Cumaru Deck Build with TimberTech Railings in Chatham MA

This one came out exactly how a deck should - sharp, solid, and ready to get used. We built this for a Chatham homeowner who wanted real outdoor living space, not just a platform off the back door. The goal was a deck that could handle Cape Cod weather without looking like it was fighting against it.

For the decking surface, we went with Cumaru. It's a dense, naturally durable hardwood that holds up exceptionally well in coastal climates. We laid it with hidden fasteners so the surface stays completely clean - no exposed screws, no snag points, just seamless boards from end to end. The color and grain of Cumaru are hard to beat, and it pairs really well with the cedar shingles on this house.

The railing system is Azek TimberTech - white posts and trim with black aluminum balusters. Clean, classic, and basically maintenance-free. We also added a drink rail along the top, which is one of those small details that makes a big difference when you're actually using the space. The stair sections follow the same railing profile, so everything ties together from top to bottom. Under the deck, we framed out the space with pressure-treated lattice panels, giving the substructure a finished look and some useful covered storage.

Details matter on a build like this. The post bases, the gate hardware, the way the stringer trim lines up on the stair sections - none of that happens by accident. We spend time on those things because they're what separates a deck that looks great in photos from one that holds up and looks great five years from now. That's the kind of exterior renovation work we take seriously on every job.

Chatham is a place where people actually live on their decks all summer. This homeowner is going to get a lot of good use out of this one.