The North Coast Deck Builders, LLC journey began in 1995, when life-long builder & maker, Josh Thun began studying Scenic Design & Construction at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. While studying on a scholarship at Cornish, Josh became proficient in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and fundamentals of Architectural Design. After successfully completing his first year, Josh moved on to pursue an independent path.

Between 1996 and 2007, Josh traveled extensively in Europe and the United States. In order to fund his travels, Josh began building decks as an independent carpenter, as well as working as a logger when building jobs were not available. While traveling, he was fortunate enough to have many extended stays with local families, most notably with the Escaramis family in Barcelona, where he became intrigued with the unconventional architecture of Antonio Gaudi. Josh’s travels in Europe eventually led him to meeting his wife, Kate, in 1999.

Between periods of traveling, and working independently, Josh continued to pursue his studies in art & design, eventually earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from Western Washington University, in Bellingham.

From 2005 to 2007, Josh was hired to be one of two Resident Carpenters on a large private estate in Nantucket, Massachusetts. While working on the island, and living on the estate, Josh was introduced to high-end carpentry techniques, and materials, as well as precision carpentry tools. It was there that he gained knowledge and experience in Hardwood Deck Building. While working in Nantucket, Josh met a former Vice President of the United States, who was a guest at the estate.

In 2007, Josh became a licensed contractor in the State of Washington, doing business as Thun Construction. With Thun Construction, he worked on projects of all sizes in Pierce & King Counties, and became proficient in all aspects of residential construction. Thun Construction was contracted to build decks as far away as Port Angeles, Ocean Shores, White Pass, and Bend, OR.

In 2025, Josh decided to close Thun Construction, and focus solely on his passion for building high-quality decks. With the formation of North Coast Deck Builders, LLC, Josh has arrived back to where he started on his carpenter’s journey - building decks in the Pacific Northwest!

Josh is happily married to his lovely and talented wife - artist, muralist, and acting Pierce County Arts Commissioner, Kate Cendejas Thun. Together, they live in a log cabin with their three boys in Graham, WA. They continue to take journeys together, and are almost always outdoors.