One of the most common questions homeowners ask when planning their outdoor space is whether to build the deck first or finish the landscaping first. At Cascade Fence and Deck, we’ve worked on hundreds of projects that combine both, and based on experience, we typically recommend building the deck first.
1. Easier Structural Work
Deck construction often requires digging for posts and footings. This process is far simpler when the yard is still open and not yet landscaped. Installing a deck after sod, mulch, or patios are in place can mean tearing up work you’ve already paid for. Starting with the deck avoids that frustration and protects your landscaping investment.
2. Seamless Integration
We’ve found that building the deck first helps establish the correct finished height for your outdoor space. Once the deck is complete, you can design steps, patios, and plant beds that transition perfectly to it. Projects end up looking intentional and also functions smoothly.
3. Cleaner Results
Even with professional cleanup, deck construction produces sawdust and shavings, especially when cutting composite decking boards. One of our primary focuses at Cascade is to clean the job site daily, but we’ve found debris can still end up where you don’t want it. Doing the deck before laying fresh mulch or planting beds keeps your new landscaping looking pristine.
What Others Say
We recently went online and scouted through some forums discussing this issue Most homeowners prefer to do patios and decks first to avoid heavy foot traffic from construction crews. Others, also regret focusing on their lawn first after seeing their new turf or garden beds damaged by equipment and materials.
Ultimately, both approaches have trade-offs, but from a builder’s standpoint, deck first usually leads to a smoother process and a cleaner finish.