Worthington is one of the oldest planned communities in Ohio, with a housing stock that ranges from pre-war homes near the historic village center to mid-century ranches and split-levels built through the 1970s. That age means most homes here are dealing with conditions that newer construction does not face - clay soil that has had decades to move, original foundation walls that have seen hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles, and older concrete flatwork that is cracked and heaved in ways that affect how new outdoor structures need to be anchored. Central Ohio clay expands when it gets wet and contracts when it dries, which is the main reason footings shift and deck boards warp on properties in this area. Any deck builder working in Worthington who does not account for soil movement in the footing depth and drainage plan is setting up a problem down the road.

Worthington also has its own permit process through the city, and homes in the Old Worthington Historic District are subject to additional review under the city preservation guidelines. Exterior work on those properties - including decks attached to the home - may require design review before a standard permit is issued. We have worked with homeowners in the historic district and understand what the city expects in terms of materials and methods. Getting this right at the start saves weeks of back-and-forth with the permit office.

Worthington was founded in 1803 and is one of the oldest planned communities in Ohio. The original village grid is still intact, and the historic downtown along High Street has been preserved as one of the most recognizable neighborhood centers in the Columbus metro area. Worthington on Wikipedia gives a good overview of the city's long history as a distinct community that has stayed independent even as Columbus grew up around it. The housing stock spans a remarkable range - brick Colonials and wood clapboard homes near the village green that date to the early 1900s, and then a wide belt of ranch-style and split-level homes built in the 1950s through 1970s as the city expanded after World War II. Most of these homes sit on generous lots with mature trees that have been growing for 50 or 60 years.

Worthington is a small city of about 14,000 people, but it consistently ranks among the higher-income communities in the Columbus area, with median home values well above the state average. The Worthington City School District and the weekly Worthington Farmers Market are two institutions that residents point to most often as reasons they stay. Most homeowners here are long-term residents who care about the quality of work done on their properties. We work throughout Worthington, from the streets nearest the Old Worthington village green to the neighborhoods on the northern edge closer to Delaware County.