Custom Curved Decks
Curved deck construction is a Woodcraft Design & Build specialty. We’re one of the few contractors in Southeast Michigan with the specialized heating and bending capability required to produce true curved deck designs – not just decks with angled corners that approximate curves. For homeowners building around pools, hot tubs, architectural features, or simply seeking a deck that breaks from the standard rectangular shape, curved construction delivers a distinctive result that few competitors can offer.
What Makes Curved Deck Construction Different
True curved deck construction requires bending composite or wood board material to a specific radius. That bending requires specialized heating equipment that heats the decking material to a temperature where it becomes pliable, then forms it around a curved template that holds the shape as the material cools.
Most deck contractors don’t have this equipment or the experience to use it effectively. The result is that “curved” decks built by most contractors are actually faceted decks – a series of straight board sections set at angles to approximate a curve. From close inspection, the difference is obvious. From any distance, the difference is the difference between a finished, intentional curve and a series of angled straight lines.
When Curved Decks Make Sense
Curved decks work particularly well in several specific applications:
Around Pools and Hot Tubs
Round and oval pools naturally invite curved deck construction. A rectangular deck around a circular pool creates visual tension between the structures. A curved deck that follows the pool perimeter reads as intentional design and integrates the deck and pool into a single unified outdoor space.
Softening Modern Architecture
Contemporary home architecture often features strong rectangular lines. A curved deck provides visual contrast and softens what can otherwise feel like an excessively geometric space. The curve becomes a deliberate counterpoint to the home’s lines.
Working Around Existing Features
Mature trees, hardscape features, slope changes, and other site constraints sometimes make rectangular decks awkward or visually forced. A curved deck can flow around these features naturally, treating the constraints as design opportunities rather than problems to work around.
Multi-Level Deck Transitions
Multi-level decks with curved transitions between levels read as more sophisticated than the same multi-level design with rectangular steps. The curve carries the eye through the level change in a way that straight transitions can’t match.
Curved Decks with Trex Composite
We build most curved deck projects with Trex composite decking. The Trex composite material is well-suited to the heating and bending process and retains the curve indefinitely without springing back or developing stress fractures. Our TrexPro Platinum certification covers curved installation, and Trex warranties extend to curved sections at the same coverage levels as straight boards.
Curved Deck Pricing
Curved deck construction typically costs 15% to 25% more than equivalent rectangular construction. The premium reflects the additional labor in the heating and bending process, the more complex framing required to support curved board sections, and the specialized cutting work for railings and trim that follow the curve.
Curved sections within a larger deck project (for example, a curved section around a hot tub on an otherwise rectangular deck) carry a smaller premium – typically 10% to 15% on the curved portion only. Full curved decks where the entire perimeter is curved carry the higher end of the range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tight can the curve be?
We routinely build curves down to about a 4-foot radius. Tighter curves are possible in some cases depending on the specific Trex product line and the specific application. We discuss the practical curve limits during the estimate based on the project design.
Will the curve loosen or change shape over time?
No. Once heated, formed, and cooled, the composite board retains the curve indefinitely. There’s no spring-back or shape drift over the lifespan of the deck.
Can curved decks be combined with cable or glass railings?
Yes. Cable railings work particularly well with curved decks because the cable runs naturally follow the curve. Glass railings are possible but require specialized curved glass panels that add to project cost.
Do curved decks have the same warranty as rectangular decks?
Yes. Trex warranty coverage applies to curved sections at the same coverage levels as straight board installations. Our 18-month workmanship guarantee applies to curved construction the same as any other project.
Service Area
We build custom curved decks throughout Southeast Michigan with dedicated service area expertise in Brighton, Howell, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Northville, Novi, Livonia, Canton, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Farmington, Southfield, Belleville, and surrounding communities.
Woodcraft Design & Build typically responds to quote requests by the next business day.
