
Decks outside houses are heavenly spots to enjoy evenings. Here, we shall tell you how much does it cost to build a deck, though there are several overhead costs that have to be considered, which will alter the total cost.
Who can escape the charms of a beautiful deck just outside the living room, or the bedroom? Well, no one can. Decks are not only charming and relaxing, but they also tend to add to the quality and cost of the house. The material cost to build a deck is not outrageous, if you consider it as a do-it-yourself home improvement project.
Decks, sometimes also known as composite decking, in North American homes are an inseparable and indispensable part of the entire house. If you take a look at the common conventions, you will find that there are two types of decks that are used by people as additions for their houses.
- The first one is on the ground that is built upon a simple foundation of bricks.
- The second one is a bit complex as it is elevated a few feet from the ground, say about 6-7 feet. Such elevated decks adjoin the first floor rooms of your home.
The difference between the cost is not sky high, but elevated decks are more costly.
$ The first cost that you will have to consider is that of the base. The base can be built with the help of bricks, gravel, and concrete. For this, you can purchase 20 bricks for a cost of $7 to $10. The number of bricks depend on the type of deck you want. The elevated deck will need less gravel and bricks. The gravel cost, however, changes drastically from region to region. The cost of cement will range from $8 to $15 for every 40 lbs. of cement. If you are constructing an elevated deck, you will need lumber to make the supports, the cost of which ranges from $30 to $50 per 2″ x 6″ pieces of wood, depending upon what you buy.
$ The second cost that you need to consider is that of the lumber that you will require to lay down the deck. The best gamble is pressure-treated wood , which will cost you about $2800 to $4400 for a 20 x 20 foot deck. Your deck building plans also play a crucial role, if you plan to enforce it with another layer of pressure-treated wood, and more lumber will be needed which will cost another $2000 to $5000.
$ You can get a kit to make your railings and stairs. Metallic rails are cheap and an effective option, which will cost you about $2000 to $3000 for a 20 x 20 deck. The wooden stairs and rails will come in for about $10,000.
$ If you want to have a cheap deck, then have a ground-level deck. To make such a deck, have a brick and gravel foundation compacted by concrete. Then lay down a layer of lumber and polished wood. Your deck is ready!
$ There are several overhead costs that you are bound to incur, such as polish lumber tools, etc. To cut costs, you can also rent out all your equipment from a hardware store.
The average cost to build a deck depends upon several different factors, such as quality of materials that you are going to use, the size and elevation of your deck, cost of labor if you plan to hire any, type of foundation, etc. This cost estimate is not exact, and you will have to inquire and calculate the cost as per your specifications.
$ The size of the deck matters in general. Doubling the size will obviously double the price. Increasing the size by just a few inches increases the cost, as you need to take parameters, such as joists, girders, columns, etc., into consideration.
$ The material you choose also influences the price. Take the example of pine that is pressure-treated, which is not very expensive, while cedar and mahogany cost more. Synthetic material, like PVC and composite material are costlier. The price range per square foot for most material costs between $10 and $20. A cedar deck that is 350 sq. ft. would cost approximately $4,200, while a composite deck will cost about $7k.
$ If you use amenities for your deck, such as decorative flooring patterns or maybe benches, stairs, railings, or furnishings, then it is bound to increase the cost.
$ Enhancements, like electrical outlets, or installing a fabric awning (which is retractable) or a simple pergola could add to the cost.
$ Other conditions, like the height of the deck off the ground, laying a septic system, or a gas line, or the roughness of the backyard could impact the cost.
Mean Expenses for Various Types of Material
Cost of Material
Pine Deck $7.0 – $8.0 |
Cedar Deck $8.0 – $9.0 |
Vinyl Deck $11.0 – $19.0 |
Composite Deck $11.0 – $19.0 |
*The cost is gauged as fee per square foot and takes into consideration that the contractor (at his discretion) would supply the material required.
Cost of Labor
Pine Deck $12.0 – $16.0 |
Cedar Deck $12.0 – $18.0 |
Vinyl Deck $14.0 – $22.0 |
Composite Deck $18.0 – $28.0 |
Note: The prices mentioned above are approximate and may change according to the location (country/state you are residing). Your contractor will provide you the final approximation after going over the deck plan, labor cost, examining the area, and the difficulty level.