Premier Composite Deck Builder in Wilmington, DE

Pressure-treated wood costs less on day one for raw lumber, but the math changes quickly over time. Wood forces you to buy deck cleaner, wood brightener, sand paper, and expensive stains every season or two. You also end up replacing cupped or rotting boards every few years. Composite costs more for initial board delivery, but because it requires practically zero upkeep spending, it breaks even against lumber within seven to ten years. After that, synthetic saves you real money every year you own the house.

Zavala & Sons serves homeowners throughout Wilmington, DE, along with neighboring New Castle County communities. We regularly work in Pike Creek, Hockessin, Brandywine Hundred, Greenville, and Newark. Being based locally means we know municipal building offices, soil conditions, and frost depth requirements across the county, allowing us to handle permits and site prep without delays.

Delaware weather is tough on building products. Fully capped composite boards and 100% cellular PVC products are engineered specifically to handle temperature extremes. Brands like Trex and Azek use outer polymer caps that lock out rain, snow, and meltwater. Because moisture cannot penetrate the core of the board, freezing weather will not cause internal cracking, and humid August days will not cause boards to warp or buckle.

While a standard pressure-treated pine floor usually starts showing serious wear around year ten, premium composite materials are rated to last anywhere from 25 to 50 years. Most top-tier board lines come with 25- to 50-year manufacturer warranties covering structural decay, stain damage, and color fading. The pressure-treated framing underneath, when flashed and sealed correctly, will easily support the structure for decades.

Once we clear permitting and materials arrive, physical building on site usually takes between one and three weeks. A basic single-level replacement goes fast, often wrapping up in several days. Larger multi-level structures with custom stairs, wrapped fascia, continuous drink rails, or integrated lighting take a bit longer. Heavy rain or frozen ground can push digging footers back a day or two, but we keep you informed daily so you know where things stand.

You can throw away your belt sander and oil stains. Maintenance on synthetic boards is as straightforward as sweeping off leaves, acorns, and lawn clippings. Once or twice a year, scrub the floor with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft-bristle deck brush to clean off pollen or dirt, then rinse it down with your garden hose. If food spills near the grill, just wipe it up with soap and water—capped boards resist oil stains naturally.

The core difference comes down to ingredients. Trex is a composite made from recycled wood fibers blended with plastic, encased in a hard protective shell. Azek is cellular PVC, meaning it contains zero wood content at all. Because Azek contains no organic wood fiber, it absorbs even less moisture and stays slightly cooler in hot sunlight, making it popular for pool surrounds or unshaded backyards. Both brands perform exceptionally well, and we bring samples of each to your house so you can compare textures and weights side-by-side.

Yes. Wilmington and New Castle County require building permits for new deck builds and structural replacements to ensure footers hit proper depth, ledger boards are structurally attached to house framing, and handrails meet height requirements. Skipping permits can trigger fines or block the sale of your house later. Zavala & Sons handles the entire permit application process, submits structural framing drawings, and meets county building inspectors on site for required inspections.