Your visions of hosting fancy family barbecues and planting elaborate container gardens can come with a big cost: building a backyard deck.
The average cost to add a wood deck with a built-in bench and planter to your home is $10,950, according to a Remodel magazine analysis of select construction estimates. That same survey found the average cost of a similarly built composite deck — a material made of recycled wood fibers and plastic — to be $17,670. But a U.S. Census survey of homeowners found they typically spent just $4,400 to add a deck or porch to their homes in 2017.
The bottom line: The cost of adding a deck to your home varies, sometimes considerably.
Where you live, the size of your planned deck, the materials you plan to use, who builds it and whether you want benches and planters will all affect how much you ultimately spend. Knowing deck costs in advance — and ways to keep the total price under control — can help you build a deck without destroying your budget.
How much does it cost to build a deck?
Many factors affect the cost to build a deck, such as level of finish and site preparation, but the price of professional installation always makes up a big chunk of the bill. Knowing this can help prevent sticker shock.
When he was a builder, Andrew Wormer, editor of Professional Deck Builder magazine, taught clients the 50/50 rule: “For every dollar spent on materials and supplies, expect to spend another dollar to have it installed,” he told NerdWallet in an email. And if your contractor quotes a cost per square foot, it’s probably for labor and materials combined.
In addition to supplies and labor, the climate of the location and slope of your property can also affect the cost to build a deck.
“Foundations for decks in cold climates are typically more expensive because they need deeper, freeze-proof footings,” Wormer said, while “sloped sites can create additional expenses but also present design opportunities.”
How to plan your deck installation
Know your limits: A deck is a permanent addition to your home, just like a bathroom remodel or finished basement. Additions must follow local building and zoning codes, such as required distance from property lines, that may limit the size and scope of the project, Wormer said. Upkeep is another limiting factor to consider: Composite decking and other synthetic materials generally cost more but require less maintenance, making them cheaper in the long run.
Make a budget: Start with a list of “wants” and “must-haves,” as well as the amount you’re willing to spend. Then, think about the size and value of your home, as well as how long you plan to live there. A large, luxurious home might look funny with a small, simple deck. And an oversized deck with lots of personal features may not make sense for a small house you might outgrow in a few years. Work with a professional builder to fit as many must-have elements into the design as your budget will allow, Wormer said.
Long-term costs like taxes and insurance belong in your deck budget, too. A call to the local tax assessor’s office and your homeowners insurance company during the planning stages can prevent unpleasant surprises.
Balance cost with benefits: When planning a deck, increased comfort and living space should be the main goal. Should you ever refinance or sell, improved home value and marketability may be a happy side effect.
Anything that creates more space outside, where people can envision themselves hanging out with friends, can really help sway the market, says Ryan Lundquist, a certified residential appraiser in the Sacramento, California area. Just don’t expect a dollar-for-dollar return on your investment: According to Remodeling magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report, on average, a homeowner can recoup around 64% of the cost of a composite deck or almost 83% of the cost of a wood deck.
Source: https://bit.ly/2ShfWAD
