Owner-operated · Homeowner guide · East Cobb
Deck, Screened Porch, Covered Deck or Patio in East CobbEast Cobb · Cobb County
East Cobb: Most East Cobb backyards come with tall trees, a slope and plenty of shade, and those three things decide more about your outdoor space than any catalog photo. Here is how an open deck, a covered deck, a screened porch and a patio each handle a typical wooded lot, so you can pick the one that fits how you actually live outside. Owner-operated, with a free written estimate.
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Homeowner guide · East Cobb
Deck, screened porch, covered deck or patio: which fits my yard?
This page lays out the practical trade-offs among the four options in East Cobb, including drainage, airflow, upkeep and how each one connects to the back door of your house.
- The owner comes to the visit and writes the estimate himself
- Crews with 10+ years of combined experience
- Insured (general liability)
- Rated 5.0 on Google across 31 reviews as of Nov 2026
- Photos from our own jobs, not stock images
East Cobb
Start With the Lot, Not the Picture
Before choosing a style, walk out the back door and look at three things: how far the ground drops from the house, where the shade falls in the afternoon, and where the leaves pile up in the fall. East Cobb sits on rolling, wooded ground, and in subdivisions like Indian Hills, Chimney Springs and Sibley Forest the back of the house often sits well above the yard. That single fact pushes many homeowners toward a raised structure, because a patio on a steep drop needs a lot of grading and retaining work just to make a level spot.
Next, think about how you will use the space. If it is mostly for grilling and a few chairs, an open deck may be all you need. If you want to eat dinner outside on a summer evening without swatting bugs, a screened porch changes the whole experience. If you want shade and rain cover but still like the open feel, a covered deck sits in the middle. Being honest about how you use the yard now saves you from building something that looks nice and sits empty.
East Cobb
Open Deck: Simple, Flexible and Good on Slopes
An open wood deck is the most straightforward way to get a level outdoor floor off the back of a house on a sloped lot. Posts and footings follow the ground down, so a steep yard is a framing question rather than a dirt-moving project. Under heavy tree cover, an open deck also dries out faster than a covered surface, because sun and wind can reach the boards after rain.
The tradeoff is exposure. Pollen, leaves and pine needles land on it all year, and the finish weathers faster in the sunny spots. Plan on regular sweeping, clearing the gaps between boards in the fall, and refreshing the stain when water stops beading. We build, repair and replace open decks, including the stairs and railings that come with a raised deck on a hillside, and Breno can tell you on site how the slope affects the frame.
How it works
Five steps. No surprises.
Call, text, or send the form
Tell us what is going on: a new deck, a repair, or “not sure yet.” We reply the same day.
Free on-site visit
Breno looks at the deck or the yard himself, measures, and goes over your options with you.
Written estimate
Scope, materials and price come in writing, so you know the plan before anything starts.
Schedule and permits
We agree on a start date and confirm any city, county or HOA requirement for your address first.
Build and final walk-through
Breno is on the job, and we go over the finished work with you before we call it done.
Real B&T work
Photos from real jobs
Real photos from B&T projects in North Georgia, not necessarily from East Cobb.
East Cobb
Covered Deck: Shade and Rain Cover Without Walls
A covered deck adds a roof over part or all of the deck, tied into the house or carried on its own beams. It keeps the summer sun off the table and lets you sit out during a passing shower. On lots near Johnson Ferry Road or Powers Ferry Road where afternoon sun hits the back of the house hard, a roof can make a deck usable in the middle of the day.
A roof also changes how the deck ages. Boards under cover stay out of direct rain, so the finish usually lasts longer, but the area can stay damp longer on shaded lots, so airflow and drainage matter. The roof has to tie into the house without trapping water at the wall, and the framing below has to carry the extra weight. Whether it needs a permit or HOA review depends on your address, so confirm with the county or your association before you settle on a design.
East Cobb
Screened Porch: The Answer to Mosquitoes Under the Trees
Wooded East Cobb lots near creeks and shady corners are friendly to mosquitoes, and that is the main reason people move from a deck to a screened porch. Screens and a roof turn the space into an outdoor room you can use from spring through fall without bug spray, and furniture and cushions stay cleaner because leaves and pollen mostly stay out.
A screened porch is a bigger project than an open deck. It needs a roof, a floor that can handle humid air, screen panels and a door that closes well. It also changes how the back of the house looks, which is why it is more likely to go through architectural review in a swim-and-tennis neighborhood. We build and restore wood porches and the decks under them, and we can turn an existing deck into a screened porch when the frame underneath is sound enough to carry it.
East Cobb
Patio: Low Upkeep When the Ground Is Level
A patio sits right on the ground, so on a flat backyard it is simple and needs very little care beyond sweeping and an occasional wash. It works well as a landing at the bottom of deck stairs, around a fire pit, or in a level side yard. On a lot that falls away from the house, though, a patio usually means retaining walls, steps and fill, and it may end up a full story below the kitchen door.
Patios are masonry or concrete work, which is outside what B&T does, so we will tell you plainly if a patio suits your yard better than a deck. What we can do is design the wood deck and stairs that connect the house to a patio below, which is a common layout on hillside lots off Shallowford Road and Roswell Road. Breno visits in person, looks at the slope and shade with you and gives you a free written estimate for the wood part of the plan.
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East Cobb
Permits, HOA Review and Planning Ahead
In East Cobb, permits are generally handled by Cobb County, but some addresses fall inside city limits, so the right office depends on your exact address. Roofs, screen walls and raised decks can each trigger different review, and wooded lots or creeks can add setback questions. Check with the permitting office and confirm before any plan is final.
Many East Cobb subdivisions have an HOA or a swim-and-tennis association, and each one handles exterior changes in its own way. If yours reviews projects, bring them the drawing and material choices early so the approval does not hold up the work. We help you pull those details together, whether you are near Windy Hill Road or closer to the line with Sandy Springs or Kennesaw.
Straight answers
East Cobb homeowner questions
Our East Cobb backyard drops off steeply behind the kitchen. Is a patio even realistic?
It can be, but on a steep drop a patio often needs retaining walls and fill and ends up well below the kitchen door. A raised wood deck with stairs down to the yard is usually the simpler way to get a level space right off the house, with an optional patio at the bottom.
Can my existing East Cobb deck be turned into a screened porch?
Sometimes. A screened porch adds a roof and walls, so the posts, beams and footings under the deck have to carry more weight. Breno checks the frame in person and tells you whether it can be built on as is, needs reinforcing, or should be rebuilt first.
Will a covered deck stay damp under the oaks in Chimney Springs or Sibley Forest?
A roof keeps rain off, but heavy shade can slow drying after humid nights. Leaving the sides open, keeping gaps between boards clear of leaves and making sure the roof drains away from the deck all help the boards dry out.
How do mosquitoes near the creeks change the choice between a deck and a porch?
If you mostly use the yard in the evening and your lot backs up to a creek or wooded buffer, bugs will likely decide how often you sit outside. A screened porch keeps them out, while an open deck works fine if you use it more during the day.
Does my swim-and-tennis association need to approve a screened porch?
It depends on your association. Some review any exterior change and others only certain projects. A porch adds a roof and walls, so it is more visible than a deck. Ask your HOA what they want to see before the design is final.
Who handles deck and porch permits for a home off Johnson Ferry Road?
Most East Cobb addresses go through Cobb County, but some fall inside city limits, so it depends on your exact address. Confirm with the permitting office before work is scheduled; we help you sort that out as part of the estimate.
Does B&T build patios?
No. Patios are concrete or masonry work, which is outside what we do. We build, repair, replace and restore wood decks, porches, railings, stairs and fences, and we can build the deck and stairs that lead down to a patio built by someone else.
Which option needs the least upkeep on a shady, leafy East Cobb lot?
A ground-level patio needs the least, but it only makes sense on fairly flat ground. Among wood options, a screened porch keeps the floor cleanest, a covered deck protects the finish from rain, and an open deck needs the most sweeping and restaining.
What happens during the visit if I cannot decide between these options?
Breno comes out in person, walks the yard with you, looks at the slope, shade and existing structure, and talks through how you want to use the space. You then get a free written estimate for the wood option that fits, so you can compare it with any other plans you have.
Verified Google reviews
What the neighbors are saying
These are verified Google reviews from B&T customers.
★★★★★
“The quality of the work was exceptional. The team was friendly, responsive, and made sure everything was done right. I would definitely recommend B&T Properties.”
★★★★★
“Breno and his team exceeded our expectations. They were organized, efficient, and truly cared about delivering a high-quality result. We couldn't be happier.”
Who’s doing the work
About B&T Properties
You deal with the owner. Breno visits, quotes and oversees the work, and the crew brings more than ten years of deck experience between them. B&T carries General Liability insurance, and East Cobb is part of our regular service area.
Upgrades
Upgrades worth asking about
Planning a project in East Cobb (Marietta)? Bring up any of these at your free estimate. Changes are easier to plan on paper than on a finished deck.
Stairs and landings
Wider steps, a landing, or a second set of stairs down to the yard.
Lighting
Stair and post lights that make evenings outside safer and nicer.
Cover or screens
Shade, rain cover or screens, planned in from the start.
Composite decking
Boards that resist rot and skip the yearly stain. Worth pricing in at the start.
Written warranty
1-year workmanship warranty
B&T Properties warrants our workmanship for one year from completion and fixes failures caused by our work at no charge. Not covered: material defects (manufacturer warranty), normal wear, weather, misuse, lack of maintenance, or work by others. Claims in writing.
Free written estimate
Tell Breno about your East Cobb deck — free and in writing.
No call center, no sales rep — the person who answers is the person who does the work.