Deck Builders in Bakersfield, CA
Most of Bakersfield is flat enough that a deck is a choice rather than a necessity. Where it is a choice, the deciding factor in this climate is how hot the surface gets.
Raised timber deckDecking material is the decision people agonise over, and here it is the one that actually matters.
Decking under a shade structureA dark composite board in full sun in the southern San Joaquin Valley gets hot enough to be unpleasant barefoot. With an average July high of 98.3 degrees and 3,320.8 hours of sun a year, that is not a marginal effect.
Shade changes the calculation completely. A deck under a cover can be any material; an unshaded south or west deck should be light in colour whatever it is made of.
On flat ground a concrete patio is usually better value. A deck earns its cost where the ground falls away, which in Kern County mostly means the foothill and mountain communities rather than the valley floor.
Three things worth knowing first
Surface temperature
The material question that matters most in this specific climate.
Shade first
Under a cover, material choice stops being a comfort decision.
Flat ground
On the valley floor a slab is usually the better buy.
Permit fees are set by the City of Bakersfield or Kern County depending on the address, and are not published as figures on this site because no current schedule could be verified.
Check what applies to your address
Jurisdiction, the openness threshold and the energy code decide more here than the finish does.
Decks in Bakersfield
Does composite decking get too hot in Bakersfield?
Dark boards in full sun do. With an average July high of 98.3 degrees, colour and shade matter more here than in most markets. Lighter boards and a cover both help.
Deck or concrete patio?
On flat valley ground, a slab is usually better value. A deck earns its cost where the ground falls away, which is mostly the mountain communities.
Does a deck need a permit?
Decks over a certain height and any deck attached to the house generally do. Check with the Building Division on (661) 326-3720, or Kern County on (661) 862-8650 if you are outside the city.
What about the mountain communities?
Different build entirely. Above 3,500 feet Kern County applies a ground snow load, so a deck and any cover over it are designed for load rather than just for sun.
What does a deck cost?
Planning ranges run about $35 to $75 per square foot installed, with material and elevation moving it most.
Other outdoor structures
Patio Enclosures & Sunrooms
Enclose a patio far enough and it legally becomes a room, with everything that follows.
$65 to $130 per sq ft →02Outdoor Kitchens
Gas, water and power are the budget. The cabinetry is what people look at.
$200 to $700 per linear ft of counter run →03Concrete Patios
Most patio-slab advice online is written for expansive clay. Bakersfield largely does not have it.
$12 to $24 per sq ft →04Sunshades & Solar Screens
Interior blinds manage glare. They do very little about heat.
$12 to $28 per sq ft of opening →