SimpleSide Construction OBX, a deck and outdoor living contractor founded by Grant Smith in 2015, has passed more than a decade of continuous operation from its base in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The company designs and builds custom composite decks for homeowners and property owners across Dare and Currituck counties, including rental and second-home properties along the coast.
Since its founding the company has concentrated on composite decking rather than traditional wood construction. It installs products from Trex, TimberTech by Azek, Moisture Shield, and Barrette Outdoor Living, materials that manufacturers rate for resistance to moisture, salt exposure, and ultraviolet fading. Composite boards also do not require the annual staining or sealing that wood decking typically needs, and they are not subject to splintering as they age.
That material focus reflects the conditions present on a barrier island. Salt air, blowing sand, high humidity, and direct sun act on exterior structures throughout the year, and decks on coastal properties are exposed to all of them at once. Framing details, fastener selection, and drainage each affect how a deck performs in that setting over time.
Wood decking in a marine environment generally requires periodic cleaning, sealing, and board replacement as fibers absorb moisture and dry out repeatedly. Composite products are manufactured with a polymer component that limits that absorption, which changes the maintenance profile of the structure rather than eliminating upkeep altogether.
"Coastal decks face conditions that inland decks do not, and material selection has to account for that from the beginning," said Grant Smith, owner of SimpleSide Construction OBX. "Our work has centered on composite systems because of how they hold up in this environment."
The company builds platform, raised, multi-level, freestanding, rooftop, and pool decks, with the structure determined by the layout and grade of each property. Elevation is a common factor on coastal lots, where finished floor heights and grade changes influence stair placement and framing requirements.
Composite skirting, railing, and lattice work are installed as part of the same scope, so that exposed components share the material characteristics of the deck surface rather than weathering on a separate schedule. Deck lighting is also installed during construction, which allows wiring to be routed within the structure as it is framed.
Beyond deck surfaces, the company builds outdoor living structures that connect to the deck, including porches and pergolas. It also performs exterior renovation work on siding, windows, and doors, along with repairs to existing deck structures.
Properties used as vacation rentals and second homes see use patterns that differ from those of full-time residences, with concentrated foot traffic during the season and long periods between owner visits. Material selection and structural detailing are specified with that pattern in mind.
Each project begins with a design consultation and three-dimensional deck models, which give property owners a view of the proposed structure before construction begins. This stage is used by owners who are not present during the build and who review design decisions from outside the area. The models also establish dimensions, railing style, and stair placement before materials are ordered.
"The design stage settles the questions that are expensive to revisit later," Smith said. "Owners see the layout, the railing, and the stairs before anything is ordered."
Permit acquisition and foundation work are handled as part of the construction process. Deck projects in the region are subject to local permitting requirements that address structural attachment, railing height, and stair dimensions, and the company manages that documentation alongside the build schedule.
Completed work is covered by a lifetime craftsmanship warranty on the company's own workmanship. Composite decking materials carry separate warranties issued by their respective manufacturers rather than by the contractor, and the terms of those material warranties vary by product line.
SimpleSide Construction OBX is locally owned and family owned and operates from a commercial address on North Croatan Highway. Grant Smith holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. The company serves communities across the Outer Banks and the adjacent mainland, from Corolla south through Nags Head and west to Manteo.
SimpleSide Construction OBX designs and builds custom composite decks and outdoor living structures for residential properties in Dare and Currituck counties, North Carolina. Founded by Grant Smith in 2015, the company provides design, permitting, and construction services from concept through completion. Additional information is available at simplesideobx.com.
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For more information about Simpleside Construction OBX, contact the company here:
Simpleside Construction OBX
Grant Smith
+12526453421
simpleconstruction@gmail.com
2407 N Croatan Hwy Suite A, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, United States