Wood Deck Installation in Fort Wayne, IN

Family-owned since 1970. Cedar, pressure-treated, and redwood decks built for Indiana’s freeze-thaw winters.

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Commercial Aluminum Fence Installation | Fort Wayne, IN
Multi-level Decks

A wood deck is where the actual living happens — morning coffee, summer cookouts, evenings that run later than planned. Gleave Construction has built wood decks across Fort Wayne since 1970, using cedar, pressure-treated pine, and redwood sourced from real lumber suppliers, not big-box stock. Every deck is framed and footed for Allen County’s freeze-thaw cycles, with foremen who’ve handled that soil and that weather for 10+ years.

Not sure which wood is the right fit — or whether composite makes more sense for your household? Read the full composite vs. wood decking breakdown for Fort Wayne’s climate. Looking for the full range of deck styles and layouts? Visit our custom decks page.

Since 1970, Gleave Construction has served local families with premium materials sourced from reputable suppliers, never big box stores. With foremen with over 10 years’ experience, expect a skilled team to provide high-quality work, honestly.

Wood Deck Installation Process

Gleave Construction handles the paperwork and the fieldwork, so nothing stalls your timeline. Most custom wood decks take 1–2 weeks to complete,
depending on size, complexity, and weather.

Site Preparation & Permits

Every new deck in Allen County requires an Improvement Location Permit before work starts. We submit the application, call Indiana 811 for utility marking, and pour footings to 42–48 inches — deeper than the 36-inch frost line set by Indiana Building Code (675 IAC 14-4) — for a stable base through freeze-thaw seasons.

Framing & Construction

Deck boards, custom railings, and stairs go in on precisely spaced joists, with built-in benches, lighting, or pergola tie-ins added where the design calls for them.

Sanding, Sealing & Final Walkthrough

The final phase includes sanding and sealing or staining the deck, a hardware and safety check, and a full walkthrough with the homeowner before the crew leaves.

Wood Species Compared

Gleave Construction offers premium treated lumber with a 25-year warranty and cedar decking with a 10-year warranty, using only professional-grade products that meet high standards for quality and longevity for a strong return on investment. Material selection is important for the area’s climate:

Deck Installation gleave construction

Cedar Decking for Fort Wayne Homes

Western Red Cedar is a premium choice for homeowners who want natural grain character and don’t mind a bit more upkeep than treated lumber. It carries natural resistance to insects and decay, handles Fort Wayne’s humidity well, and develops a soft silver-gray patina over time if left unstained. Gleave cedar decks include a 10-year material warranty. Cedar holds stain better than pine and is a common upgrade choice in older neighborhoods like West Central and Forest Park, where homeowners want a deck that fits the character of the house.

Wood deck installation gleave construction

Treated Lumber Decking

Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable wood decking option and the one most Fort Wayne homeowners start with. It’s treated to resist rot and insect damage and carries a 25-year material warranty from Gleave. It performs well through Indiana winters when properly maintained, though untreated surfaces will gray and can cup or split over time without regular staining.

Both options are durable enough to withstand the freeze-thaw cycles, wet spring seasons, and poor winters shared in Northeast Indiana.

Cedar vs. Treated Lumber vs. Composite: A Quick Comparison

Feature Pressure-Treated Pine Western Red Cedar Composite
Upfront Cost Lowest Mid-range Highest
Maintenance Stain/seal every 2–3 years Stain/seal every 2–3 years Annual cleaning only
Lifespan (with proper care) 15–20 years 20–25 years 25–30+ years
Material Warranty (Gleave) 25 years 10 years 25 years to lifetime (varies by brand)
Best For Budget-conscious builds Natural grain and character over time Low-maintenance ownership

Numbers reflect typical performance in Fort Wayne’s climate with consistent maintenance; see the full comparison for cost-over-25-years detail, or our composite deck installation page if low maintenance is the priority.

Deck Installation gleave construction

Deck Size & Design Options

Every deck is priced around size, materials, design complexity, and special features. Popular local configurations include:
  • Intimate Spaces: 10×12 to 12×16 breakfast decks suited to morning coffee and small gatherings near a kitchen entry
  • Entertainment Decks: 16×20 to 20×30 spaces built for barbecues, parties, and family activities, sometimes tied into a concrete landing
  • Multi-Level Designs: custom configurations for sloped yards, creating distinct outdoor zones — including layouts that step down toward a basement walkout
Fort Wayne lot type plays a real role in what works: golf-course-adjacent lots in Sycamore Hills and Pine Valley tend to favor larger entertainment decks with unobstructed sightlines, while lakeside properties near Woodland Lake often call for lighter board colors and lower-glare railing finishes.
We provide detailed, transparent quotes upfront, including site evaluation, material recommendations, and design consultation — plus flexible financing options.

Wood Deck Maintenance &
Care Guide

Every wood deck ships with a maintenance guide specific to its material during the final walkthrough. In general:
  • Regular care: weekly sweeping, occasional washing with mild detergent, and keeping drainage areas clear of debris
  • Annual inspection: check railings, stairs, and structural components for loose hardware or boards; this is also the right time to catch frost-heave movement before the season’s first use
  • Periodic treatment: cedar and treated lumber both need staining or sealing roughly every 2–3 years — south- and west-facing boards take the most UV exposure and should be your inspection priority each spring
We’re available for maintenance advice, repairs, or a redecking consultation any time after the initial install.
Multi-level Decks
Ground-level wood deck beside a home with a privacy fence and open backyard space in Fort Wayne, IN.

Why Choose Gleave Construction for Your
Wood Deck

Gleave Construction has built decks and fences across Fort Wayne since 1970. We source cedar, treated lumber, and redwood from professional lumber suppliers — never big-box stock — and every foreman on our crews has 10+ years of experience with Northeast Indiana’s soil and seasonal ground movement. We’re fully licensed and insured, and every installation includes a 1-year labor warranty on top of the material warranty for your chosen wood species.

Get Your Free Deck Estimate

Gleave Construction offers free, no-obligation estimates for wood deck installation in Fort Wayne and nearby communities. Call 260-744-2757 or email Info@gleaveconstruction.com to schedule a consultation.
What Happens Next?
  • Free Consultation: site evaluation and design discussion at the home
  • Detailed Estimate: transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • Project Timeline: a clear schedule that works around your availability
  • Financing Available: qualified homeowners can access flexible financing options

Serving Fort Wayne’s Traditional
Construction Market

Gleave Construction serves the Fort Wayne area and surrounding communities, including:

  • Leo-Cedarville

  • Huntertown

  • New Haven

  • Auburn

  • Warsaw

  • Columbia City

Weekend and evening consultations available.
Contact Gleave Construction:

Don’t wait for another summer to pass. Start your wood deck project today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wood
Deck Installation

 Yes. Gleave Construction manages permits, coordinates inspections, and aligns the deck with current city building codes.


 Most custom decks take about 1–2 weeks, depending on size, features, site conditions, and weather.

 Cedar offers natural beauty and decay resistance; treated lumber offers longevity and value with a 25-year material warranty.

 Cedar decks include a 10-year material warranty, while treated lumber decks include a 25-year material warranty. Additionally, installations are covered by a 1-year labor warranty.

Indiana Building Code (675 IAC 14-4) sets the frost line at 36 inches. Gleave pours footings to 42–48 inches on every deck — past code minimum — to give extra clearance against seasonal ground movement.

Gleave Construction has built both fences and decks across Fort Wayne since 1970 — wood decks aren’t a side offering. Our crews use the same frost-line footing standards and lumber sourcing on decks as we do on fences, and our foremen bring 10+ years of experience with both.

Cedar typically costs more upfront than pressure-treated pine but less than composite, and the gap is smaller than most homeowners expect. The bigger difference is long-term: cedar needs the same staining cadence as treated lumber, so the real trade-off is appearance and character, not maintenance.
See the full cost breakdown for exact ranges.