Patio covers, pergolas and screen enclosures need documented uplift resistance and a continuous load path to the foundation. This is the single most common reason a simple-looking outdoor project needs more detailing than an owner expects.
What we need from you
- Property address, and a survey if you have one — setbacks matter a lot on outdoor structures
- Rough dimensions and desired location relative to the house
- Photos of the attachment area, including the wall and existing foundation where visible
- For docks: the waterbody, shoreline conditions, and any prior approvals on file
- Material preference — wood, composite, aluminum — if you have one
- HOA guidelines, which often restrict height, materials and visibility from the street
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a deck?
In most Central Florida jurisdictions, yes — particularly for anything attached to the house, elevated above a certain height, or covered. Requirements vary between counties and municipalities, so we confirm what applies to your address before drafting.
What makes dock permitting different?
Docks sit in and over water, which can bring agencies beyond your building department into the process — environmental and water management review, and in some cases federal review, depending on the waterbody and the structure. It adds time, so it's worth starting early and knowing what your specific location requires.
Can you draft a screen enclosure or pool cage?
Yes. These are engineered aluminum structures where the drawings need to address wind load, attachment to the host structure and footing conditions. We produce the documentation and coordinate with an engineer where a seal is required.
Will you match an existing deck or dock?
Yes — matching structure, decking pattern, railing style and height transitions is a normal part of the work when you're extending or rebuilding something that's already there.
