A South Elm Street Deck, Built for Gathering
Wallingford, CT — Deck extension and rebuild
The Story
Martha Contreras's deck on South Elm Street had good bones but nothing worth using. Some of the boards had rotted through, the railings were outdated, and the whole space felt more like an afterthought than a place to spend time. Martha had a vision for it, though — she wanted somewhere to host family gatherings and finally invite people over, but the deck as it stood wasn't it.
We started by tearing out everything that wasn't salvageable: the old wood decking, the railings, and the worn-out boards that had taken on years of Connecticut winters. The framing underneath was still solid in places, so instead of ripping it all out, we reinforced and waterproofed what could stay — no sense demoing good structure. From there we extended the deck's footprint, added new framing and a reinforced concrete base to support it, and moved the stairs to the side of the deck for a better flow into the yard.
For the finish, we went with Trex composite decking — built to handle CT weather without the upkeep or rot risk of the old wood boards — paired with clean white railings that give the whole space a bright, finished look. Two weeks after we started, Martha had a brand new deck ready for furniture.
The Neighborhood
South Elm Street sits about a minute from downtown Wallingford, in one of the town's older residential pockets — the Giles Hall House, built in 1760, still stands on the street.The Giles Hall House, built in 1760, is located on South Elm Street in Wallingford, near the birthplace site of Giles Hall's brother Lyman Hall — a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It's a neighborhood with real history, and projects here call for work that respects that character while still bringing homes into the present.
Before & After
Project Details
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South Elm St, Wallingford, CT
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Deck demolition (partial), structural extension, full re-decking
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Trex composite decking, white composite railing, reinforced framing, concrete footings
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2 weeks
What Martha said:
James built a beautiful deck at my home and I was thrilled with the result. The quality is exceptional. But what I liked most was being able to communicate with them in Spanish — my English isn't very strong, and understanding everything in detail made me feel very comfortable. I recommend this company if you want great work, and they do serve clients in Spanish.
Martha Contreras 5/5 Star Review in South Elm St, Wallingford, CT (Google Review)
Translated from Spanish
Why Elevate Home Improvement?
When you work with Elevate, every project — deck, kitchen, bath, roof, or outdoor space — comes with the same standards Martha's did:
1-year workmanship warranty, backed by a digital warranty binder you can reference any time , not just a verbal promise
Weekly project updates, so you always know exactly where things stand, no chasing us for answers
Licensed and insured — CT HIC #0705908
Bilingual service — our team communicates fluently in Spanish, so every detail of your project is clear from start to finish, in whichever language you're most comfortable in
We've built decks, kitchens, baths, and outdoor spaces for homeowners across Wallingford and greater New Haven County — see more of our work in Wallingford →
Ready for your own transformation?
Whether it's a deck like Martha's or a full outdoor living space, we'd love to hear what you're picturing.