Branson Deck Builder for the Yard You Keep Talking About
Your Grill Has Been Living on a Concrete Slab Since 2019.
Big Chief Exteriors is a family run Branson deck builder handling deck installation, deck repair, composite decking, screened in porch builds, pergolas, and covered patio installation. Built for Ozarks hillsides and the people standing on them.
Certified to Install the Stuff We Put on Your House
Nobody Needs a Deck. That's Exactly the Problem.
Every other job on your house happens because something broke. A deck is different. Nothing's leaking, nothing's failing, and nobody's forcing you. So it becomes the thing you talk about every single spring and then don't do. You stand out back with a beer, look at the slope, say "we really oughta build something out here," and then it's August and the mosquitoes won and you're eating inside again. Meanwhile you own a view that people drive across three states to look at, and you're seeing it through a kitchen window.
Then there's the other kind of call, which is the deck you already have. It's gray and splintery, the rail wobbles when your mother-in-law leans on it, and there's a spot near the door that gives a little when you walk across it. Most of those are fine and just need work. Some aren't. The piece that matters most is the ledger board, which is the board bolting your deck to your house, and if somebody attached yours with nails instead of proper bolts, that's worth knowing before your daughter's graduation party puts thirty people on it. A good Branson deck builder will crawl under there and just tell you.
“Before Vela, approvals felt vague. Now there’s a clear moment when everything is agreed on, and I can move forward with confidence.”
Maria L.
Travel Advisor
These guys were amazing! I own several homes and rarely do I see service of this caliber. The bid was very honest and reasonable. We decided to move forward and within a few days there were at our house working from dawn until dusk. The job site was always clean and the men were always very respectful and kind. It’s companies and men like this that made America great. You should look no further than Big Chief Exteriors.
Tracey Stroh
Branson, Missouri
I'm Tyler. Let's Make This Easy.
I'm Tyler Arnold. Roofs pay the bills around here, but decks are the ones I drive past on purpose. A roof is something you buy so you can stop thinking about it. A deck is the only thing we build that your family actually uses. Somebody's kid learns to walk out there. Somebody's dad grills too much chicken on the Fourth of July. That's a different kind of job and it deserves a different kind of attention, which is why our deck crew builds decks and doesn't rotate off to something else on Wednesday.
Here's the honest part. A lot of folks call us for a rebuild and don't need one. If your framing and footings are solid and it's just the surface that's beat up, deck restoration and a good sanding, deck refinishing, and deck sealing can buy you another five or six years for a fraction of a new build. We'll tell you that even though the rebuild pays us better. We'd also rather build in February and March than in June, because everybody wants a deck in June and nobody wants one in February. Same deck, shorter wait, and you're sitting on it when the weather turns.
Tyler Arnold
Three Promises That Come With Every Board
The Fix It or Refund It Guarantee
If a board cups, a rail loosens, or a post shifts because of how we built it, we're back out to fix it fast. No prorating. No trip charges. Nobody blaming the lumber. And if we can't make it right, you get your money back. Every single cent.
The $250 Price Match Guarantee
Show us a written bid from another licensed and insured company using the same decking, the same framing spacing, the same hardware, and the same warranty. We'll match that price and hand you $250 in cash for finding a competitor we didn't know about. Compare the framing and the hardware, not just the deck boards.
The Cleanup Guarantee
Deck builds leave cut-offs, screws, and sawdust across a whole backyard, and that's where kids and dogs live. Our crews are paid on the cleanup. We haul off every scrap, run a magnet over the grass, and sweep the patio and driveway twice before the trailer leaves.
“Before Vela, approvals felt vague. Now there’s a clear moment when everything is agreed on, and I can move forward with confidence.”
Maria L.
Travel Advisor
Gorden MacPhail
Cape Fair, Missouri
“Professionalism was evident throughout the entire process from initial estimate to project completion. We were so pleased with the deck restoration we had them back for our gutter replacement. We really appreciated the communication with Tyler explaining the process in detail. Best part was price was reasonable. Definitely a 5- star company!! Will do business again.”
What Your Neighbors Say About Us
Everything We Build Out Back
Outdoor living is more than a rectangle of boards. Here's what we build, plus the rest of the outside we handle while we're already on your property.
Roofing Contractor
A covered patio or screened porch is a small roof, and it has to tie into your existing one correctly. We do roof repair, roof replacement, metal roofing, roof leak repair, and porch roof repair. Metal over a porch sounds wonderful in a rain storm.
Gutter Service
A downspout dumping next to a deck post rots the post from the bottom up. We do gutter installation, gutter repair, seamless gutters, and gutter guard installation. Moving one downspout is often the cheapest fix on the whole property.
Siding Contractor
Where a deck meets your house is where water sneaks in. We handle siding repair, siding replacement, vinyl siding, James Hardie siding installation, and soffit and fascia repair. We flash behind the ledger so that connection stays dry.
Window Installation Service
New deck out back usually means somebody wants a better door onto it. We handle patio doors, sliding glass doors, window replacement, and energy efficient windows, so the view from inside is as good as the view from out there.
Deck Builder
The whole range. Deck installation, deck repair, deck restoration, deck refinishing, deck sealing, deck waterproofing, and deck railing. We build with composite decking including Fiberon decking, plus pool decks, covered patio installation, screened in porch and patio enclosures, pergolas, deck lighting, and under deck ceiling work.
Painter
Deck staining is half of what keeps a deck alive. We handle deck staining, fence staining, exterior painting, and log cabin staining. A new deck gets sealed on our schedule, and we'll put you on a re-stain cycle so it never gets to the gray splintery stage.
Roofing Contractor
A covered patio or screened porch is a small roof, and it has to tie into your existing one correctly. We do roof repair, roof replacement, metal roofing, roof leak repair, and porch roof repair. Metal over a porch sounds wonderful in a rain storm.
“Very open and honest. Encouraged me to get other bids as well. They were not only the best-priced but also the most organized and open about our plans and options to take. The workers were clean and quick and did everything they could to protect the property. Tyler even came out himself to magnet the driveway so we wouldn’t drive over nails each night bc I have an EV that charges in the garage. Excellent experience! Big Chief definitely goes above and beyond.”
Gwen Pead
Branson, Missouri
Counties Where We Build Decks
We're based in Branson and cover a wide piece of southwest Missouri. Terrain changes fast around here, and terrain is most of what makes a deck hard. Here's what we run into.
Taney County
Learn MoreBranson, Hollister, Forsyth, Rockaway Beach, Kirbyville, and Merriam Woods. As your Taney County deck builder we work hillside lots above Table Rock and Lake Taneycomo where the ground drops away fast and posts run tall. Cabins and rentals get scheduled around bookings, and under deck ceiling work turns the space below into usable square footage.
Stone County
Learn MoreKimberling City, Reeds Spring, Branson West, Galena, Crane, and Blue Eye. A Stone County deck builder spends most days on steep ridge lots with multi-level decks chasing a lake view. Wind exposure up there is real, so railing connections and post bracing get extra attention.
Barry County
Learn MoreCassville, Monett, Purdy, Shell Knob, Exeter, and Wheaton. Our Barry County deck builder crews handle farmhouse porches, big covered patios, and lake decks. Wide open lots mean sun all day, which is why covered patio installation and pergolas come up more here than anywhere.
Christian County
Learn MoreNixa, Ozark, Sparta, Clever, and Highlandville. As a Christian County deck builder we replace a great many pressure treated decks built in the 1990s that are now at the end of the road. Screened in porch conversions are popular here too, mostly because of mosquitoes and the people who hate them.
Lawrence County
Learn MoreAurora, Mt. Vernon, Marionville, Pierce City, and Verona. A Lawrence County deck builder deals with wind and hail on covered structures out this direction. We build pergolas and covered patios with hardware rated for it, since a pretty structure that lifts in a storm helps nobody.
Maranda Carter
Branson, Missouri
“This local company did things right! My new roof and gutters are perfect! Tyler went above and beyond with help on the insurance claim, explaining everything and was here from start to finish! I would definitely recommend Big Chief Exteriors to anyone!”
Deck Questions People Ask Us in the Driveway
Who's the best deck builder in Branson?
Everybody claims it, so ask better questions. Ask any Branson deck builder how they attach the ledger to your house and what hardware they use. Ask what the joists are spaced at. Ask how the footings get set on a slope. Anybody who talks only about deck boards is selling you the part you can see.
How much does a new deck cost?
It moves a lot with size, height off the ground, terrain, railing, and material. A low deck on flat ground is the cheap end. A tall multi-level deck on a hillside with a lake view costs several times that, because most of the work is under your feet. We measure, we draw it, and you get three written options with the monthly payment beside each total.
Wood or composite decking? Which is better?
Both are good answers. Pressure treated wood costs less up front and needs deck staining and deck sealing every few years. Composite decking like Fiberon decking costs more at the start and then mostly asks to be washed off. If you hate maintenance, go composite. If you like the look of real wood and don't mind a weekend every three years, wood is fine and we'll build it happily.
Can my old deck be repaired instead of rebuilt?
Very often, yes. If the framing, posts, and footings are solid, deck repair, deck restoration, and deck refinishing get you years more for a lot less money. What forces a rebuild is rot in the framing, footings that have shifted, or a ledger that was never attached right. We crawl under it and show you photos either way.
How do I know if my deck is safe?
Look at three things. Does it move when several people are on it. Is the rail solid when you pull on it. And is the ledger board bolted to the house rather than nailed. Most decks we look at are fine. When one isn't, we'll say so plainly and tell you what the fix costs, which is usually smaller than folks expect.
Do I need a permit for a deck?
Sometimes. Rules change by city, county, and subdivision, and lake area properties can have extra review. We check what applies to your address before we build and handle the paperwork and any HOA form. You shouldn't have to figure that part out.
How long does a deck take to build?
A straightforward deck is usually several days to a week once material lands. Hillside builds, multi-level decks, screened in porch work, and covered patio installation take longer. You'll get a start date, crew names and a photo the first morning, and a text at every stage.
What's the best time of year to build a deck?
Winter and early spring, honestly. Everybody calls in May wanting to be sitting outside by Memorial Day, and that's the longest wait of the year. Book in January or February and you'll be using it the first warm weekend instead of watching somebody build it.