Licensed & Insured · MD #113079 · Proudly serving Pasadena, MD
Deck & Porch Building Pasadena, MD
A properly built deck starts with the footings — everything else follows from getting those right.
Escobar Construction builds decks and porches across Anne Arundel County — new builds, replacements, and additions. We handle the permit, the footings, the framing, and the finish so your outdoor structure is solid and code-compliant. Maryland-licensed since 2017. Free estimates.
Pasadena is part of the Anne Arundel County territory Escobar Construction has served since 2017 — accessible from our Severn base and home to some of the most interesting renovation work in the county, given the mix of waterfront cottages and newer single-family communities spread across the peninsula.
What's included
- ✓Permit application and inspection coordination
- ✓Frost-depth footing excavation and concrete pour
- ✓Post, beam, and joist framing
- ✓Ledger board installation with proper flashing
- ✓Decking installation — pressure-treated, composite, or hardwood
- ✓Railing and baluster installation per Maryland code
- ✓Stair framing and installation with proper rise/run
- ✓Cleanup and final walkthrough
How a deck is actually built
A deck that lasts starts underground. Footings need to reach below the frost line — in Maryland, that's 30 inches minimum — so the structure doesn't heave with freeze-thaw cycles. After footings are poured and cured, posts go up, beams set on top, and the joist system gets framed out. The ledger board connection to the house is another critical point: a poorly flashed ledger is the most common source of deck failures and water damage to the house structure behind it.
Decking boards go on after the frame is solid and inspected. Material choice at this stage — pressure-treated lumber, composite decking, or hardwood like Ipe — determines long-term maintenance requirements, appearance, and cost. Composite eliminates annual sealing but costs more upfront. Pressure-treated requires periodic sealing and stain but gives you a natural wood look at a lower material cost. We go over the trade-offs honestly so you choose what fits your situation.
Railings, stairs, and code compliance
Decks over 30 inches above grade require guardrails in Maryland, with specific requirements for height (36 inches minimum, 42 inches on decks serving as exit routes) and baluster spacing (no gap wider than 4 inches). These aren't suggestions — they're what the building inspector verifies, and they exist because falls from deck heights are serious. We frame and install railings to code from the start.
Stairs need to meet rise-and-run requirements (typically 7-3/4 inch max rise, 10 inch min run in Maryland's adoption of the IRC). Landing pads at the bottom need to be on stable ground. If the grade drops steeply, we discuss options for the stair approach before framing starts — it affects the whole layout.
Permits, HOA, and what to check before you build
Decks in Anne Arundel County require a building permit, and the county reviews the structural drawings before issuing it. For larger or elevated decks, stamped engineering drawings may be required. The permit process exists to verify that the structure is safe — the footing size, the ledger attachment method, the railing height. We handle the permit application and the inspection scheduling.
If your property is in an HOA, check the HOA guidelines before starting. Some HOAs have specific rules about deck materials, colors, or size that are separate from county requirements. Neither the county permit nor the HOA approval waits for the other — you need both before breaking ground. We can work with your HOA's requirements as long as they're compatible with safe construction standards.
Working on homes in Pasadena
Pasadena occupies the peninsula between the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay, and its housing stock reflects that geography. Many properties along the Magothy River, Stoney Creek, and the bay communities of Riviera Beach started life as summer cottages in the 1930s through 1950s — small seasonal structures that were expanded, winterized, and converted to year-round homes over the decades. That conversion history means these homes often have layered construction, moisture considerations, older mechanical systems, and layouts that evolved organically rather than by design.
Inland Pasadena has a different character: established suburban neighborhoods like Lake Shore, Green Haven, and Bayside Beach alongside newer single-family developments. Both ends of the market call for careful work. Cottage renovations often mean working around surprises. Newer homes are hitting the age where original kitchens and bathrooms are ready for a real upgrade rather than a patch.
Permits and inspections in Anne Arundel County
Pasadena falls under Anne Arundel County's permit and inspection authority. Work involving structural changes, plumbing, new electrical circuits, or HVAC requires permits — and in a community with as much converted and expanded construction as Pasadena, the permit history of a property can matter. The county shifted to the LUN System for online permit submissions in December 2025, and fire-code updates effective May 2026 apply to new applications.
For waterfront and converted cottage properties especially, doing permitted work is more than a formality — it's protection. Unpermitted additions or modifications can complicate insurance claims and resale. Escobar Construction handles the permit process as part of the job, so every project we complete is documented, inspected, and code-compliant.
Areas we serve near Pasadena
Riviera Beach · Lake Shore · Green Haven · Bayside Beach · Bodkin Pointe · Bar Harbor · Chelsea Beach · Rock Creek · Long Point on the Magothy · Aspen Park
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Anne Arundel County?+
Yes. Any attached deck or freestanding deck over 30 inches above grade requires a building permit in Anne Arundel County. The permit covers structural review of the footings, framing, and ledger attachment, plus a final inspection. We handle the permit as part of the project — it's not something you need to manage separately.
How long does a new deck last?+
A properly built pressure-treated deck with good ledger flashing and below-frost footings should last 20-30 years with periodic maintenance (cleaning, sealing every few years). Composite decking has a longer maintenance-free lifespan and usually comes with a manufacturer warranty. The single biggest factor in deck longevity is whether the footings, ledger, and drainage were done correctly at the start.
Can you replace an existing deck instead of tearing it out?+
Sometimes, but we always assess the existing framing before recommending it. If the posts and joists are in solid condition, we can often replace just the decking boards and railings, which costs significantly less than a full rebuild. If the framing shows rot or the footings are shallow and heaving, a full replacement is the more economical long-term choice. We'll show you exactly what we find.
Our Pasadena home is a converted waterfront cottage — is that kind of project too complicated for a general contractor?+
Not at all. Converted cottages are common in Pasadena, and we've worked on properties with layered construction, moisture issues, and unconventional layouts before. The key is a thorough walkthrough before the quote, so we understand what we're actually dealing with. We flag what we find up front rather than mid-project.
Get your free estimate
Tell us about your project — Eddy personally replies, usually within one business day.