Estimate Cost To Build Deck?

[jyl]

Does anyone have a very rough, ballpark estimate of how much it might cost to build a wood deck? Per square foot, perhaps?

The deck would be attached to the rear of the house. For the first 5 feet from the house exterior wall, the deck would be just a foot or two above the ground. After that the ground slopes sharply down, roughly a 45 degree angle. The next 5 to 10 feet of the deck would be supported, probably on piers of some sort. In total the deck would be 10 to 15 feet wide - distance from edge of deck to house wall. The climate is wet (Oregon) and ideally the deck would be made from plastic wood (I don't know the name of the material).

I'm trying to figure out if a 600 sq ft deck (40 feet long along the house wall, 15 feet wide) will cost $10K or $50K.

Thanks, all. We're looking at a house purchase.

[vash]

sweet! i dont know crap about a deck. but good luck on the home!

[slodave]

Well, the people who stole my CC number tried to rack up $9000.- in building materials. They got away with $6000.- before getting rejected. Should be one heck of a deck they built.

Sorry, don't have an answer either.

Dave

[vash]

wait a second....you are moving!!!!?

i think you are talking about something like a trex deck. nice stuff, it has come along way.

[trekkor]

I can give you several general contractors #'s if you want it done right.


KT

[oldE]

I think you'll find the biggest factor is the footing(s) along the outside edge of the structure. From your description, the ground is about 10 - 12 feet below the deck level at the outer edge and you don't say if it levels off or contunues to drop past that point. Is it undisturbed soil or fill which was left there from the excavation? Once you've got that figured out and the general structure of the deck itself, (one level or two, straight lines or varied perimeter, stairs to ground, etc.) its a matter of a materials list and a calculator.
Better take Trekkor up on his offer.
Les

[Paul T]

We have a similar deck to what you describe, about 12' deep into a severely sloping yard - all built with a composite decking. Ours is big, I'd say about 1000 sq ft total at least, with 2 levels and a staircase. I didn't build the deck, it was here when we moved in (2 weeks ago), but it was built in 2001 and the PO told me it cost them $30k.

[Paul K]

Trex needs more support than say, redwood- and that support is regular wood, so don't expect the whole thing to last the expected life of trex. Plus trex is slippery when wet. Our redwood deck was put on the house in the mid 70's and is now in need of replacement. We're going to use Ipe- a brazilian hardwood. Good UV and rot resistance, plus it look gorgeous. Spendy-yes, but I'd rather put on one ipe deck than two redwood ones. Let us know how it turns out.

Cheers,

Paul.

[mudman]

Go to a local HD with a sketch and measurements and they will give you an est. on lumber and can help in the design of the structure. If you are going to construct yourself (I highly recommend this, the deck contractors around here are the ones that couldn't cut it building houses) then go to your local library and check out one of the fifteen books the have on deck building and gen construction, read a little to get a feel if you can do it. Figure buying/renting tools you don't have, delivery, scheduling, financing, etc. If you are not a moron and value fit and finish (and can plan a project like this) then do it!
-Jeremy

[Decolliber]

I built a deck on our last house, about 20' X 40'. Cost depends a lot on what kind of wood you use: treated (cheapest), cedar or redwood (most $). Bought one of those books you find in Lowe's on "how to build a deck." Cost of materials was about $1500. I used treated wood because I planned to stain it afterwards. If I were to do it again I would have used cedar. Took me about 2 weeks over the summer to build. This was back in 1996 so cost of wood probably over $2K now.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Decolliber
I built a deck on our last house, about 20' X 40'. Cost depends a lot on what kind of wood you use: treated (cheapest), cedar or redwood (most $). Bought one of those books you find in Lowe's on "how to build a deck." Cost of materials was about $1500. I used treated wood because I planned to stain it afterwards. If I were to do it again I would have used cedar. Took me about 2 weeks over the summer to build. This was back in 1996 so cost of wood probably over $2K now.

why cedar? we're planning on doing a similar project to the back of our house.

[scottmandue]

Get several contractors to come out and give you a bid...
Take the highest bid and multiply it times two.

[Decolliber]

Originally posted by on-ramp
why cedar? we're planning on doing a similar project to the back of our house.

Cedar is naturally insect resistant, smells nice and looks good for a very long time (thats why it is used as siding on houses). Ordinary pine will eventually rot, though not as quickly if treated. But treated wood has chemicals in it (including arsenic, I think) that may not be good for plants, pets and children. Treated wood also has an ugly green tint to it, so you would probably want to use an oil based stain on it aftwerwards (as I did), to color it and seal it. The only thing that treated pine has to recommend it is low cost. Cedar is about 50% more and red wood about twice as much.

[jyl]

Well, my wife nixed that house anyway. Deck or no deck, she doesn't think it'll work long term for us.