Building decks in Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is narrow lots, three-story houses and decks that mostly sit above ground level. Roof decks, second-story decks and balconies with an ocean view worth the engineering.

The salt environment is the first constraint. Stainless hardware throughout, and materials chosen for moisture tolerance rather than price. Ipe and Kayu Batu hold up here. PVC does too, and it doesn't absorb water at all. Wood-content composite is the weakest option this close to the beach.

The second constraint is the structure underneath. A deck at the third floor is a structural element, not a surface. It needs framing designed for it, plus a proper waterproofing assembly where it sits over living space. We build the whole assembly rather than laying boards over somebody else's substrate.

Manhattan Beach has its own building department with its own submittal requirements, and the city sits inside the Coastal Zone, so a coastal development permit may apply on top of the building permit. Height limits are tight and enforced, which matters for anything adding a level.

Cable railing does well here for the obvious reason. The view is the point, and stainless cable holds it without blocking it. We fabricate ours, so it's built to the deck rather than ordered to approximate it.

Call (818) 345-2866.