A family-owned TrexPro Platinum and NADRA-Certified deck builder serving Franklin since 2000, building wood, composite, and PVC decks for Milwaukee County’s 48-inch frost line, heavy clay soils, and 48-inch annual snowfall, backed by a Lifetime Labor Warranty.
The City of Franklin is located in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, and is covered by ZIP codes 53132 and 53113. The city includes residential neighborhoods and developments such as Crooked Creek, Hidden Lakes, the Woodlands of Franklin, Whitstone Village, Woodlake Condominiums and Deerwood Estates, and Forest Hill Highlands. Our Franksville shop is 9 minutes and 6.4 miles from Franklin, which keeps our crews close to every part of the city.
We provide residential decking in Franklin from design and 3D modeling through permitting, construction, and final inspection. Deck styles include platform, raised, multi-level, freestanding, rooftop, pool, curved, cantilevered, screened, covered, and privacy screen decks.
Skirting options include lattice, wood panels, horizontal/vertical boards, stone or brick, faux stone, vinyl, and composite. We also handle inspections, resurfacing, additions, remodeling, and structural repairs.
We work with pressure-treated lumber, cedar, redwood, and exotic hardwoods like Ipe and Tigerwood. Composite and PVC options include Trex, Fiberon, TimberTech, Deckorators, MoistureShield, and Eva-Last. Framing systems use wood, steel, aluminum, and helical piers.
We install drainage, waterproof ceilings, lighting, storage, ventilation, insulation, and enclosed underdeck spaces to create usable dry areas under elevated decks—especially valuable in Wisconsin’s wet, freeze-thaw climate.
We install wood, composite, glass, vinyl, aluminum, steel, cable, and wrought iron railings from brands like Trex, TimberTech, Deckorators, Viewrail, and Westbury.
We design and install low-voltage, weather-rated lighting including step, post, and landscape integration using brands like In-Lite, Trex, and TimberTech, built for Wisconsin freeze-thaw conditions.
Custom pergolas in wood, PVC, fiberglass, composite, and metal, including attached, freestanding, gable, arched, and custom designs for shade and seasonal use.
We build covered porches, screened-in porches, three-season rooms, and sunrooms using wood, concrete, stone, composite, and PVC materials suited for Milwaukee County’s seasonal climate.
We install patios, walkways, driveways, pool decks, fire pit areas, and outdoor kitchens using concrete, brick, and natural stone pavers with proper base preparation for clay soils and freeze-thaw durability.
We create complete outdoor spaces including kitchens, fire features, seating, bars, hot tubs, privacy screens, and custom entertainment areas designed for year-round use in Franklin.
Deck permits in Franklin are issued by the City of Franklin Inspection Services Department at 9229 W. Loomis Road. Permit applications are reviewed in the order received, and homeowners should generally allow about 10 business days, with most standard residential deck permits approved in roughly two weeks.
Several Franklin-specific requirements affect deck construction. Contractors pulling permits for attached decks on one- and two-family homes must hold valid Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier certifications. The city accepts prescriptive construction methods only under SPS 321.225, SPS 320-325 Appendix B, or the DCA6 Residential Wood Deck Guide; projects outside those standards require engineered plans. Although Franklin conducts plan review locally, it still enforces the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code.
Setback requirements depend on zoning. Uncovered decks no more than 3 feet above or below grade may extend up to 10 feet into a required yard setback but must remain at least 5 feet from property lines. Elevated and attached decks are treated as part of the primary structure and must meet full zoning setbacks. In the common R-SR district, minimum setbacks are 30 feet front, 20 feet street side, 10 feet interior side, and 30 feet rear. We verify zoning and setback requirements before finalizing any design.
Franklin’s soil conditions play a major role in deck construction. Much of Milwaukee County consists of dense, slow-draining clay and silty clay loam soils that expand when wet and shrink when dry. This movement can affect shallow footings, so larger concrete footings are often used to distribute loads more effectively. Wisconsin’s deck code requires footings with a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psi, sized according to structural loads and site conditions, and we size every footing to the specific lot.
Footing depth is equally important. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 321.16 requires footings to extend below the frost line or at least 48 inches below grade, whichever is deeper, and Franklin enforces this standard. Winter excavation and concrete placement can be challenging due to frozen ground, while wet spring clay increases the risk of excavation collapse, influencing project scheduling.
Franklin’s climate also affects long-term deck performance. The Milwaukee area averages 48.7 inches of snowfall annually, with severe freeze-thaw cycles caused by winter lows around 17°F and summer highs near 82°F. Located about 8 miles from Lake Michigan, Franklin also experiences extended cold periods and elevated humidity. These conditions place added stress on framing, fasteners, and exposed wood, making composite or PVC decking and properly detailed framing popular choices for durability.
Several Franklin neighborhoods operate under active homeowners associations, including Crooked Creek, Hidden Lakes and Tumblecreek Owners Association, the Woodlands of Franklin, Whitstone Village, Woodlake Condominiums and Deerwood Estates, and Forest Hill Highlands. Crooked Creek publishes architectural standards through its HOA, and newer planned developments similarly maintain design controls on railing styles, stain colors, materials, and deck height. The Wisconsin DFI maintains the authoritative searchable database of registered HOAs under 2021 Wisconsin Act 199 at apps.dfi.wi.gov, and CC&Rs for any Franklin HOA are recorded with the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds.
As a general baseline across Wisconsin HOAs, Architectural Review Committee approval for a residential deck typically takes 30 to 45 days from a complete submittal, with most associations contractually allowed up to 60 days under their bylaws. Smaller HOAs with active boards often turn approvals around in two to three weeks, while larger master-planned communities with formal monthly ARC meetings run closer to four to six weeks. We prepare the drawings and material specifications each association needs so the approval and permit processes can run in parallel.
We build decks, pergolas, porches, patios, and outdoor living spaces throughout Franklin. Our Franksville office at 12000 W 6 Mile Road is 9 minutes and 6.4 miles from Franklin, keeping our crews on site quickly across every part of the city and the surrounding Milwaukee County market.
We start with a free design estimate, then move through design consultation and 3D deck modeling so you can see the finished layout before work begins. We guide material selection across our wood, composite, and PVC decking, railing, and lighting lines, confirm HOA submittal requirements, and handle permit acquisition with the City of Franklin Inspection Services Department. Our crew manages foundation installation, framing, decking, railing, lighting, and any porch, pergola, paver, or outdoor living scope. A final walkthrough and free annual inspection schedule close each project.
Excel Custom Decks is a family-owned business founded in 2000, with over 25 years of deck-building experience throughout Southeast Wisconsin. The company is NADRA Certified and a TrexPro Platinum installer, and backs every project with the industry’s best Lifetime Labor Warranty. Excel Custom Decks is a member of NADRA, the Better Business Bureau, NARI, and the Metropolitan Builders Association. We install decking from Trex, Fiberon, TimberTech by Azek, Deckorators, MoistureShield, Quality Edge, and Eva-last Eclipse, and we serve as an authorized Blackstone Griddle dealer. Financing is available for qualifying projects.
Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 321.16 requires footings to be placed below the frost penetration level or at least 48 inches below adjacent grade, whichever is deeper. Franklin enforces this statewide minimum. Clay soils and the freeze-thaw cycle also mean we commonly use wider-diameter footings and helical piers where site conditions require them.
The City of Franklin Inspection Services Department at 9229 W. Loomis Road issues all residential deck permits. Processing takes a minimum of 10 business days. Contractors must hold valid Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor credentials from the DSPS to pull a permit for an attached deck on a one- or two-family dwelling.
Yes. The Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor credential requirement stops out-of-state crews from pulling permits. Franklin also only accepts deck construction under two specific prescriptive methods, SPS 321.225 and Appendix B, or the DCA6 guide, and anything outside those requires engineered drawings.
We install wood decks in pressure-treated wood, cedar, redwood, and exotic hardwoods, and composite and PVC decks using Trex, Fiberon, TimberTech by Azek, Deckorators, MoistureShield, Quality Edge, and Eva-last Eclipse.
Yes. We prepare ARC submittals for Franklin’s HOA communities, including Crooked Creek, Hidden Lakes, and the Woodlands of Franklin, covering dimensions, materials, color selections, and site plans in the format each association requires.
Your first step is a free design estimate. Call (414) 333-1888 or visit 12000 W 6 Mile Rd, Franksville, WI 53126 to talk with our team about your deck, pergola, porch, patio, or outdoor living project. Financing is available for qualifying projects, and every build is backed by our Lifetime Labor.
Our Franksville office is 9 minutes and 6.4 miles from Franklin, serving residential deck and outdoor living projects across Milwaukee County and Southeast Wisconsin.
