Deck Builder in Thomaston, ME
Kenneth Cox Construction builds decks in Thomaston, ME, but sometimes your house wants a porch instead. We’ve been giving that advice since 1988.
- 38 years in business, since 1988
- Over 250 projects completed
- Affordable work, two-year written warranty
A deck builder in Thomaston sometimes has to say the quiet part: on a Federal or Greek Revival house near Main Street, a roofed porch usually suits the building better than a platform bolted to the back wall. Kenneth Cox Construction lays out both paths and lets you pick.
The difference is real. A deck gives you an open platform and a modern railing. A porch gives you posts, a roof and proportions that match the period, plus a dry place to sit when the rain comes off the St. George River.
Thomaston's Main Street Historic District means exterior changes get looked at closely, and salt air with freeze-thaw is hard on old rubble and brick foundations. Ken has worked on Maine's older houses since 1988, and every project carries a written 2-year workmanship warranty.
Why Thomaston Residents Hire Us for a Deck Build
Ken has worked on Maine’s older houses since 1988. Knowing when not to attach something modern to one is part of the job.
We hold BBB accreditation, publicly listed at the Better Business Bureau. Every project carries a written 2-year workmanship warranty.
Get a deck estimate for your Thomaston home
Size, material, height off the ground. Answer those and we can price it properly.
What other contractor services do we offer in Thomaston?
Which towns around Thomaston do we serve?
Where is our shop?
Directions from Thomaston, ME to our shop in Searsmont
128 New England RoadSearsmont, ME 04973
What Deck Services Do We Offer in Thomaston?
Our Thomaston deck work covers the complete structure, including what sits beneath the boards. The scope can include:
- Deck design and layout planning
- Footings and framing
- Wood deck construction and replacement
- Composite/PVC deck construction and replacement
- Railing installation
- Stairs and landings
- Freestanding decks
- Multi-level decks
What is our deck building process in Thomaston?
Get your free quote
Ken looks at the house, the sight lines from the street, and tells you which structure suits it.
We bring your project to life
Review, permits, footings, framing and detailing are all handled from our end.
Enjoy your new space
Delivered on the agreed date, with two years of warranty in writing.
Why are we the best deck builder in Thomaston, ME?
We’re the best deck builder in Thomaston, ME because we know when a porch is the better answer. A deck is an open platform with a modern railing.
A porch has a roof and period-appropriate posts and proportions.
On most modern homes, the deck is obviously right. On a Federal or Greek Revival in Thomaston, a porch is often more appropriate and more useful.
You can sit outside in the rain.
The costs and uses differ. The honest answer depends on your house and where the structure will be seen from.
Main Street Thomaston is one of the best streetscapes in Maine. A pressure-treated deck bolted to the back of a Federal house is not a crime, but it rarely does the building any favors.
Ken explains both options plainly. Whichever you choose comes with a 2-year workmanship warranty from a BBB-accredited company.
Many of our Thomaston clients own homes on or near the historic streetscape. They don’t want to make a change they’ll regret.
We also work on the capes and ranches behind the core, where a straightforward deck is exactly right. No agonizing required.
We run the whole build, from design and the permit through Thomaston Code Enforcement to footings, framing, decking or roof structure, railing and inspection.
On a period house, that includes the detailing. Post proportions and railing profiles determine whether a new structure looks like it belongs.
We build on Main Street and the surrounding streets. We also work on newer homes behind the core and properties along the St. George River.
Work visible from the historic streetscape draws real scrutiny. Before designing, we establish what is appropriate with the town and Maine Historic Preservation.
Book a Thomaston project for the thaw-to-freeze season because footings need open ground. A roofed porch also takes longer on site than an open deck.
If the project is visible from the street, start the conversation a season early so review time doesn’t eat your summer.
Building a deck in Thomaston depends on the house. These buildings have proportions that a standard deck railing ignores, and the mismatch is obvious even to people who can’t explain why.
Visibility matters too. A rear structure hidden from the street has far more freedom than one visible from Main Street, so its location changes what it can be.
Then there’s the ground. A high water table near the St. George River and ledge inland mean footings vary considerably across Thomaston.
On a roofed porch, those footings carry much more load.
We’d rather have the deck-or-porch conversation at the start than build the wrong thing efficiently.
Ask whether the builder has worked on houses from the same period. Ask whether they would consider a porch instead of defaulting to a deck.
Get the 2-year warranty in writing, and look up the company yourself before work begins.
A deck costs far less than a porch in Thomaston, so we price them separately. A roofed porch with period detailing and an open rear deck are not remotely the same build.
Ken gives you both figures and his opinion. Then the decision is yours.
What do Thomaston homeowners want to know first?
Will a modern deck hurt my house's value?
A modern deck can hurt your house's value on a significant historic property. Out of sight at the rear it matters far less, which is why placement is the first question.
Is a porch much more expensive?
A porch is more expensive because it is more structure. It is also usable in weather that empties a deck, which changes the value calculation.
Can railings be made to suit an old house?
Railings can be made to suit an old house, by matching proportions and profiles rather than buying a stock system. It is a detail worth spending on.
Does the town review rear structures?
The town reviews rear structures less than street-facing ones, and we confirm rather than assume on a streetscape like this.
Is It Time to Replace Your Existing Deck?
Replace a Thomaston deck when rot has reached the ledger, joists, or post connections instead of paying for another cosmetic repair. On coastal houses, hidden corrosion can matter as much as soft wood.
The inspection must include fasteners and flashing.
How do you start a Thomaston project?
A Thomaston project starts with ten minutes on site deciding between a deck and a porch. That conversation can keep you from building something you’ll look at every day and dislike.
Ken will give you a straight opinion. Call him at 207-386-9235.