Factors That Affect Deck Building Cost:
What Homeowners Should Know
In this article, we are going to go over some of the factors that affect the cost of a deck. This includes things like size, shape, materials, height, design and more. As a reminder, prices will vary based on contractor and this is in no way a ‘one size fits all’ guide.
Deck Size
Starting off with the most common portion of building a deck that will change the price, Size. As you can imagine, the smaller the deck, the less material is used, the less time it takes – therefore, the lower the cost.
When thinking about materials, when you have a bigger deck there will be more footings, more decking, more railings, more siding repair by the ledger board and the dimensions of the framing lumber will be larger.
Finish Materials
The next order of business, the stuff that makes your deck feel like you. Finish Materials. There are so many options to choose from for decking and railings. From pressure treated decking and railings, to composite or PVC, or even a mixture of both!
Depending on the material you choose, that will change the price of your deck build. With composite materials, there are different grades that have different prices. You can choose from lower, cheaper grades or go high end, anything you want! If you want to know more about the grades of composite decking, click here to read our article.
Height Off The Ground & Staircases
Your deck may have to be higher off the ground depending on your house and the land it sits on. That’s okay! When thinking about height, the higher off the ground, the more expensive your deck may be. The posts have to be taller, stair stringers have to be higher, it may require more structural support and it overall just requires more material. Your construction team will be going up and down ladders, which may take slightly longer to construct.
Additionally, we have the style of the staircases. Do you like ‘wedding cake’ style? Or wrap around stairs? Depending on the style you choose, it can impact the price. Wedding cake wrap around stairs look AWESOME but they require a lot more stringers to build.
Trim & Lattice
Let’s start with Lattice – A lot of times, a deck is high enough off the ground where you can get under it. Whether you don’t like the look of exposed framing or you just want some extra storage, adding lattice can enhance the look of your deck. Of course, adding lattice will increase the price since it is extra materials and extra time installing it. However, it looks great! Like everything else, there are different styles of lattice to choose from (phew so many options for things can get overwhelming huh?) Not to worry! We can help make that decision a little easier by answering any questions you may have.
Next we have trim. Trim can hide the look of exposed framing just like lattice. You can trim the posts on your deck, or just the rim joists and outside stair stringers and risers (which is standard). Our standard composite deck package includes the joist, stringer and riser trim in the estimate, however, if you want to save a little bit of money you can choose to not have trim. You can also choose to add trim to the posts for an additional cost.
Add Ons For Your Deck
One thing to think about if you live in an area where neighbors are close by or maybe you live in a condo or duplex is a privacy wall. Privacy walls can add the feeling of being in your own backyard oasis. Ever thought about a privacy wall that doubles as a vertical planter? How cool would that be!?
Maybe you are a plant connoisseur and want built in garden beds (maybe along with your vertical planter!). Or a custom bench where you can enjoy the outdoors.
Another thing to think about is if you want to have a hot tub or other heavy items on your deck, you will need a reinforced frame. You can also add a roof, gates or even crushed stone under the deck.
All of these factors can affect deck building cost. Some of them you also do not need to decide on when you are building your deck, they can be something you think about later on! We want your deck to be exactly how you imagined it. Just reach out, tell us what you want and Pafford Construction can make it happen!