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Decks & Porches · Scituate, MA

Decks & Porches in Scituate, Massachusetts

Compare contractors serving Scituate, Plymouth County — call them directly, or send one request and let qualified pros come to you.

50 contractors serving Scituate — including 1 based in town.

Contractors serving Scituate

Decks & Porches in Scituate — what to know

Rebates & incentives

Decks do not qualify for Mass Save rebates, so Eversource territory does not change what you pay here. What matters most in Scituate is the Conservation Commission. The town's rivers, salt marshes, and coastal bank areas mean that any deck construction within 100 feet of a wetland resource area requires a Notice of Intent filed under the Wetlands Protection Act, and many Scituate waterfront lots fall within that buffer. Projects on or near the coastal bank also require a Coastal Zone Consistency review. Start with a site check before pulling the building permit so you know if Conservation is in the picture.

Permits in Scituate

Scituate Building Department issues permits under 780 CMR for any deck attached to the house or raised above grade. Inspectors check ledger-board attachment and flashing, guardrail height (36 inches minimum for one- and two-family homes), baluster spacing (under 4 inches), and footing depth. Concrete tube footings must reach at least 48 inches below grade to get below Plymouth County's frost line. If Conservation Commission approval is also required, budget 30 to 60 additional days before the building permit is issued.

Typical project cost

Deck projects on the South Shore run roughly $18,000 to $38,000 for a new pressure-treated deck of 300 to 400 square feet. Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech) adds $8,000 to $15,000 over PT pine for the same footprint. Coastal locations push costs higher because salt air accelerates hardware corrosion, so stainless fasteners and hot-dipped galvanized hardware are standard practice. Three-season porch additions in Scituate typically start around $45,000.

About Scituate homes

Scituate sits on the South Shore in Plymouth County, with 19,069 residents and about 8,454 housing units, many built in the late 1950s through 1970s (median age around 67 years). The town has a long coastline along Massachusetts Bay plus the North and South rivers running through its interior, which means a large share of properties sit within 100 feet of wetlands or tidal areas. Lots tend to be larger than in the Boston suburbs, giving most homeowners room for a proper deck or three-season porch.

Common questions — Decks & Porches in Scituate

Do I need Conservation Commission approval for a deck in Scituate?
If your property is within 100 feet of a wetland, river, coastal bank, or tidal area, yes. File a Notice of Intent with the Scituate Conservation Commission before or at the same time as your building permit application. Many Scituate lots near the North River, South River, or the coast fall into this buffer.
What footing depth is required for a deck in Plymouth County?
Footings must extend at least 48 inches below finished grade to reach below the frost line. Most contractors use Sonotube concrete piers of that depth or helical piles, both of which are inspected before the deck frame goes up.
My 1960s Scituate house has an old deck with no permit. What happens at sale?
A home inspector or buyer's attorney will flag the unpermitted deck, which can kill a deal or require an escrow holdback. You can often apply for a retroactive permit if the deck meets current 780 CMR code; if it doesn't (undersized footings, non-code railings), the contractor will need to bring it into compliance during the permitting process.
Is composite decking worth the extra cost in a coastal town like Scituate?
For properties within a few hundred feet of salt water, composite or PVC decking (Azek, TimberTech) is the smart-money call. Salt air, sand, and driven rain shorten the life of pressure-treated pine considerably, and composite boards carry 25-year fade and stain warranties most PT products cannot match.
Can I build a deck over a basement walkout in Scituate?
Yes, and it's one of the more common projects here on older split-levels and raised ranches. The ledger still needs proper flashing and lag-bolt attachment, and any portion of the deck more than 30 inches above grade requires guardrails. The building department will want to see the plans and do a footing inspection.

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