Ferndale has grown fast, and its decks tell the story. Down near the Pioneer District and the Nooksack River you find older homes with cedar decks built decades ago, gray and spongy now, while the newer subdivisions off Thornton Street and Church Road are full of builder-grade decks that were sized to sell the house rather than to host a family. Alpine Exteriors replaces both kinds, and builds new ones that fit how Ferndale families actually live outside.
River Valley Conditions, Deck-Sized Consequences
Ferndale sits on the Nooksack floodplain, and the local combination of damp river-valley air, winter wind coming unbroken across the flats from the bay, and clay-heavy soils shapes how we build. Clay soil moves as it wets and dries, so we pour footings below frost depth and size them generously; a deck that heaves out of level after two winters was a footing problem on day one. Persistent dampness means untreated or poorly ventilated framing rots from the ground up, so we frame with proper clearances, joist tape, and hardware rated for wet service.
The riverside humidity also decides the surface. Cedar stays beautiful here only with committed maintenance; capped composite stays presentable with a hose. We are happy to build either, but we make sure you choose with clear eyes.