Deck & Patio Builders in St. Louis: Compare Options & Costs for 2026

Should you add a deck, a patio, or both? If you're a St. Louis homeowner staring at your backyard trying to figure out the best move, the answer depends on your lot, your budget, and how you actually plan to use the space. A raised deck off the back of a two-story in Soulard solves a completely different problem than a ground-level patio behind a ranch in Kirkwood.

This guide breaks down the real costs, material trade-offs, and permit requirements for deck and patio projects in the St. Louis metro — plus how to find a contractor who can handle both.

For a broader look at deck pricing across different materials and regions, see our complete deck cost guide. Timing your build right can also save thousands — check our guide on the best time to build a deck.

Deck vs Patio: Which Is Right for Your St. Louis Home?

The choice isn't just aesthetic. Your home's foundation height, yard grade, and drainage all push you toward one option or the other.

Choose a deck when:

• Your home sits above grade and you need a level transition from indoors to outdoors
• Your yard slopes significantly — common in neighborhoods like The Hill, Tower Grove, and parts of South City
• You want the space elevated for views or to clear a walkout basement
• You need airflow underneath to manage moisture

Choose a patio when:

• Your yard is relatively flat and your back door is close to ground level
• You want a low-maintenance surface for heavy furniture, grills, or a fire pit
• You're working with a tighter budget — patios generally cost less per square foot
• You prefer a permanent, solid surface that won't shift or bounce

St. Louis-specific factor: Our freeze-thaw cycles are brutal. Temperatures can swing 40°F in a single day during late winter. That repeated freezing and thawing wreaks havoc on both decks and patios — but in different ways. Deck footings need to reach below the 36- to 60-inch frost line to prevent heaving. Patio pavers can shift and crack if the base layer isn't properly compacted and graded for drainage.

Cost Comparison: Deck vs Patio in St. Louis

Here's what St. Louis homeowners are actually paying in 2026 for installed projects:

Deck Costs (Installed, Per Square Foot)

Patio Costs (Installed, Per Square Foot)

For a 320 sq ft space (a common 16×20 layout), that means:

• Pressure-treated deck: $8,000–$14,400
• Composite deck: $14,400–$24,000
• Stamped concrete patio: $3,840–$8,000
• Paver patio: $4,800–$9,600

The gap is significant. A basic patio can cost half or less compared to even the most affordable deck option. But cost alone shouldn't drive the decision — a patio won't work if your back door is five feet off the ground.

For a deeper dive into how deck pricing scales by size, check out our guide to 16×20 deck costs for detailed breakdowns.

Combined Deck & Patio Designs

Here's what experienced St. Louis builders are doing more and more: combining both. A raised composite deck steps down to a paver patio at grade level. You get the best of both worlds.

Popular Combinations in St. Louis

• Deck + fire pit patio: A 12×16 deck for dining transitions via built-in steps to a 12×12 paver circle with a fire pit. Total project cost: $15,000–$30,000 depending on materials.
• Multi-level deck with patio landing: Works especially well on sloped lots in neighborhoods like Benton Park and Webster Groves. The deck handles the grade change, and the patio provides a flat entertaining surface below.
• Deck with concrete patio surround: Common for homes with above-ground pools. The deck provides elevated access while the patio handles the wet traffic zone around the pool.

Combining deck and patio gives you distinct zones — cooking, lounging, gathering around a fire — without making the deck itself massive and expensive. If you're considering a pool area specifically, our pool deck materials guide covers what holds up best around water.

Materials for Each: What Works in St. Louis Winters

St. Louis sits right in the crosshairs of Midwest weather. Snow load, ice, freeze-thaw cycles, and summer humidity all attack outdoor surfaces. Material choice matters here more than in milder climates.

Best Deck Materials for St. Louis

Composite and PVC decking hold up best in this climate. They won't absorb moisture, so the freeze-thaw cycle doesn't crack or warp them. Brands like Trex, TimberTech, and Azek are popular with local builders for good reason.

Pressure-treated wood is the budget option, but in St. Louis it demands annual sealing to survive. Moisture gets into the grain, freezes, expands, and splits the boards. Road salt tracked onto the deck accelerates the damage. If you go this route, plan on re-staining every single year — not every two or three.

Cedar looks beautiful but needs the same level of maintenance as pressure-treated in our climate. The natural oils provide some rot resistance, but they're no match for repeated freezing without a quality sealer.

Ipe is nearly bulletproof against weather, but the price tag reflects it. At $60–$100/sq ft installed, it's a premium choice best suited for smaller, high-visibility deck areas.

Use PaperPlan to visualize different decking materials on your own home before committing — it's much easier to compare composite vs. wood finishes when you can see them in context.

For a head-to-head comparison of materials that handle freeze-thaw specifically, see our guide to the best decking materials for freeze-thaw climates.

Best Patio Materials for St. Louis

Concrete pavers are the top pick for St. Louis patios. They're individually replaceable if one cracks from frost heave, and a properly laid base (minimum 6 inches of compacted gravel) handles the freeze-thaw movement well.

Poured concrete works but will eventually crack. Control joints help direct where cracks form, but they will form. Budget for sealing every 2–3 years.

Stamped concrete gives you the look of stone or brick at a lower cost, but repairs are tricky — matching the pattern and color after a freeze crack is nearly impossible.

Natural flagstone set in a compacted gravel base (not mortared onto concrete) handles St. Louis winters well because the individual stones can shift slightly without breaking.

For more detail on what holds up in climates like ours, our patio material guide is worth a read.

Finding a Contractor Who Does Both

Many St. Louis contractors specialize in either decks or hardscaping — not both. If you want a combined project, you need someone with experience in both framing/carpentry and masonry/paver installation. Hiring two separate contractors for one integrated design creates coordination headaches and finger-pointing when something doesn't line up.

What to Look For

• Portfolio with combined projects. Ask to see finished deck-and-patio builds, not just one or the other.
• Licensed and insured in the City of St. Louis or St. Louis County (these are separate jurisdictions with different requirements — make sure your contractor is legal where your property actually sits).
• Frost line knowledge. Any contractor who quotes deck footings at less than 36 inches deep doesn't understand St. Louis soil conditions. Walk away.
• Detailed written scope. The contract should specify footing depth, base material thickness for patios, exact decking brand and color, and who pulls the permits.

Timing Matters

The best building months in St. Louis run May through October. That's a short window, and good contractors book up fast. If you want a summer build, start getting quotes in February and book by March. Waiting until April or May often pushes your project into late summer or fall.

Get at least three quotes. Prices for the same project can vary 20–40% between contractors — not because one is ripping you off, but because they use different materials, subcontractors, and approaches to the base work.

Permits: Deck vs Patio Requirements in St. Louis

Permit requirements differ between decks and patios, and between the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County — a distinction that catches many homeowners off guard.

Deck Permits

In St. Louis, deck permits are typically required for structures over 200 sq ft or more than 30 inches above grade. Most backyard decks hit at least one of those thresholds.

You'll need to submit:

• A site plan showing the deck's location relative to property lines and the house
• Construction drawings with footing details, beam sizes, and joist spacing
• Proof that footings extend below the frost line (36–60 inches depending on your specific location)

Contact St. Louis's Building/Development Services department directly for current fee schedules and turnaround times. Permit review typically takes 2–4 weeks, so factor that into your timeline.

Patio Permits

Ground-level patios — pavers, poured concrete, flagstone — generally don't require a building permit in St. Louis. However, there are exceptions:

• Patios with retaining walls over 4 feet may trigger a permit
• Covered patios or pergolas attached to the house typically need permits
• Projects that significantly alter drainage patterns may require review
• Setback requirements still apply — you can't pave right up to the property line

If you're curious about what happens when you skip the permit process, our article on risks of building without a permit covers the potential consequences — they're similar across North America.

The City vs. County Distinction

The City of St. Louis is an independent city — it's not part of St. Louis County. If you live in Creve Coeur, Clayton, or Ballwin, you're dealing with county regulations (and possibly your municipality's additional requirements). If you live in the city itself — Soulard, The Hill, Benton Park — you deal with the city's building department. Don't assume one set of rules applies everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a deck and patio combo cost in St. Louis?

A combined deck-and-patio project in St. Louis typically runs $15,000–$35,000 for a mid-range build. That usually includes a 200–300 sq ft composite deck stepping down to a 150–200 sq ft paver patio. Costs vary widely based on materials, site prep complexity, and whether your lot needs grading or retaining walls. Budget projects using pressure-treated wood and basic concrete can come in under $12,000, while premium builds with Trex or Ipe decking and natural stone patios can exceed $50,000.

Do I need a permit for a patio in St. Louis?

Usually no — a standard ground-level patio made of pavers, poured concrete, or flagstone does not require a building permit in St. Louis. However, if your patio includes a roof structure, attached pergola, or retaining walls over 4 feet, you'll likely need one. If you're in St. Louis County rather than the city itself, check with your specific municipality since some have additional rules. When in doubt, a quick call to the building department saves major headaches later.

What's the best deck material for St. Louis weather?

Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech, Azek) is the best all-around choice for St. Louis. It handles freeze-thaw cycles, humidity, and snow without the annual sealing that wood demands. Pressure-treated wood works on a budget but needs yearly maintenance — skipping even one year in this climate leads to visible damage. For a more detailed comparison, see our low-maintenance decking guide.

When should I contact contractors for a summer build?

February. The St. Louis building season runs May through October, and reputable contractors start filling their schedules by early spring. If you wait until May to start shopping for quotes, you may not get on the calendar until August or September. Get 3+ quotes in February, sign a contract by March, and allow 2–4 weeks for permit processing before your target start date.

Is it cheaper to build a deck or a patio in St. Louis?

Patios are significantly cheaper. A basic paver patio runs $15–$30/sq ft installed, while even the most affordable deck option (pressure-treated wood) starts at $25–$45/sq ft. For a 300 sq ft space, that's roughly $4,500–$9,000 for a patio vs. $7,500–$13,500 for a basic deck. But the comparison only works if both options suit your home — if you need an elevated outdoor space, a patio isn't a substitute.