How Much Does Installing Deck Cost?

Adding an outdoor deck is a great way to add usable space to your home. It can make your home feel larger and provide you with a new place to relax and unwind. You can invite your family and friends and have parties, barbecues, or other entertaining activities on your outdoor flooring. An outdoor deck is an ideal place for people to gather and socialize. So how much does installing Deck Cost?

What’s more, decks add measurable value to your home. And homeowners are able to recoup about 70% of the construction costs when they sell. In other words, building an outdoor backyard deck is a worthwhile investment.

Average Cost

The average price of building a new deck in the United States can range from $4,000 to $11,000. Including materials and labor, the material costs of a standard deck are about $30-$60 per square foot. This means that for a standard 14 x 20-foot deck, the installing deck cost about $6,000.

Of course, actual prices can go up or down in different locations, depending on your location. Before hiring a contractor, be sure to get some estimates and get a detailed idea of the price costs. Of course, these prices also depend on a number of factors, including size, design, and the type of materials you choose to use to build your deck.

The choice of material for your outdoor deck is the first factor you need to consider. And depending on your budget and desired function, you have several different options to choose from.

Traditional Wood Deck

Traditional outdoor decks are usually made of wood planks, and pressure-treated wood is so widely used that building stores basically sell this material to the public.

Pressure-treated wood is often considered the standard material used for decorative purposes. While pressure-treated wood is an inexpensive and common choice, wood decks require a lot of annual maintenance and care by the homeowner to maintain the integrity and beauty of the outdoor wood deck.

Wood decks need to be sealed and treated once a year to avoid unnecessary splintering or rotting. Broken wood may pose some danger to people and also affect the appearance of the deck.

In addition to that, using wood decking as a decorative material may become a haven for insects or even termites. Therefore you also need to take some proper precautions to avoid these insects from damaging your deck.

Wood decking is the most commonly used decorative material. And has many different kinds of wood, and the cost varies from one wood type to another. The cheapest is pressure-treated pine, which costs $3-$7 per square foot. Better ones are redwood boards and cedar boards, etc., which cost $7-$10 per square foot. The most expensive is Ipe, which is an imported hardwood. It is expensive, with a cost price of $20 per square foot.

Except for Ipe boards, the rest of the wood decks need regular maintenance work such as sealing and painting. Regular and good maintenance work will help increase the life of the wood deck and keep it looking good. 

Wood-plastic composite decking

Another popular decorative material is composite deck. The composite decking material is usually made from a mixture of recycled plastic and wood flour. Composite decorative materials have many advantages; they will not bend or crack, they will not get wet or moldy. And they will not be devoured by termites, etc. In addition, composites last longer and do not require the regular maintenance and upkeep that standard wood decking does. Once your composite deck is built, all you have to do is use it. 

The composite decking material is made using a mix of wood flour and recycled plastic. So composite decking is more environmentally friendly than wood decking, and it also improves resource efficiency and reduces deforestation. In addition, these composite decks never need to be stained, painted, or sealed, thus limiting the toxic fumes produced by harsh chemicals.

Of course, composite decking also costs a bit more than regular wood decking at $25 per square foot For example, Trex, one of the leading brands of composite trim, costs up to $12 per square foot compared to $3-$7 for wood planks. On average, you can expect to pay about $20,000 for a 16 x 20-foot composite decking.

Vinyl decking

Vinyl decking is also a popular trim material in recent years. The primary material used for this type of decorative deck is made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, an extremely common plastic used in everything from plumbing to packaging materials and other building products. As with composite decking, PVC decking requires little maintenance. Other than a standard cleaning, these decks do not need to be painted, stained, or sealed.

While PVC decking maintains a smooth appearance year-round, the boards will expand and contract with the seasons, eventually causing some fasteners to loosen. Like composite materials, vinyl decking is typically more expensive upfront than wood decking, which installing a deck cost about $10 per square foot. Likewise, PVC decking does not require regular maintenance, resulting in significant savings in maintenance costs.

DIY Deck Installation

Labor costs account for about two-thirds of the total cost of building a deck. If you can install your outdoor deck yourself, then you can save a lot of money on labor costs. Do-it-yourself outdoor deck installation is not as difficult as you might think, but of course, it’s not particularly easy either.

That’s why we recommend composite decking, which is easy to install and has matching fasteners. Even if you don’t have relevant installation experience, you can follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Before you begin, be sure to consult your local building department or homeowner’s association for any necessary approvals and permits you may need for your build. Some elements of the project may involve inspections, so be sure to plan your work around that possibility.