Pressure-Treated Wood Deck Cost

Typical costs:

• A PT wood deck can cost $8-$50 a square foot ($2,560-$16,000 for a 16'x20' deck), but averages about $25-$35 a square foot ($8,000-$11,200 for 16'x20'), depending on the quality of materials, project complexity, and whether construction is by casual labor or a licensed contractor. Lumber prices can change daily, affecting the total cost.
• CostHelper readers report paying $1,800-$8,500 to have a handyman or casual labor install a pressure-treated wood deck, or $8-$23 per square foot. Readers who hired a decking contractor report paying $4,400-$20,000, or $16-$50 per square foot.
• Decks-R-Us in Pennsylvania estimates that a 12'x16' PT wood deck with four tread steps, black spindles and stone under the deck typically costs $5,650-$6,500 ($29.43-$33.86 a square foot).
• Do-it-yourself materials can cost $3-$12 a square foot ($960-$3,840 for 16'x20') depending on the grade of PT wood and project complexity.
• CostHelper readers report spending $960-$3,300 for do-it-yourself materials, or $3.27-$9.38 a square foot, with an average of $5.23. This Old House estimates that building a simple, ground-level 10'x16' deck[1] of PT wood with no railings is of moderate to hard difficulty (it helps to have at least two workers) and takes 4-6 days of construction plus a week for concrete to cure.

• Home Depot describes pressure-treated wood[2] .

• Building a deck often requires a building permit (depending on local regulations and the size and height of the structure). Most contractors coordinate any permits and inspections, but the homeowner is usually responsible for paying the fees, which can be nominal or pricey, depending on location.
• Depending on local regulations, after the project is complete the local tax assessor may calculate how much the property has increased in value; the exact amount of any tax increase varies significantly by location and the value of the addition.
• Once the deck is completed, contact your homeowners' insurance company ; tell them how much it cost to build the new deck, and they will determine the cost to add the deck to the existing policy.
• A deck should be AA home.costhelper.com/cleaning-deck.html>cleaned annually ($0.25-$1.50 or more a square foot) and might require sealing ($1-$5 a square foot) or staining ($0.50-$7 a square foot) every 1-2 years, depending on the type of wood and the deck's exposure to sunlight and weather.

• The Lowe's Deck Designer[3] lets consumers pick sample decks or create a custom project.
• A deck can be installed by a handyman (or do-it-yourselfer) with strong carpentry and design skills, a landscaping contractor, a general building contractor (who may sub it out to a specialist) or a decking contractor.
• Ask for and check references from satisfied customers;and confirm that the company is properly insured and licensed.
• Ask for a detailed explanation of the work to be done and the materials that will be used. If there is an existing deck, make sure demolition and debris removal are included. HGTVremodels.com lists questions to ask a decking professional[4] .

1.  www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,262821,00.html
2.  www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=Pressure_Treated&storeId=1...
3.  www.lowes.com/cd_Deck+Designer+Planner_733683095_?cm_cr=Decking-_-Web+Activity-_-D...
4.  www.hgtvremodels.com/outdoors/hiring-a-decking-professional/index.html

Check Out All Costs for Home and Garden		How Much Does a Propane Tank Cost?		How Much Does a Plumber Cost?		How Much Does Pressure Washing Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Make sure your gutters are clean before they start to fill up again this fall. Are you planning a Labor Day picnic? Need a new charcoal grill? Pruning trees before the storm season can help ensure dead branches won't imperil your home. Looking for help to take care of your garden? How much does garden service cost. The late August sun can leave a mark. Check out sunburn treatment options.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

UTI urgent care visit Paid: 147.00 Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more] -nervouschomper Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost Spanish Medical Interpreter Paid: 150.00 I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more] -Gregory Richardson Interpreter Cost Dat Paid: 495.00 This is how much I am paying... [more] -Calista Christian Dental Admission Test Cost Shingrix Paid: 48.00 ... [more] -Not that BB Shingles Vaccine Cost Skin prick allergy test Paid: 573.00 Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more] -D’s mom Allergy Testing Cost Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat Paid: 0.00 13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more] -Terrimarie Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost