Enhance Your Outdoor Living with Chisel and Vine’s Custom Deck Building for Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Ozaukee County

Premium Decking: TimberTech Advanced PVC

At Chisel + Vine, we specialize in TimberTech advanced PVC decking—one of the highest-performing decking materials available.

Unlike traditional composite or wood decking, TimberTech PVC:

  • Contains no organic material, meaning it won’t absorb moisture
  • Resists mold, mildew, staining, and fading
  • Stays cooler underfoot compared to many composites
  • Maintains its color and finish long-term with minimal maintenance

What truly sets us apart: we have the capability to heat-bend PVC decking.

This allows us to create:

  • Curved deck perimeters
  • Radius stairs
  • Custom inlays and design features

These are details most contractors can’t execute—and they make a project feel completely custom.

Foundation Matters: Helical Piers

We build on helical piers instead of traditional concrete footings whenever possible. Helical piers are steel shafts that are mechanically driven deep into stable soil layers, creating a far more reliable foundation.

Advantages include:

  • No settling like traditional concrete footings,
  • Immediate load-bearing capacity with no cure time delays
  • Greater stability in Wisconsin freeze/thaw cycl
  • Ideal performance for decks, pergolas, and additions where long-term movement is a concern

This approach significantly reduces the risk of shifting, sinking, or structural issues over time.

Framing Lumber: Kiln-Dried After Treatment (KDAT)

We use KDAT lumber for framing whenever possible—a major upgrade over standard green treated lumber. Why KDAT matters:

  • Dried after treatment, so it’s dimensionally stable from day one
  • Less warping, twisting, and shrinking as it acclimates
  • Provides a straighter and cleaner frame that directly impacts the final finish
  • Better for fastening and long-term structural integrity

In contrast, traditional green treated lumber is saturated with moisture when installed, which often leads to movement as it dries—affecting everything from decking lines to railing alignment.

Why This Matters for Your Project

These aren’t just “nice upgrades”—they fundamentally change how your project performs and looks over time.

By combining:

  • Advanced PVC decking with custom bending capabilities
  • Engineered foundation systems like helical piers
  • Stable, high-quality KDAT framing

We’re able to deliver builds that are:

  • More durable
  • More precise in finish
  • Far more resistant to the issues that commonly show up a few years down the line

Communication & Project Visibility

At Chisel + Vine, communication isn’t an afterthought—it’s a core part of how we operate. We want you to feel comfortable and informed every step of the way. Our office and sales team stay in daily communication with our on-site crews, ensuring:

  • Real-time updates on progress
  • Alignment between what was sold and what’s being built
  • Quick resolution of questions or adjustments
  • Almost immediate notification of issues, discoveries, or change orders—with solutions to keep projects moving forward

You’re never left wondering what’s happening with your project.

Skilled Craftsmen, Paid Accordingly

We believe quality work starts with the people doing it. We pay our craftsmen above-average wages to attract and retain individuals who take pride in their work. This translates directly into:

  • Better attention to detail
  • Higher consistency on-site
  • A team that cares about the end result—not just getting the job done

Designed for Living, Not Just Looks

A space can look great and still not function well—we make sure you get both. We focus on the livability of every project:

  • How the space flows day-to-day
  • How it’s used for entertaining, relaxing, or family time
  • Layout decisions that improve usability, not just appearance

The goal is a space that feels as good as it looks.

Backed by Real Warranty Protection

We stand behind our work with a 2-year craftsmanship warranty—our commitment to quality doesn’t end at project completion.

As a certified TimberTech Pro Installer, your project is also supported by TimberTech’s warranty backing, providing an added layer of confidence in both materials and installation.

Collaborative Design Process

We don’t expect you to have everything figured out—that’s where we come in. We work closely with clients through the design phase to:

  • Explore layout and material options
  • Offer solutions that fit the space properly
  • Align the design with how you actually live

Our role is to guide you toward choices that balance function, aesthetics, and budget—so the final result feels intentional and well thought out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both are pressure-treated for rot resistance—but how they’re handled after treatment makes a big difference.

Green treated lumber:

  • Installed wet and heavy (full of moisture and chemicals)
  • As it dries it naturally shrinks, twists, cups, and warps
  • Can take 6–12 months before you can stain or seal it

KDAT (Kiln-Dried After Treatment):

  • Dried in a kiln after treatment, removing up to 80% of excess moisture
  • Far more stable – less warping and movement over time
  • Straighter framing for a better finished product
  • Can be sealed or finished immediately

Why we used KDAT:

Your deck is only as good as the frame underneath it—KDAT gives us a stable structure from day one, which directly impacts how clean, level, and long-lasting your finished deck looks.

Traditional concrete footings:

  • Require digging below the frost line and pouring concrete
  • Need time to cure before building can begin
  • Can be affected by freeze/thaw movement over time

Helical piers:

  • Steel shafts mechanically driven deep into stable soil
  • Provide immediate load-bearing capacity (no waiting)
  • Minimal excavation and site disruption
  • Excellent performance in Wisconsin soil conditions and frost cycles

Diamond piers (precast footing system):

  • Faster than concrete but relies on driven pins and surface-level load distribution
  • Can work well in certain soil conditions
  • Typically not as deep or adaptable as helical systems

We lean toward helical piers because they create a more engineered, consistent foundation with less risk of settling or movement—one of the best ways to ensure your structure stays where it should long-term.

Both are great products—but they are fundamentally different materials.

Composite decking:

  • Made from a blend of wood fibers and plastic
  • Durable, lower maintenance than wood
  • More budget-friendly with a wide range of options
  • Still contains organic material and can retain some moisture over time

Advanced PVC decking:

  • Made from 100% synthetic polymer with no wood content
  • Superior moisture resistance, won’t rot, swell, or absorb water
  • Stays cooler underfoot, and resists staining and fading better than composite
  • Typically longer-lasting and more consistent in appearance

Our recommendation:

Both are solid choices—but we typically guide clients toward Advanced PVC for its long-term performance, especially in climates like Wisconsin where moisture and temperature swings matter.

Wood Decking:

  • Requires regular staining and sealing every 2–5 years
  • Prone to fading, cracking, and splintering over time
  • More hands-on upkeep to maintain its appearance

Composite and PVC Decking:

  • Low maintenance with no staining or sealing required
  • Occasional cleaning with soap and water
  • Resists rot, insects, and weathering far better than wood

Bottom line:

Wood has a lower upfront cost, but synthetic decking significantly reduces ongoing maintenance, time, and long-term cost of ownership.

Start Your Deck Building Project Today!

Ready to bring your outdoor dreams to life? From the first consultation to completion in as little as two weeks, Chisel and Vine is here to create the perfect deck for properties in the Greater Milwaukee area. With transparent processes, quality craftsmanship, and an emphasis on creating functional, beautiful spaces, we make it easy for you to enjoy a custom deck that suits your lifestyle.

Contact us today to get started on transforming your backyard into the outdoor space you’ve always envisioned!