Albany Decks designs and builds custom decks, installs fences, and adds pergolas and covered patios for Kensington homeowners. We specialize in custom deck design and build on hillside lots, handle permits through Contra Costa County, and reply within one business day.
Albany Decks designs and builds custom decks, installs fences, and adds pergolas and covered patios for Kensington homeowners. We specialize in custom deck design and build on hillside lots, handle permits through Contra Costa County, and reply within one business day.
Kensington's steep hillside lots and winding streets mean no two properties are the same - a standard deck plan from a catalog will not work here. Our custom deck design and build process starts with a site visit to account for your specific grade, access, views, and home style, so the finished deck fits the property rather than fighting it.
Kensington's marine fog keeps exterior surfaces damp for hours at a time, and north-facing or shaded parts of hillside homes stay wet longer than most homeowners expect. Composite decking resists moisture absorption and doesn't need sanding or sealing - a strong match for a neighborhood where fog and shade are part of daily life.
Homes built in the 1930s and 1940s in Kensington often have original or early-replacement decks where the framing is showing its age. We inspect the ledger connection, post bases, and footings before recommending what actually needs to be done - because on a hillside home, the structural connections matter more than they do on a flat lot.
A pergola on a Kensington hillside property can frame a Bay view, define an outdoor seating area, or add structure to a terraced yard that would otherwise feel undefined. We handle the Contra Costa County permit for each pergola and anchor every structure to hillside-appropriate hardware.
Many Kensington homes have aging wood fences that were installed decades ago and are showing the effects of the hills' wet winters and dry summers. We install cedar and pressure-treated fences that match the character of period homes while holding up to the East Bay's seasonal moisture cycles.
Steep grades in Kensington often make a single-level deck impractical - a multi-level design steps with the terrain instead of fighting it, creating usable outdoor spaces at different elevations without major excavation. This is one of the most common solutions we design for hillside properties in this neighborhood.
Kensington is a hillside community perched above San Francisco Bay in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Most of its homes were built between the 1920s and 1950s - Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revival cottages, and Spanish Colonial Revival houses with wood siding, stucco exteriors, and original wood windows. These are charming, well-built homes, but they require more careful, detail-oriented work than a standard tract home. Matching original materials and finishes, working around original framing, and navigating steep lot access are part of almost every job in this neighborhood. A contractor who hasn't worked on hillside Craftsman homes in the East Bay hills will underestimate what those details cost in time and skill.
The terrain creates real engineering demands as well. Kensington's clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry - the same seasonal movement that causes concrete to crack and retaining walls to lean over time. Deck footings need to go deep enough to reach stable material below the active clay layer, and post connections need to account for hillside loads that flat-lot designs don't carry. The marine fog that rolls in off the Bay - present even in summer - keeps wood surfaces damp far longer than in inland neighborhoods, which accelerates rot in any wood structure that isn't built from the right materials and maintained regularly.
Our crew works in Kensington regularly, and we understand the local conditions that affect deck builder work here. Because Kensington is unincorporated, building permits run through Contra Costa County Building Inspection rather than a city building department - a distinction that catches homeowners off guard when they start asking around. We navigate that process on a regular basis and know what the county requires for hillside deck projects specifically.
Kensington's homes fan out from Colusa Avenue - the town's small main street with a pharmacy and post office - up into the hills toward Tilden Regional Park. The streets get progressively steeper the further up you go, and some properties are only accessible by stairs from the street. We plan material delivery and crew access before every job, so the site conditions don't create delays or cost surprises after work starts.
Kensington sits between Albany to the south and El Cerrito to the north, and we work throughout that corridor. We also serve neighboring Berkeley, which shares many of the same hillside lot conditions and period housing stock as Kensington.
Reach out by phone or through the contact form and we will respond within one business day. We ask a few questions about your lot, your home's style, and what you are hoping to build - so we can schedule enough time for the site visit.
We visit your property to assess the slope, access, existing structure, and any site conditions specific to your hillside lot. You receive a detailed written estimate that accounts for the actual conditions before any commitment is made.
Once you approve the estimate, we submit the permit application to Contra Costa County Building Inspection. We handle the submittal, track the review status, and order materials to align with the approved permit timeline.
Construction on a standard Kensington deck takes one to three weeks after permit approval. We schedule the required county inspections and walk you through the finished deck before closing out the project.
We work on hillside properties throughout Kensington and the surrounding East Bay hills. No commitment required - just a conversation about what you need.
(341) 386-0095Kensington is a small unincorporated community in Contra Costa County, sitting on the East Bay hills just north of Berkeley. It covers less than one square mile and has a population of around 5,000 people, made up almost entirely of owner-occupied single-family homes. Home values here are consistently among the highest in the East Bay, and residents tend to stay for many years - which means homeowners invest in maintaining and improving their properties rather than deferring things. The community is governed by the Kensington Community Services District, which handles fire protection, parks, and street lighting in place of a city hall.
The housing stock is full of character - Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revival cottages, and Spanish Colonial homes from the 1920s through the 1940s line the winding streets that climb toward Tilden Regional Park. The terrain is hilly and uneven, with narrow driveways, retaining walls, and terraced yards that make every property feel distinct. We serve Kensington as part of our broader East Bay service area, which includes neighboring Albany to the south and El Cerrito to the north.
Get a one-of-a-kind deck built precisely to your space and style.
Learn MorePremium Trex decking built to withstand California weather year-round.
Learn MoreAffordable, durable pressure-treated lumber decks built to last.
Learn MoreNaturally beautiful cedar decks with excellent rot resistance.
Learn MoreProtect and refresh your deck with professional staining and sealing.
Learn MoreSlip-resistant pool decks designed for safety and outdoor enjoyment.
Learn MoreDurable, low-maintenance vinyl fencing for privacy and curb appeal.
Learn MoreCustom wood fences that add privacy and character to your property.
Learn MoreEnjoy the outdoors bug-free with a professionally screened enclosure.
Learn MoreExtend outdoor living with covered structures that block sun and rain.
Learn MoreCall us today or use the contact form - we respond within one business day and can schedule your on-site visit right away.
