Project Gallery
Before & After — Decks by DAK
37 years of craftsmanship in one scroll. Drag the sliders to see real Charlottesville-area transformations.
Every deck below is a real DAK project — built on the same footprint as the original, or rebuilt entirely with new framing, new boards, and new rails. The slider on each image lets you drag between the “before” we walked into and the “after” we delivered.
We do our best not to overwhelm homeowners during material selection. Being deck builders for 37 years, we've found the materials, building practices, carpenters, and manufacturers that hold up to Central Virginia's weather — and we field-test every product before we recommend it.
Watch the Transformation
Before. After. In Motion.
Short transformation reels from recent DAK projects across the area.
Nucci — Wood deck transformed into a Trex outdoor living space.
Grossman — Full deck and railing replacement in Central Virginia.
Wengrovitz — Aged structure rebuilt as a composite deck and rail system.
Wood — Multi-level deck transformation by Decks by DAK.
Drag to Compare
Real DAK Project Transformations
- BeforeAfter
22' × 21' — Trex Island Mist with Westbury Tuscany Aluminum Rails
A 22' × 21' deck transformation that went from a wooden, high-maintenance deck to a low-maintenance, long-lasting Trex Island Mist deck with Westbury Tuscany aluminum rails. Backed by a 50-year fade-and-stain warranty on the boards and a limited lifetime warranty on the rails.
- BeforeAfter
Chainer Project — Full Replacement on the Same Footprint
Same footprint, completely different deck. Aged wood out, modern composite in. Picture-frame border, blackout railing, and a fresh stair stringer set engineered to current code.
- BeforeAfter
Cheatwood Project — Wood-to-Composite Resurface
An older wood deck reframed and resurfaced in composite. New posts, new ledger flashing, new stair geometry — and a clean rail line that matches the home's window trim.
- BeforeAfter
Barry Project — Multi-Level Composite Build
A weathered single-level wood deck rebuilt as a multi-level composite layout, with stair landings repositioned to match how the family actually moved between the kitchen door, the grill, and the yard.
- BeforeAfter
Detwiler Project — Pavilion-Adjacent Deck Refresh
A tired deck adjacent to a covered pavilion brought up to spec with composite boards, updated framing, and a railing system that visually ties into the existing roof structure instead of fighting it.
- BeforeAfter
Engle Project — 2,000+ Sq Ft Trex Tiki Torch Build
When your backyard overlooks a space like this, you go big. Over 2,000 square feet of Trex Tiki Torch decking and Trex Signature railing — a grill deck section, a screen porch, and an open lounging deck all integrated as one continuous build.
- BeforeAfter
Merlene Project — Composite Resurface with Updated Stairs
Aging boards and rails replaced with low-maintenance composite. Stair stringers rebuilt to spec, with new lighting integrated into the railing posts.
- BeforeAfter
Kean Project — Full Tear-Out and Composite Rebuild
Old structure pulled to the studs, new framing in #1 kiln-dried pressure-treated lumber, new composite top, new aluminum rails. The kind of build where the only thing that survives the project is the foundation footprint.
- BeforeAfter
Hawxhurst Project — Composite Upgrade with Privacy Railing
Solid-panel privacy railing replaces the old open-baluster system, creating a more usable seating zone. Composite boards laid in a picture-frame pattern that matches the home's facade lines.
- BeforeAfter
Trump Project — Color-Matched Composite Build
Composite boards selected to complement the home's siding and trim. Modern aluminum rail system in a black finish for a clean, contemporary read.
- BeforeAfter
Potter Project — Composite Deck and Rail Refresh
Replacement of an aging wood structure with a composite deck and modern rail system. Code-compliant stair widths and updated post-base hardware.
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