Deck Builders for South Austin's Mature-Tree Lots
Majestic builds decks across South Austin, Texas, covering 78745, 78748, and 78749 ZIP codes. Cedar refurbishment, composite new builds, pool deck surrounds, and tree-preservation construction in mature Travis County neighborhoods. Fully insured. 1,000+ projects since 2016.
South Austin covers the 78745, 78748, and 78749 ZIP codes in Travis County, and it’s the most architecturally diverse deck-build market we serve. Housing here ranges from 1960s ranch homes in Crestview and Brodie Heights to 2010s infill construction in Sunset Valley-adjacent neighborhoods. We’ve built decks across South Austin since 2016, working with homeowners on cedar refurbishments, new composite installations, and pool deck surrounds across the mature tree canopy that defines the area. Our deck-building team is fully insured and equipped for both refurbishment and new construction.
South Austin’s mature tree canopy is the single biggest design factor we work around. Most lots in 78745 and 78748 have at least one heritage-protected live oak or pecan, and the deck footprint design starts with the protected root zones. We won’t damage protected trees during construction, and we’ll tell you straight up during the site walk if the design you want won’t work around the trees.
The South Austin site walk takes 60 to 90 minutes and includes a tree assessment when heritage trees are present on the lot. Schedule a South Austin site walk to begin.
Neighborhoods and Project Patterns in South Austin
Three South Austin zones account for the majority of our project work, each with a distinct housing stock and design patterns.
The 78745 ZIP (Crestview, Westgate, Cherry Creek) has the oldest housing stock in South Austin. Many homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and the original cedar decks built in the 1980s and 1990s are now well past service life. Cedar deck refurbishment and rebuild work is heavy here. Composite decking is often the right call for full rebuilds because it reduces the long-term maintenance burden the original homeowners didn’t sign up for.
The 78748 ZIP (Onion Creek, Hillside, Vista Ridge) has a mix of housing eras. Some 1970s ranch homes, some 1990s subdivision construction, and infill new builds from the 2010s. The project mix here is split roughly evenly between refurbishment and new construction. Multi-level deck designs are more common in 78748 than in other South Austin ZIPs because the Onion Creek area has more grade-drop lots than the flat-pad neighborhoods farther north.
The 78749 ZIP (Circle C, Beckett Meadows, Maple Run) is the newest South Austin construction. Most homes were built between 1995 and 2015, and the original decks haven’t reached the end of their service life yet. We’re doing more new pool deck installations and outdoor living additions here than refurbishments. Past South Austin pool deck builds cover the typical scope.
Preserving mature trees is critical across all three ZIP codes. Austin’s heritage tree ordinance protects oaks 24 inches in diameter or larger, as well as several other species. We design deck footprints around protected root zones, use deep footings outside drip lines, and coordinate with arborists when the design impacts a heritage tree. Our build process covers tree protection planning in detail.
Cedar decks work especially well in South Austin because most lots have a heavy tree canopy that reduces direct sun exposure. Those shaded conditions extend cedar’s service life beyond what you’d see on a full-sun lot in Buda or Kyle. Many of our South Austin cedar refurbishments use cedar surface boards over the existing structural framing when the framing is sound.
Custom deck design is common in ZIP codes 78748 and 78749, where homeowners build out elaborate outdoor living spaces. Outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pergolas, and integrated lighting often come up. The 78745 work tends toward straightforward refurbishment without feature integration.
City of Austin permits are required for all decks that are more than 30 inches above grade or that have a structural attachment. Our permit partners file the Austin paperwork, so the project doesn’t stall on the city process. Austin’s permit timeline runs 3 to 6 weeks, slower than Hays County because Austin’s review process is more thorough on structural detail and tree preservation. Plan on 6 to 8 weeks total before construction starts when permits are involved.
Most South Austin neighborhoods don’t have HOAs. Circle C in 78749 has an HOA with architectural review; the rest of South Austin is largely HOA-free. The lighter HOA load means South Austin builders often skip the architectural submittal step entirely, compressing the approval window by 2 to 3 weeks compared to comparable Buda or Kyle projects.
Pool decks make up roughly 20 percent of our South Austin volume. Pool installations are most common in ZIP code 78749, and that’s where most of our new pool decks go, where lots are large,r and the construction era supports them. Composite pool deck surrounds with slip-resistant texture handle chlorine and Austin sun exposure better than cedar or wood at pool edges.
South Austin site walks schedule within 5 to 10 days of inquiry. Written quote arrives within 5 business days of the site walk. You don’t get pressured to sign at the South Austin site walk. Construction timelines run 3 to 8 weeks for typical residential builds, and we’ll tell you at the site walk where yours falls, longer for projects with extensive tree protection coordination or pool deck integration.
We also serve adjacent markets, including Manchaca to the south and Buda further south in Hays County.
South Austin projects sometimes overlap into Kyle when homeowners live near the Travis-Hays county line.
The site walk and quote process works the same whether your project is a 1960s cedar refurbishment or a 2015-built pool deck installation.
Frequently Asked Questions — South Austin Deck Projects
What South Austin ZIP codes do you serve?
We serve 78745, 78748, and 78749. Each has a different housing stock and project patterns. 78745 (Crestview, Westgate, Cherry Creek) is the oldest housing, with extensive refurbishment. 78748 (Onion Creek, Hillside, Vista Ridge) has a mix of eras and project types. 78749 (Circle C, Beckett Meadows, Maple Run) is newer construction with more new pool deck installations and outdoor living additions.
Can you refurbish older South Austin cedar decks?
Yes. Cedar deck refurbishment is heavy in 78745 and parts of 78748, where the original decks are 25 to 40 years old. We conduct a structural assessment during the site walk and recommend refurbishment when the framing is sound, and a full rebuild when it’s not. Many South Austin refurbishments use new cedar surface boards over the existing structural framing. That’s where the savings come from, extending service life by 10 to 15 years at a fraction of the rebuild cost.
How do you handle Austin's heritage tree ordinance during construction?
Austin’s heritage tree ordinance protects oaks 24 inches in diameter or larger, as well as several other species. We design deck footprints around protected root zones, use deep footings outside drip lines, and coordinate with arborists when the design impacts a heritage tree. The tree protection plan is included in the permit submittal. Most South Austin lots have at least one heritage-protected tree, so we treat tree planning as a default step.
What's the Austin permit timeline for deck projects?
City of Austin permits run 3 to 6 weeks for decks above 30 inches in grade or with structural attachment. Austin’s review is more thorough than Hays County’s because the structural detail and tree-preservation reviews take additional time. Plan on 6 to 8 weeks total before construction starts when permits are involved. Our permit partners file the Austin paperwork, so the project doesn’t stall in the city process.
Do most South Austin neighborhoods have HOAs?
No. Most South Austin neighborhoods don’t have HOAs. Circle C in 78749 is the exception with an HOA architectural review. The rest of South Austin is largely HOA-free, which compresses the approval window by 2 to 3 weeks versus comparable Buda or Kyle projects. The lighter HOA load means South Austin builders often skip the architectural submittal step entirely.
Do you build pool deck surrounds in South Austin?
Yes. Pool decks account for roughly 20 percent of our South Austin volume, most common in 78749, where lots are larger, and the construction era supports them. Composite pool deck surrounds with slip-resistant texture handle chlorine and Austin sun exposure better than cedar at pool edges. We also do older pool deck refurbs in 78745 and 78748, where 1980s and 1990s pool surrounds need replacement.
Can a 1960s ranch home support a new deck?
In most cases, yes. The structural integrity question is whether the existing wall framing can support the ledger board attachment and whether the foundation can handle the deck post point loads. We conduct a structural assessment during the site walk for every 1960s and 1970s South Austin home. When the existing framing won’t carry the new load, we use freestanding deck designs that don’t attach to the house, which works on older South Austin lots.