Riverplace shaded garden with a deck, fire pit, and decomposed granite planting beds
5.0

Outdoor Structures in Austin, TX

Thrive Landscape and Design designs and builds custom decks, pergolas, gazebos, and arbors across the greater Austin area. For over 20 years, our veteran-owned design-build crew has created outdoor living spaces that stand up to the Texas sun, caliche soils, and Hill Country living, earning a 5.0 Google rating across 70+ reviews.

Our Services

Design-Build Outdoor Structures

  • Custom-built deck with string lights and turf in a Bee Cave backyard

    Custom Deck Construction

    Fully custom decks designed around your lot, your home, and the Austin climate, from drawings through final inspection. Engineered piers, premium framing, and finishes that work in Hill Country sun.

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  • Composite deck with a firepit, turf, and privacy screen in a Bee Cave backyard

    Composite Deck Installation

    Low-maintenance composite decks using Trex, TimberTech, and other capped boards that resist fading, splintering, and rot in 100°F-plus Austin summers. Color and texture choices to match your home.

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  • Multi-level deck with a stone retaining wall and steps on a Lost Pines lot

    Multi-Level Deck Construction

    Tiered, terraced, and wraparound decks engineered for the sloped lots common in Westlake, Lakeway, and Steiner Ranch. We follow the grade so the deck feels like part of the land, not a platform on top of it.

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  • Wood deck with a flagstone pathway in a shaded Riverplace garden

    Wood Deck Installation

    Western Red Cedar, Texas Eastern Red Cedar, and ipe decks built to handle UV, summer heat, and seasonal swings. We seal, flash, and detail every board so your deck looks great for decades.

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  • Dark-stained cedar pergola over a flagstone patio and fire pit in Lakeway

    Pergolas

    Cedar and steel pergolas that shade a patio, dining area, or outdoor kitchen from the Texas sun. Posted on engineered footings and detailed to match your home and your hardscape.

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  • Freestanding pavilion with landscape lighting in a Smithville ranch xeriscape

    Gazebos & Arbors

    Freestanding gazebos, pavilions, and garden arbors that create a shaded focal point or a covered seating spot. Built to anchor solidly in caliche and stand up to Hill Country weather.

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Building out the whole yard? Pair your outdoor structure with our hardscaping, landscape construction, and fencing services.

Our Portfolio

Recent Austin Outdoor Structures

Thrive Landscape and Design is a locally owned, veteran-operated design-build company serving the greater Austin, TX area. For over 20 years, we have designed and built custom decks, pergolas, gazebos, and arbors for the Hill Country climate.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • In most cases, yes. The City of Austin requires a residential building permit for decks attached to a home, decks over 30 inches above grade, or decks with a roof. We pull permits, coordinate inspections with Austin Development Services, and confirm any HOA approvals before we break ground so your project stays on schedule and on the right side of code.

  • Both can perform well in Central Texas if they are installed correctly. Western Red Cedar and Texas Eastern Red Cedar look beautiful and stay cooler underfoot than most composites, but they need sealing every two to three years to fight UV and moisture swings. Modern capped composites like Trex resist fading, splintering, and rot with almost no maintenance, but darker colors can get hot in direct Austin sun. We help you weigh budget, maintenance, and how the deck will be used before you commit.

  • A properly built and maintained cedar deck in the Austin area typically lasts 15 to 25 years, while ipe and other tropical hardwoods can last 30 years or more. Lifespan depends on framing quality, flashing, drainage, and how consistently the surface is cleaned and resealed. We build with hot-dipped galvanized or stainless fasteners and use joist tape on the framing to add years of life regardless of the decking species. The Texas A&M Forest Service is a good public resource on wood durability in our region.

  • Often, yes. If your slab is structurally sound and drains away from the house, we can build a low-profile sleeper system or use deck pedestals to float a new surface above it. This is a popular option for older Austin homes with cracked or stained patios because it avoids the cost and mess of slab removal while delivering a clean, modern look.

  • Most Hill Country HOAs, including those in Steiner Ranch, Westlake, Lakeway, and Bee Cave, require architectural review before deck construction. We prepare the drawings, material specs, and color samples your committee needs and we manage the submission so you do not have to chase approvals. We have worked through these neighborhoods many times and know what each board tends to look for.

  • Yes. Sloped lots are common in the Hill Country, and multi-level decks are often the best way to make them usable. We engineer drop levels, stairs, and landings to follow the natural grade, then anchor everything to deep piers sized for the load. The result is a deck that feels like it grew out of the property instead of fighting it. See our multi-level deck construction page for more detail.

  • Caliche and expansive clay are typical across the Austin area, so we do not rely on shallow footings. We drill piers to the depth and diameter required by the deck's load and the soil conditions on your specific lot, then pour reinforced concrete with proper post bases. For installer-level deck and railing references, we follow guidance from organizations like the North American Deck and Railing Association. This prevents the seasonal heaving and settling that wreck decks built on undersized footings.

  • Fill out the contact form on this page, or call us directly at (512) 503-1935. We will get back to you within one business day to schedule a free, on-site consultation where we walk the property, talk through materials and layout, and put together a clear, itemized estimate.

Let’s Build Your Austin Outdoor Structure

Thrive Landscape and Design is a locally owned, veteran-operated design-build company serving the greater Austin, TX area. Decks, pergolas, gazebos, and arbors built for the Texas sun and Hill Country living.

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