Topo d'Oro Landscape Design
(847) 387-9509
Iron & Woodwork

Custom Decks, Pergolas & Ironwork in Evanston & the North Shore

Call (847) 387-9509Request a Design Consultation
Decks & Pergolas project by Topo d'Oro Landscape Design in Evanston and Chicago's North Shore

Topo d'Oro designs and builds custom decks, pergolas, railings, fences, trellises and privacy screens for homes across Evanston and Chicago's North Shore. Structural woodwork and custom metal fabrication are done in-house rather than subcontracted, which means the railing detail, the post wrap and the beam profile are drawn as part of the landscape plan instead of bolted on afterward. We work in cedar, ipe, mahogany, composite, powder-coated steel and wrought iron.

What's included

Decks & Pergolas scope of work

  • Custom decks

    Cedar, ipe, mahogany and composite, ground-level to second-story.

  • Rooftop decks & terraces

    Structural review, waterproofing detail and drainage.

  • Pergolas & shade structures

    Heavy timber and steel, attached or freestanding.

  • Trellises & arbors

    Garden structures and climbing plant support.

  • Railings & gates

    Wrought iron, powder-coated steel and wood, built to code.

  • Fencing

    Privacy, garden and decorative fencing with custom gates.

  • Privacy screens

    Slatted wood, steel armature and living screen assemblies.

  • Built-in benches & planters

    Integrated seating, storage and planting built into the structure.

  • Outdoor benches & site furniture

    Freestanding and anchored benches in cedar, ipe and steel, built to match the deck.

  • Outdoor kitchen framing

    Structure and cladding for grill surrounds and counters.

Decks built as architecture, not as an add-on

A deck that was designed with the landscape sits at the right height, meets the grade correctly, and hands off to the patio or the lawn without an awkward step down into nothing. A deck that was ordered from a catalog usually does not.

We detail framing, footing placement below frost line, ledger flashing and drainage, decking direction, fascia, skirting and stair geometry as part of the drawing set. Rooftop and second-story decks get structural review, waterproofing detail and drainage that protects what is underneath.

Pergolas, trellises and shade structures

Pergolas define an outdoor room without walling it in, and on West and South exposures they make a patio usable in the middle of a Chicago summer afternoon. We build in heavy timber cedar, ipe and mahogany, in powder-coated steel, and in combinations of both, with rafter and purlin spacing set for the shade you actually want rather than a default.

Attached or freestanding, with integrated lighting, fans, heaters, retractable canopies or climbing plant support — the structure is engineered for wind and snow load, with footings sized for the frost depth.

Railings, fences and privacy screens

Custom metalwork is where a property stops looking like a kit. We fabricate wrought iron and powder-coated steel railings, gates, garden fencing and screens, matched to the architecture of the house and to code for height and baluster spacing.

Privacy screening is a common request on North Shore lots where houses sit close together. Slatted wood screens, living screens on steel armature, and combination assemblies give you separation without producing a stockade wall.

Outdoor benches, planters and built-ins

Built-in seating turns a deck into a room and removes the clutter of furniture that has to be stored every fall. We build benches, banquettes, storage seating, custom planters and integrated grill surrounds in the same material palette as the deck or pergola, so the whole assembly reads as one piece of work.

Materials

Specified by name and finish

Western red cedar
Stable, rot-resistant and workable — the North Shore standard for timber structures.
Ipe & mahogany
Dense tropical hardwoods for maximum service life and a furniture-grade finish.
Composite decking
Low-maintenance capped composite where upkeep matters more than grain.
Powder-coated steel
Fabricated structure, railing and screen framing in durable finishes.
Wrought iron
Traditional forged detail for railings, gates and garden structures.
Process

Design · Build · Enhance

  1. 01

    Design

    Elevations, structural detail, material and finish selection.

  2. 02

    Build

    Footings, framing, fabrication and installation by in-house crews.

  3. 03

    Enhance

    Lighting, screening, plantings and finish carpentry.

Questions

Frequently asked

How much does a custom deck cost in Evanston or the North Shore?

Material, size, height above grade and railing detail drive the number. A ground-level cedar deck with simple railing is the entry point; an elevated ipe deck with custom steel railing, built-in seating and integrated lighting sits well above it. We price in writing after walking the site. Call (847) 387-9509.

Cedar, ipe or composite — which lasts longest in Chicago?

Ipe and mahogany have the longest service life and the highest material cost. Cedar is the balanced choice and the most common on the North Shore. Composite eliminates annual finishing but never develops the character of real timber. All three perform here; the honest question is how much maintenance you want to sign up for.

Do I need a permit for a deck or pergola?

In most North Shore villages, yes — decks almost always, pergolas frequently, depending on size, height and whether the structure is attached. Setbacks and lot coverage apply. We prepare and submit the drawings as part of the project.

Can you build a pergola over an existing patio?

Usually. It depends on whether the existing base can carry footings or whether footings need to be set outside or through the surface. We assess it on site before quoting.

Do you build rooftop decks?

Yes. Rooftop work requires structural review, correct waterproofing and drainage detail, and building access planning. It is a different scope than a backyard deck and we scope it accordingly.

How long does a deck or pergola take to build?

Most residential projects run two to four weeks on site once materials are on hand and permits are issued. Custom metal fabrication and specialty hardwood orders extend the lead time before construction starts.

Serving Chicagoland

Decks & Pergolas across the North Shore

  • Evanston
  • Wilmette
  • Winnetka
  • Glencoe
  • Northbrook
  • Skokie
  • Highland Park
  • Kenilworth
  • Glenview
  • Lake Forest
  • Deerfield
  • Lincolnwood
  • Chicago
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Begin your golden sanctuary.

Tell us about the property and how you want to use it. We will walk the site, scope the work and put it in writing.

Call (847) 387-9509Request a Design Consultation