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 | |  | Redwood Deck: $9,600-$24,000 for 16'x20' | |
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A deck expands the available living space by providing outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing; a redwood deck provides a warm, upscale appearance. Redwood has a rich color and good-looking straight grains; a natural resistance to insects and rot; is fairly easy to work with; can be left untreated (not sealed or stained) to weather naturally; and can last 15-30 years (depending on the type of redwood used).
Typical costs: |
- A redwood deck can cost $30-$75 or more a square foot ($9,600-$24,000 for a 16'x20' deck), depending on the quality of the lumber, project complexity, and whether construction is by casual labor or a licensed contractor.
- Other factors that affect the total cost include the height; shape; number of levels; number of support footings needed; railing length, size and style; complexity of the decking board pattern; steps, stairways and landings; benches, lighting or other built-in features; and whether an old deck needs to be demolished and hauled away. Lumber prices change daily, and hit an eight-year high[1] in spring 2013.
- Because redwood is so expensive ($15-$25 and more a square foot for deck materials), building a redwood deck is no longer a common do-it-yourself project.
What should be included: |
- The deck's supporting understructure can be redwood, but because most of it isn't visible when the deck is finished, most often the supporting framework will be constructed of less-expensive pressure-treated wood (it's been treated to resist insects and decay).
- BobVila.com hosts videos demonstrating professional installation of framing the deck support[2] and installing redwood decking[3] .
Additional costs: |
- Depending on local regulations and the size and height of the structure, adding a deck often requires a building permit. Most contractors will coordinate any permits and inspections, but the homeowner is often responsible for paying the fees, which can be nominal or pricey, depending on local regulations.
- The permit process typically requires detailed plans and drawings, to show that the deck will be structurally sound and meet or exceed local building codes. Many contractors include the cost of a plan in their bid. DecksUSA.com[4] sells a CD-ROM for $19.95 with more than 350 designs; DeckPlans.com[5] offers free plans online, listed by categories.
- Once the deck is completed, contact your homeowners' insurance company ; explain how much it cost to build the new deck, and they will determine the cost to add the deck to the existing policy.
- Depending on local regulations, after the project is complete the local tax assessor may calculate how much the property has increased in value; the amount of tax increase varies significantly by location and the value of the addition.
- A redwood 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) every 1-2 years, depending on its exposure to sunlight and weather.
Shopping for a redwood deck: |
- The California Redwood Association offers a photo gallery of redwood decks[6] and printable deck project plans[7] , and lists it redwood-producer members[8] .
- Redwood is native to the West Coast, and in some regions of the country it can be special-order-only, requiring a few days for delivery. Check that the wood has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council[9] , which identifies lumber that has been legally and sustainably harvested.
- 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 family, friends, neighbors or the staff at local hardware or home improvement centers for recommendations. 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[10] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Lowe's Fan in Novato, CA. | Posted: March 13th, 2021 03:03AM |
| Square Feet of Deck: 100 | Contractor: Unlicensed |
We paid $1300 for materials and $1700 for labor on a 100 square foot composite deck plus a redwood gate. It took 30 hours, done last year.
My husband built a 100 sf heart redwood deck for about $1000 in materials in 2019. It took him about 35 hours. |
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| Posted by: Ariana Faustini in Concord, CA. | Posted: May 13th, 2019 11:05AM |
| Square Feet of Deck: 340 | Contractor: A and J Fencing and Decks |
This contractor built my fences out of redwood heartwood. They just quoted me for a redwood deck and I think it's a decent price. Curious to know what others think. I'm in the SF Bay Area where costs are usually higher for everything. |
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| Posted by: Douglas Temple in MundsPark. Az., AZ. | Posted: February 14th, 2019 07:02PM |
| Square Feet of Deck: 440 | Contractor: |
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External Resources: |
- money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=691b3718-a10f-453c-bfd6-41702b2ba853
- www.bobvila.com/sections/tv/projects/5-bob-s-shingle-style-home/episodes/25-deck-f...
- www.bobvila.com/sections/tv/projects/5-bob-s-shingle-style-home/episodes/26-workin...
- www.decksusa.com/ordercd.htm
- deckplans.com/free-deck-plans
- www.calredwood.org/project-plans/gallery/decks/
- www.calredwood.org/project-plans/decks/
- www.calredwood.org/find-redwood/
- us.fsc.org/
- www.hgtvremodels.com/outdoors/hiring-a-decking-professional/index.html
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