A second-story or elevated deck in Jacksonville is a raised deck built off a second floor or high above the ground on posts. Installed cost runs about $20-30 per square foot for pressure-treated wood, $28-42 per square foot for composite like Trex or MoistureShield, and $20-30 per square foot for premium AZEK PVC or Ipe hardwood. All framing must meet Florida's 130-150 mph wind code.
- Elevated decks need engineered footings, posts, and railings to pass Florida wind code.
- Composite is the most durable choice for a raised deck you rarely reach to reseal.
- Jacksonville Deck Builders does new builds and full replacements only, not repairs.
A second-story or elevated deck is a raised deck built off your home's upper floor, or lifted high off the ground on posts to clear a slope or flood zone. In Jacksonville, that usually means a deck you step onto from a bedroom or living room, or one that turns an unusable sloped backyard into flat, open living space. Installed cost runs about $20-30 per square foot for pressure-treated wood, $28-42 per square foot for composite like Trex or MoistureShield, and $20-30 per square foot for premium AZEK PVC or Ipe hardwood. Every raised deck we build meets Florida's 130-150 mph wind code.
| Material | Installed cost (per sq ft) | Best for an elevated deck? |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood | $20-30 | Lowest cost, but needs regular resealing up high |
| Composite (Trex, MoistureShield) | $28-42 | Top pick: no sanding or sealing, handles Florida sun and rain |
| AZEK PVC | $20-30 | Cool underfoot, fully moisture-proof, great for coastal homes |
| Ipe hardwood | $20-30 | Premium look, decades of life, competitive price |
| Cedar | Varies by project | Warm natural look, needs upkeep over time |
| Pavers / aluminum | Priced by project | Used on select raised builds |
Jacksonville Deck Builders has built decks across Northeast Florida since 2013. We're a Coastal Outdoor Construction brand, a fully insured Florida-licensed general contractor, and an authorized Trex and MoistureShield contractor with 500+ decks completed and 4.9 stars on 70 Google reviews. Below is a straight-talk guide to elevated decks so you know what to expect before you spend a dollar.
Why Homeowners Choose an Elevated Deck
Raised decks solve problems flat patios can't. Here's what they give you:
- A real view. Get above the fence line and see the marsh, the river, or just more sky.
- Usable space under the deck. The area below can become covered storage, a parking spot, or a shaded sitting area.
- Flat living space on a sloped lot. Many St. Johns and Clay County lots drop off in back. An elevated deck makes that ground useful.
- A door-to-deck flow. Walk straight out from a second-floor room onto your own outdoor space.
- Room to breathe. A raised deck keeps you off wet ground and above bugs.
If you have a pool, a raised deck can look right over it or connect to a lower deck. We build those too. See our pool deck options in Jacksonville for how the two work together.
How Elevated Decks Are Built for Florida Weather
A second-story deck carries more load and catches more wind than a ground-level one. That's why the build matters more, not less. Here's what goes into a raised deck that lasts in Northeast Florida:
- Engineered footings. Deep concrete footings anchor the posts. On tall decks, footing size and depth are set to hold up under wind uplift.
- Solid posts and beams. The higher the deck, the more bracing it needs. We size posts to the height and the load.
- Wind-rated connections. Metal hardware ties every joint together so the frame acts as one unit in a storm. Florida's building code requires this, and it's checked at inspection.
- Proper stairs and landings. A tall deck needs safe, code-height stairs with a firm landing at the bottom.
- Guard railings at the right height. Any deck more than 30 inches off the ground needs a railing that meets code. On a second-story deck, that railing is not optional.
All of this ties back to the Florida Building Code and its 130-150 mph wind requirements for our region. When we pull your permit through Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, or Clay County, the plan shows the inspector exactly how the deck resists wind. That's the part a handyman skips and a licensed contractor doesn't.
Railings Matter More on a Raised Deck
On a low deck, a railing is partly about looks. On a second-story deck, it's the thing keeping people safe. You still get plenty of choices, from cable rail that keeps the view open to aluminum and composite systems that need almost no upkeep. We walk through the full menu in our guide to deck railing options in Jacksonville. For an elevated deck, we usually steer homeowners toward low-maintenance metal or composite railing, because reaching a high rail to sand and repaint every year is a chore nobody wants.
Best Materials for an Elevated Deck
The higher your deck, the harder it is to maintain, so material choice matters even more than usual. Here's the plain-English breakdown:
- Pressure-treated wood is the lowest-cost way to build a raised deck. It works, but it needs cleaning and resealing on a schedule, and doing that 12 feet in the air is no fun.
- Composite (Trex and MoistureShield) is our most popular pick for elevated decks. It resists Florida sun, rain, and rot, and it never needs sanding or sealing. For a deck you rarely reach to maintain, that's the point. See more in our guide to composite decking in Jacksonville.
- AZEK PVC is a full-plastic board that stays cooler underfoot and shrugs off moisture. A strong choice for a coastal home.
- Ipe hardwood is a dense, beautiful tropical wood that holds up for decades. It's a premium look at a competitive price.
- Cedar gives you a warm, natural look, though like all real wood it asks for upkeep over time.
- Pavers and aluminum come up on some raised builds and are priced by the project.
For most second-story decks in Jacksonville, composite is the sweet spot. You pay more up front, but you climb up there to relax, not to re-stain boards.
What an Elevated Deck Costs in Jacksonville
Pricing depends on size, height, material, railing, and stairs. A taller deck needs bigger footings and more framing, so height adds cost. Here are the real installed numbers we quote:
As a rough anchor, a standard 12x12 deck runs about $2,900-$6,000 installed, depending on material and height. Elevated builds land toward the higher end because of the extra structure below. The table below shows per-square-foot ranges by material.
Ready to Plan Your Elevated Deck?
An elevated deck is a bigger structural job than a ground-level one, and it's exactly the kind of build where a licensed, insured contractor earns their keep. We'll come out, look at your lot, talk through height and material, and give you an honest quote. Jacksonville Deck Builders serves Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, and Clay counties, and we build new decks and full replacements, not repairs.
Thinking about a second-story or elevated deck? Call Jacksonville Deck Builders at (904) 944-9253 for a free, no-pressure quote.
With 500+ decks built across Northeast Florida since 2013 and 4.9 stars on 70 Google reviews, we know how to raise a deck that holds up to Florida weather and looks great doing it. Call (904) 944-9253 to get started.