Maybe the back slope of your yard has been dead space since the day you bought the house. Maybe the old redwood deck has gone soft underfoot and you're tired of sanding and sealing it every spring. A custom deck is how you get that square footage back — as real living space you'll actually use. New Generation Construction builds custom decks for single-family homes throughout Riverside, CA, working one-on-one with homeowners from the first sketch to the last board. Owner Ely Ramos is on the job, licensed under CSLB 910999, and personally accountable for the work.
What custom deck building involves
A deck is a structure before it's a surface, and that's where most of the real work happens. We start by reading your yard — grade, drainage, soil, how far the deck sits off the house, where the sun lands in the afternoon. From there we lay out footings, set posts, and frame beams and joists at spacing appropriate to the decking material and the span. Ledger attachment to the house gets flashed properly, because that connection is where poorly built decks fail first.
Once framing is square and level, we install the deck surface. We build in Trex and other composite decking as well as traditional wood, and we'll walk you through the honest tradeoffs: composite costs more up front and asks almost nothing of you afterward; wood costs less and wants attention. Then come the details that make a deck feel finished — railing, stair treads and stringers, fascia, skirting, hidden fasteners, integrated lighting, and built-in bench or planter work if that's part of the plan.
A typical Riverside job runs a couple of weeks on site. Many homeowners tie the deck into a larger backyard plan — a patio cover overhead, pavers stepping down off the stairs, or hardscape and landscape work wrapping the whole thing together.
Why New Generation Construction for your custom deck
- Licensed contractor, CSLB 910999. We carry the license, the insurance, and the overhead of a legitimate construction business — and we're still here after the last board goes down.
- Premium materials, no substitutions. We work with reputable manufacturers and vendors, including Trex composite decking, whose products carry real manufacturer warranties. We don't downgrade materials to shave a bid.
- You talk to Ely, not a call center. Owner Ely Ramos evaluates your yard, helps you choose materials and applications, and stays reachable through the entire project.
- Structure first. Proper footings, joist spacing matched to the decking, flashed ledger connections, code-compliant railing and stair geometry. The parts you won't see are the parts that determine how long the deck lasts.
- One contractor for the whole backyard. Decks, pergolas, patio covers, pavers, and hardscape all come from the same crew, so nothing lands out of sequence or out of level.
- Riverside homes, Riverside conditions. We build for inland heat, expansive soils, and hard afternoon sun exposure — not for a generic spec sheet.
Our custom deck building process
- First call. Tell us what you're picturing and roughly where it goes. If you're not sure what's possible in the space, that's a normal place to start.
- On-site evaluation. We measure the yard, check grade and drainage, look at how the deck meets the house, and talk through height, stairs, and how you plan to use it.
- Design and material selection. We lay out the footprint and walk you through composite versus wood, decking colors, railing styles, and lighting — with the cost and maintenance implications of each stated plainly.
- Written proposal. A line-item scope covering materials, framing, finish details, and schedule, so you can compare it honestly against any other bid on your kitchen table.
- Permitting and scheduling. We handle plans and permitting where the City of Riverside or your jurisdiction requires it, then set a start date.
- Build. Layout, footings, posts, framing, ledger and flashing, decking, railing, stairs, and trim — with inspections at the appropriate stages.
- Walkthrough. We go over the finished deck with you, hand off manufacturer warranty and care information, and clean the site down.
What a custom deck typically costs
Deck pricing in Riverside is driven by square footage, height off grade, and material. A low, simple platform deck in pressure-treated wood sits at the bottom of the range. Cost climbs with elevation — taller decks need deeper footings, larger posts, and more framing — and with stairs, multiple levels, custom railing, built-in seating, lighting, and skirting. Composite decking such as Trex costs more per square foot than wood but eliminates the sanding-and-sealing cycle. Site access, soil conditions, and demolition of an existing deck also move the number.
We'll say this directly: we are often not the lowest bid. Quotes that come in dramatically under ours usually differ somewhere — in framing, in fasteners, in the grade of decking, or in whether the contractor is licensed and insured at all. What we quote includes premium materials from manufacturers who stand behind them and a crew that builds to code. Estimates are free and specific to your yard — no ballpark over the phone, no pressure.
Service areas we cover
- Riverside
- Moreno Valley
- Corona
- Jurupa Valley
- Eastvale
- Norco
- Rubidoux
- Woodcrest
- Mira Loma
- Canyon Crest and Orangecrest
FAQ
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Riverside?
Often, yes — particularly for decks above a certain height off grade, decks attached to the house, or those with stairs and railing. We review the requirements for your property and handle the plans and permitting as part of the project.
Trex composite or wood — which should I choose?
If you don't want to sand, stain, and seal every year, composite is worth the up-front difference, and it holds color under Riverside sun better than wood. If budget is the priority and you don't mind seasonal maintenance, wood is a legitimate choice. We'll show you both and let you decide.
How long does a custom deck take to build?
Most residential decks take roughly one to three weeks on site once we start, depending on size, elevation, and whether stairs, railing, and lighting are involved. Permitting and material lead times happen before that.
Can you tear out my old deck first?
Yes. Demolition and haul-off of an existing deck can be included in the scope. We'll also inspect the ledger area and house framing once it's opened up, since old decks sometimes hide water damage at the wall.
Can you combine the deck with a patio cover or pavers?
That's most of what we do. Decks tie naturally into patio covers, pergolas, pavers, and full hardscape and landscape plans. Designing them together keeps grades, heights, and finishes consistent across the whole backyard.
Why is your quote higher than the one I got online?
Because we're a licensed and insured contractor using premium materials and experienced labor, with quality control and someone to call after the job is done. We're happy to walk you through our scope line by line so you can see exactly where the difference is.
Ready to build your deck?
If you're planning a custom deck in Riverside, let's walk the yard together. Ely will look at your space, talk through what's realistic, and put a detailed written estimate in your hands at no cost. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and project managers are reachable by phone on weekends. Call +17142968788 to schedule your free estimate.