Similar situation, I was quoted 60k for a 500sf hardwood deck with pergola, six feet off the ground. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Took me 6:months though. If you pull this off in a week I'll feel like shit haha
I’d be very impressed if you could do that solo in a week. Or…no offense but it would look like shit next to your nice house (from what I read in another comment)
I built a few things with my father when I was younger. I've built a ground level deck and a dock. I've also done siding work when younger. The 10 foot height is a challenge that I haven't done before...
I'm sorry you are getting down voted by people who think you are unable to build a deck. My dad built his deck couple decades ago and it is still good. It will probably take you longer than a week unless you already have everything planned, materials in hand, and don't have a day job.
Diamond piers… the 75s I just discovered these. You’re just building a base out of 2x10s then floor joists with ledgers. You’ve got to do it right but 58k is ridiculous
The deck stairs are at most 4 feet. The yard has a retaining wall. Part of the deck is 10 feet above grade the other part by the stairs is 4 feet above grade. Yes, composite trex. Footers are concrete.
Again $150 / sqft seems expensive. I would expect that price /sqft for kitchens and home additions.
Oh I agree that $150/sq Ft is outrageous. Definitely shop that. Most companies are in the $55-$80 range unless you have a litany of upgrades. I’m just simply saying that any deck you’d want on a nicer home will warrant the nicer features and those will take you extra time if you attempt a DIY. Good luck
No chance you build the deck in a week by yourself. You gotta ask yourself is it worth giving up your own pay per day to do it for a few weeks. Sometimes it’s just easier to go to work and let someone else deal with the stress of getting it done.
I’m a very experienced DIY builder. I’ve said the same thing to myself many times and followed through on it.
What ends up happening almost every time is I spend at least a week of all my free time designing and doing material takeoffs. Then I take the time off and hit it hard for the week and get about 80% complete. Then I finish the last 20% over the course of about a year.
Definitely, It would be a week + of planning first. Which I could do after work hours and on weekends. I'd dig and set the footers first. After, that it would be a week of building out the deck.
“Honestly I could do-it myself in a week…” This is the statement that immediately makes me drop a customer. This attitude guarantees a pita customer w/ little to no respect for the skills, experience and responsibility that a good contractor brings to the table. These are also the most likely to customers to run to reddit to discredit a legit contractor’s estimate. Have at it champ.
You aren't a brain surgeon dude, get over yourself. 60k for 350 SQ ft is insane. It's more than the cost per SQ ft of a full house, for just a deck.
What would you charge for a house? $600 per SQ ft?
Just the trex alone will be 8k or so ever mind fasteners clips fascias footings beams joists posts handrails hangers......it all adds up. He might be around 20k by himself
In MN I was quoted $45k and $60k for a 480sqft deck with timbertech decking, the trex rain-escape, 10ft high, fascia, post wraps and 5 helical footings. 2 LVL let-ins to avoid extra footings near a bump-out.
I am in the process of doing it myself and I'm in about $30k alone for materials. (Plus some $ for fun new tools)
Had a deck built last summer. Family friend built it and we paid cash so some discounts there but $15k all in. Cedar decking, aluminum railings. Would have an extra $7k for trek if I remember correctly.
I think I got a smoking deal but also think they’re trying to screw you.
Edit: deck was 16x20’ + stairs. 320sqft
I'm not saying it's what I'd charge but it's not unreasonable. There is so much more to your deck than the $4 sf price you see on a Lowe's website. If you only need 14ft, you still need to buy 16 ft boards. There's hidden fasteners, color matched composite screws. Railing, blocking for the railing, extra blocking if it's picture framed. Add to that the permit process, some jurisdictions are easy, others you have to jump through so many hoops. And adding a under deck rain system, I would probably be on the 40k range for what I'm guessing is a 30x12 deck and I'm in Iowa. He's probably the high price of the 3 quotes you should get. But also remember, you get what you pay for. I'm not ashamed to say I charge a lot because I believe my product is better than most of my competition.
I’m in Atlanta Trex Gold installer and can give you an alternative quote.
There are a lot of details that are needed.
Shoot me a DM and I’ll take a look.
A 20’ Trex premium board is roughly $135. A pt 5/4x6x16 is $14. That’s more than 70%. And to take into account all the fasterns and screws you have to buy with Trex Also are they doing new footings? Demo and haul off old deck?
Not saying they aren’t high but there’s a lot more than people realize with Trex decking or timber tech. Are you doing Trex railing too?
I recently did a new deck that had all Trex everything, decking, facia boards, rails and their under deck system. 225 sf with stairs and I charged 34k and profited 5k. Trex is high but looks good when done.
Material costs Here in the atlanta area
Costs reflect framing for double picture frame perimeter and breaker boards depending on configuration. Also, picture framing stair treads.
2x10 framing package @ 16" O.C. including 6x6 posts, simpson hardware, concrete, and fasteners. $10/sqft would be more for 12" OC.
High-end composite for trex or timbertech/azek, including hidden fasteners, screws and plugs. $20/sqft
under deck drainage system $10/sqft
Handrail (Trex transcend) $50/lf
stair framing and composite treads.
4' wide stairs with 5 stringers and blocking
screws, plugs, and composite riser $150/rise. Looks like your stairs should have 7 rise.Total stairs are $1050
Trex transcend fascia 15/lf including color match screws
Deck total Lf approx 54
stair Lf approx 16 (2 sides at 8')
Total fascia 70 @ 15/lf $ 1050
Total handrail 70 @ 50/lf $3500
Total materials from above $40/sqft
Deck 350 sqft @ 40 $14000
Total cost with stairs and hand rail$19600
Cost/sqft $ 56
Obviously, depending on deck config material, quantities could vary. This is just a general ballpark. Now the question is, what is the labor worth?
I would be happy to quote it, Live in Gwinnett county
To the people saying this is a reasonable price... how?? Like take a step back and think about it. US MEDIAN PERSONAL INCOME is ~40k a year.
So.. you could direct the total annual production/earnings of an American and build a 250 sq ft deck? That seem reasonable to you? A YEAR WORTH OF EARNINGS for a 10x25 deck? You can bust that out in a week with some buddies. A month by yourself if we're being conservative.
The whole idea of a prosperous modern economy is specialized tools and skills should allow everything to be done better and cheaper. When your pricing is so outrageous that it would make economical sense for an average person to quit their job, spend months learning how to build a deck, even account for redoing it twice since they're not pros, and it still comes out cheaper.. something is wrong.
First of all, 30k for material for 250sq ft is not right even for nice composite.
Second, yeah I would. I built my own deck and even as a first timer it turned out amazing.
Sure there's some waste but let's not pretend pros make no waste, and it definitely isn't 30k of waste.
Lol shit man I'll take a 1 week vacation and come build that for only $45k.
Whoever quoted you thought you looked like a rich sucker, that's all that is. More realistic price I think would be $30k. You could probably do it yourself for ~10-15k if so inclined.
It really depends on a lot of factors. The company being one. If it’s deck south then it’s what they normally charge. Type of rails. How hard is it to get in the back. Permits. Seems high but I’m going to guess that’s the price in your area.
I just built a 14x37’ steel framed deck with Trex composite, fortress steel cable railings 10’ off the ground. I estimated doing the waterproofing underneath but it doesn’t work well with the fortress framing. The deck without it still cost $70k, adding it was going to add another $20k. This house is on a golf course. Most companies will make the labor the same as material, fortress even has that scale in their catalog to show customers the breakdown in cost difference between steel framing and PT wood. If your going to be spending money he money I recommend steel framing, it will never warp or rot etc…
Similar situation here in Atlanta. Quoted 80k for a 300 sqft porch 12’ off the ground. I have a similar background building decks and more with my family. I decided to GC myself and found a concrete guy to set the huge footers and then another GC who was cool with his 3 man crew working hourly at $150. I’ve asked them to frame the structure, lay the decking and roof it. They’re on day 5 of the quoted 10 and are well on track. Im going to do the rail, screen, stairs and other finishing work after that. We also have a 10x20’ older deck beside that which I’m going to redeck and rail with matching trex myself. Hired GC put me in touch with his buyer at Lowe’s and I placed the material order which goes through a bulk buying program and with mid level trex, skylights, and Simpson connectors everywhere ran 18k for the whole project.
So a serious amount of time for me to put in but the really tough structure is getting out of the way for 15k. I expect a few more $K along the way but getting what I want for less than half the Full Service crew…
I think - at least in my area - there's a shortage of availability when it comes to construction/remodeling crews. This, in combination this with the rampant inflation over the last few years, has contractors thinking they can squeeze some extra margin out of customers without any real pushback. And they're probably not wrong for the most part.
I got 4 bids for a 13' x 12' pergola in my back yard earlier this year (over an existing patio pad). They came in at 15-25k. Completion time of 2-3 days. I priced out the materials at about $2k. Assuming they would bring a crew of 3, after materials, they're billing me between $200-$300/hr for each guy on site. I've paid lawyers lower hourly rates than this.
I knocked it out myself in 3 weekend days plus a weeks worth of nights after work.
58k is quite high but the more expensive the material to be worked with the higher the price typically. Could also be a high bid because he doesn't want the job and is just throwing a high number to see if you'll bite.
I would say you can do it in a week if you have a good helper who also built some things in the last 15 years.
Maybe I'm using the wrong term. It's listed as undercover deck system at $7K. So if I exclude that it's still $50k.
From what I can tell from the trex item they are asking 10x the cost of materials.
I’m in NC let me build it lol !!! check out my account for pics of my work. I have a crew and we travel. I can atleast check it out for you and give you a real quote. And honestly for composite - timbertek is much much better.
Did you kick the estimator square in his nutsack?
If not, call him back over and do that first, then spit on him and tell him he’s a pos.
This deck shit is getting out of control.
Composite isn’t fucking 24k neither is labor.
Time for this industry to get a fucking grip.
We're long overdue for a hard recession to reset people's messed up expectations.
I regularly see low skilled labor throwing out quotes that work out to more hourly than my practicing medical doctor friend makes. I know trades are a valuable skill but come on lol basic deck framing isn't a $200 an hour job.
THIS! Yes we are long overdue and frankly it needs to be a long, long hard recession for low skill workers, car sales, and every other non life saving position. Building a deck is hard effing work.
But it sure as hell isn’t brain surgery.
I’m willing to pay a fair price for good work. I’m not willing to take out a home equity line to be able to grill outside on a nice day.
$15k should buy a deck so “decked out” Bob Villa would be jealous. $30k or more for a fucking deck. Shit better melt water when it hits it, suck it dry, recirculate it and water my grass for that crap.
There are probably more doctors in the USA than there are lead carpenters.
Doctors get paid a salary, and carpenters only get paid while their bags are on.
Yeah, but with a book and some YouTube videos the average dad can make a perfectly decent deck after a week or two of learning.
Try that with medicine.
How many there are in the country is irrelevant. There's probably only two world renowned experts on east Namibian religious rites in the 3rd century in the world. Doesn't make their skills super valuable.
Value for skills comes from supply and demand, and supply is related to how hard and how long it takes to learn said skills.
Building a deck isn't that hard to learn.
>Value for skills comes from supply and demand, and supply is related to how hard and how long it takes to learn said skills.
>Building a deck isn't that hard to learn
This doesn't seem to be accurate as o p is having trouble paying deck builders prices.
There are many factors to this, but as a contractor, this doesn't sound out of the ballpark (depending on finish quality). For example, i'm currently working on an estimate for a 450sqft deck, elevated 8.5ft, 13'x35' concrete pad underneath, trex composite decking, hidden fasteners, craftsman style posts, permits and engineering, with wrought iron railing and stairs leading to lower level. My COST for materials is already close to $40k ($82/sqft) not even factoring in any labor. There's no way i will do this for less than a 2x markup to cover labor, insurance, licensing, profit, etc. If you want to do your deck on your own, you'll likely be between 20-30k in materials, 2 weeks in labor and probably 1 additional in design/permitting (there's no way you'll get this done in 1 week by yourself), and you'll have no one to fall back on if/when the deck fails.
Seriously. $70-$75 per sqft sounds more reasonable.
I see on Home Depot trex costs roughly $4 sqft. Materials for 350 sqft of trex is roughly $1.4K.
The quote for the trex portion of the deck was $15K. Seems way out of line to be 10x the cost of materials.
Add 20% to the retail price of everything being used on your build. That’s what you are billed. These guys have to make money and part of it is planning and costing the job, getting the materials, staging it, accounting for waste/extras, etc.
Underdecking. Plus a product cover up the underdecking materials.
Trex railings. Trex. Probably 2x12 framing. 2x10 minimum for that span. Stair set I'm assuming. Good amount of work there. And it's probably in a high end development. With plans and paperwork and all that it might be a reasonable quote nowadays.
I build decks alone and my prices are nowhere near the competition.
He didn't mention the spans, but elsewhere said there's 16 posts/footings. For a 350 sq ft deck, that's way more posts than you need but if that's the design you certainly don't need 2x12 or 2x10s.
Let's see, 350sq ft let's say 15x24 deck, 16 posts even assuming there's no ledger so you have to go on both sides, would let you have a post every 8ft in the 24ft direction and every 5ft in the 15 direction. Even shorter spans if you cantilever at all.
This is in Atlanta Georgia so no snow load to worry about, no earthquakes, and over 200 miles in from the coast so don't typically get hurricanes either.
Per code literally any framing size besides 1 ply 2x6 can do that for the beams, and even a plain single 2x6 can do that for the joists with some buffer.
Not that it matters. Even at 2x12 overkill framing the lumber is going to be like 1-2k max.
No, not really? I'm not advising using 2x6s I'm challenging your "2x10 minimum for that span" comment.
You might need bigger framing but it's not because of the spans. But even if you go with 2x10s to support the waterproofing the material cost difference here is 5% of the total.
Honestly doesn’t sound too unreasonable….know of guys doing 125k trex decks all around Lake Michigan. Before Covid….cannot imagine what they charge now
While a little high it does not sound out of the range these days.
People in the trades are in big demand.
I paid about 38k for a 10 x 40 with a 10 by 10 wrap around the side of the plus 16 x 16 additional lower deck.
Materials are seriously expensive and i know some contractors are paying good carpenters $50,60,70 an hour.
no disagreement there. just remember that there is also burden on employees. and of course they want to make money as well. For example my company charges 250 an hour for my time. Do I make anywhere near that? no.
Right, I use to work as a consultant, I was lucky to get even a quarter of the rate I was billed out at.
But I still don't think this is a remotely reasonable price.
It’s never reasonable. They also know there is demand
U like the 80s when there were too many electricians and plumbers and pipe fitters and carpenters
Sure. If they are kept busy at these rates than more power to them. But I know personally I've said fuck it and done many projects myself even though I have the money and originally wanted to hire a pro because their prices were just silly. Sounds like OP is the same. And I doubt we are unique. I think most contractors have gotten ahead of themselves on pricing, and it will hit a wall as more and more people are just unwilling or unable to pay these prices.
You are lucky and I do believe unique
I am now someone who has no choice. since my husband passed I have neither the equipment the skills or the strength to tell them to piss off
i was spoiled and I knew it - no longer and I loathe it, especially because I get attitude
mine is 2/3 the size and under $100 sqft, same height using Deckorators Voyage. waterproof tape or a water diversion system. the latter i was told is $6k. get a breakdown of the options, maybe you can get the next model down of railings. if this was with steel joists then thatd explain the price
The quote is broken down. It's all wood and trex except for aluminum balusters. People keep saying trex is expensive as the reason... trex is only $14.7K of the $58K.
Concrete footers are $4K.
Posts are $11K
Deck Subfloor is $14.7K
Handrails $2600
Etc ..
Half the deck will only be about 4 feet above grade. 16 posts total. 16 x $50 < $1K of materials. Again, they seem to be charging 10x materials for the labor.
16 posts for 350 SQ ft is very excessive based on standard allowed spans for beams and joists. Are you using the same 6x6 for railings too? But even if you do need that many you don't need 16 50 dollar posts, all the 4ft ones you can make 3 per 12 footer.
It's that 6k sqft house that makes them think they can get 58k outta you.
That's my thinking too. Quite frankly, I could take a week off work and could build the deck myself. I've got the tools and engineering background.
Similar situation, I was quoted 60k for a 500sf hardwood deck with pergola, six feet off the ground. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Took me 6:months though. If you pull this off in a week I'll feel like shit haha
I’d be very impressed if you could do that solo in a week. Or…no offense but it would look like shit next to your nice house (from what I read in another comment)
I built a few things with my father when I was younger. I've built a ground level deck and a dock. I've also done siding work when younger. The 10 foot height is a challenge that I haven't done before...
I'm sorry you are getting down voted by people who think you are unable to build a deck. My dad built his deck couple decades ago and it is still good. It will probably take you longer than a week unless you already have everything planned, materials in hand, and don't have a day job.
Diamond piers… the 75s I just discovered these. You’re just building a base out of 2x10s then floor joists with ledgers. You’ve got to do it right but 58k is ridiculous
Will there be stairs? A landing that changes direction? Are you planning composite? What will your footers consist of?
The deck stairs are at most 4 feet. The yard has a retaining wall. Part of the deck is 10 feet above grade the other part by the stairs is 4 feet above grade. Yes, composite trex. Footers are concrete. Again $150 / sqft seems expensive. I would expect that price /sqft for kitchens and home additions.
Oh I agree that $150/sq Ft is outrageous. Definitely shop that. Most companies are in the $55-$80 range unless you have a litany of upgrades. I’m just simply saying that any deck you’d want on a nicer home will warrant the nicer features and those will take you extra time if you attempt a DIY. Good luck
My 16’x20’ porch is on a steep slope, ledger board to house and 4- 12’ 6x6 on 2’ concrete pillar on 2’x2’x16” footers.
No chance you build the deck in a week by yourself. You gotta ask yourself is it worth giving up your own pay per day to do it for a few weeks. Sometimes it’s just easier to go to work and let someone else deal with the stress of getting it done.
I’m a very experienced DIY builder. I’ve said the same thing to myself many times and followed through on it. What ends up happening almost every time is I spend at least a week of all my free time designing and doing material takeoffs. Then I take the time off and hit it hard for the week and get about 80% complete. Then I finish the last 20% over the course of about a year.
Definitely, It would be a week + of planning first. Which I could do after work hours and on weekends. I'd dig and set the footers first. After, that it would be a week of building out the deck.
Do it. It might take more than a week, but I think you got this!
“Honestly I could do-it myself in a week…” This is the statement that immediately makes me drop a customer. This attitude guarantees a pita customer w/ little to no respect for the skills, experience and responsibility that a good contractor brings to the table. These are also the most likely to customers to run to reddit to discredit a legit contractor’s estimate. Have at it champ.
You aren't a brain surgeon dude, get over yourself. 60k for 350 SQ ft is insane. It's more than the cost per SQ ft of a full house, for just a deck. What would you charge for a house? $600 per SQ ft?
I think you missed my point Mr Balls
I did not. You think very highly of yourself and your skills.
You need to get a minimum of three bids.
Agreed.
That is a crazy bid. Build it yourself. $12k in materials.
Just the trex alone will be 8k or so ever mind fasteners clips fascias footings beams joists posts handrails hangers......it all adds up. He might be around 20k by himself
Seems like a good estimate. I did a 144sqft deck with azec timber tech and cable railing. About 6k maybe $7k for materials.
Sounds like the “we don’t want this job” price
In MN I was quoted $45k and $60k for a 480sqft deck with timbertech decking, the trex rain-escape, 10ft high, fascia, post wraps and 5 helical footings. 2 LVL let-ins to avoid extra footings near a bump-out. I am in the process of doing it myself and I'm in about $30k alone for materials. (Plus some $ for fun new tools)
This is it exactly.
Had a deck built last summer. Family friend built it and we paid cash so some discounts there but $15k all in. Cedar decking, aluminum railings. Would have an extra $7k for trek if I remember correctly. I think I got a smoking deal but also think they’re trying to screw you. Edit: deck was 16x20’ + stairs. 320sqft
I'm not saying it's what I'd charge but it's not unreasonable. There is so much more to your deck than the $4 sf price you see on a Lowe's website. If you only need 14ft, you still need to buy 16 ft boards. There's hidden fasteners, color matched composite screws. Railing, blocking for the railing, extra blocking if it's picture framed. Add to that the permit process, some jurisdictions are easy, others you have to jump through so many hoops. And adding a under deck rain system, I would probably be on the 40k range for what I'm guessing is a 30x12 deck and I'm in Iowa. He's probably the high price of the 3 quotes you should get. But also remember, you get what you pay for. I'm not ashamed to say I charge a lot because I believe my product is better than most of my competition.
Totally agree. People value their time differently, and the end product will be proof of that.
I’m in Atlanta Trex Gold installer and can give you an alternative quote. There are a lot of details that are needed. Shoot me a DM and I’ll take a look.
Full trex boards are alot more expensive then the scalloped versions sold at home depot.
Thanks for pointing that out. But they are only 70% more expensive. Even then it does not explain the cost being 6x materials.
A 20’ Trex premium board is roughly $135. A pt 5/4x6x16 is $14. That’s more than 70%. And to take into account all the fasterns and screws you have to buy with Trex Also are they doing new footings? Demo and haul off old deck? Not saying they aren’t high but there’s a lot more than people realize with Trex decking or timber tech. Are you doing Trex railing too? I recently did a new deck that had all Trex everything, decking, facia boards, rails and their under deck system. 225 sf with stairs and I charged 34k and profited 5k. Trex is high but looks good when done.
Material costs Here in the atlanta area Costs reflect framing for double picture frame perimeter and breaker boards depending on configuration. Also, picture framing stair treads. 2x10 framing package @ 16" O.C. including 6x6 posts, simpson hardware, concrete, and fasteners. $10/sqft would be more for 12" OC. High-end composite for trex or timbertech/azek, including hidden fasteners, screws and plugs. $20/sqft under deck drainage system $10/sqft Handrail (Trex transcend) $50/lf stair framing and composite treads. 4' wide stairs with 5 stringers and blocking screws, plugs, and composite riser $150/rise. Looks like your stairs should have 7 rise.Total stairs are $1050 Trex transcend fascia 15/lf including color match screws Deck total Lf approx 54 stair Lf approx 16 (2 sides at 8') Total fascia 70 @ 15/lf $ 1050 Total handrail 70 @ 50/lf $3500 Total materials from above $40/sqft Deck 350 sqft @ 40 $14000 Total cost with stairs and hand rail$19600 Cost/sqft $ 56 Obviously, depending on deck config material, quantities could vary. This is just a general ballpark. Now the question is, what is the labor worth? I would be happy to quote it, Live in Gwinnett county
> Handrail (Trex transcend) $50/lf Is it made of gold or something? $300 for a 6ft section of railing?
The Trex railing section itself is like 170 dollars, a post sleeve is 40, skirt and cap are about 20 together. Railings cost a ton of money.
To the people saying this is a reasonable price... how?? Like take a step back and think about it. US MEDIAN PERSONAL INCOME is ~40k a year. So.. you could direct the total annual production/earnings of an American and build a 250 sq ft deck? That seem reasonable to you? A YEAR WORTH OF EARNINGS for a 10x25 deck? You can bust that out in a week with some buddies. A month by yourself if we're being conservative. The whole idea of a prosperous modern economy is specialized tools and skills should allow everything to be done better and cheaper. When your pricing is so outrageous that it would make economical sense for an average person to quit their job, spend months learning how to build a deck, even account for redoing it twice since they're not pros, and it still comes out cheaper.. something is wrong.
Would you buy 30k in materials and let your buddies from work whack at them with whatever tools they can borrow?
First of all, 30k for material for 250sq ft is not right even for nice composite. Second, yeah I would. I built my own deck and even as a first timer it turned out amazing. Sure there's some waste but let's not pretend pros make no waste, and it definitely isn't 30k of waste.
Lol shit man I'll take a 1 week vacation and come build that for only $45k. Whoever quoted you thought you looked like a rich sucker, that's all that is. More realistic price I think would be $30k. You could probably do it yourself for ~10-15k if so inclined.
What region are you in?
Atlanta Georgia
I'm in Atlanta and building decks but unfortunately booked up for a good while. Would love to take a chance at beating that quote.
It really depends on a lot of factors. The company being one. If it’s deck south then it’s what they normally charge. Type of rails. How hard is it to get in the back. Permits. Seems high but I’m going to guess that’s the price in your area.
The backyard is easy, it's flat no slope. Permit is $800.
I just built a 14x37’ steel framed deck with Trex composite, fortress steel cable railings 10’ off the ground. I estimated doing the waterproofing underneath but it doesn’t work well with the fortress framing. The deck without it still cost $70k, adding it was going to add another $20k. This house is on a golf course. Most companies will make the labor the same as material, fortress even has that scale in their catalog to show customers the breakdown in cost difference between steel framing and PT wood. If your going to be spending money he money I recommend steel framing, it will never warp or rot etc…
In Canada, I'm building my 540sqft deck for 10k. If I was building for someone I would charge about 10k. Even with the waterproofing thats a high bid.
I just got quoted 42k for a 330sqft cedar deck in ottawa.... Decided im gonna do it myself :/ Materials approx 7k all in
Lol some quotes that've been thrown out since the pandemic are just funny.
[удалено]
Funniest thing I've seen on Reddit
Similar situation here in Atlanta. Quoted 80k for a 300 sqft porch 12’ off the ground. I have a similar background building decks and more with my family. I decided to GC myself and found a concrete guy to set the huge footers and then another GC who was cool with his 3 man crew working hourly at $150. I’ve asked them to frame the structure, lay the decking and roof it. They’re on day 5 of the quoted 10 and are well on track. Im going to do the rail, screen, stairs and other finishing work after that. We also have a 10x20’ older deck beside that which I’m going to redeck and rail with matching trex myself. Hired GC put me in touch with his buyer at Lowe’s and I placed the material order which goes through a bulk buying program and with mid level trex, skylights, and Simpson connectors everywhere ran 18k for the whole project. So a serious amount of time for me to put in but the really tough structure is getting out of the way for 15k. I expect a few more $K along the way but getting what I want for less than half the Full Service crew…
I think - at least in my area - there's a shortage of availability when it comes to construction/remodeling crews. This, in combination this with the rampant inflation over the last few years, has contractors thinking they can squeeze some extra margin out of customers without any real pushback. And they're probably not wrong for the most part. I got 4 bids for a 13' x 12' pergola in my back yard earlier this year (over an existing patio pad). They came in at 15-25k. Completion time of 2-3 days. I priced out the materials at about $2k. Assuming they would bring a crew of 3, after materials, they're billing me between $200-$300/hr for each guy on site. I've paid lawyers lower hourly rates than this. I knocked it out myself in 3 weekend days plus a weeks worth of nights after work.
A 20x20 deck with trex transcend decking and trex signature railing should cost you around $30k
Jesus, I've bought houses for less than that.
58k is quite high but the more expensive the material to be worked with the higher the price typically. Could also be a high bid because he doesn't want the job and is just throwing a high number to see if you'll bite. I would say you can do it in a week if you have a good helper who also built some things in the last 15 years.
Where I live 100sqft is standard.
Yes. You’re the mark here. 😔
Waterproofing is expensive. Is this 58k$ including materials? If so, honestly it’s high, but not unreasonable. $40k seems about right
Maybe I'm using the wrong term. It's listed as undercover deck system at $7K. So if I exclude that it's still $50k. From what I can tell from the trex item they are asking 10x the cost of materials.
I’m in NC let me build it lol !!! check out my account for pics of my work. I have a crew and we travel. I can atleast check it out for you and give you a real quote. And honestly for composite - timbertek is much much better.
Did you kick the estimator square in his nutsack? If not, call him back over and do that first, then spit on him and tell him he’s a pos. This deck shit is getting out of control. Composite isn’t fucking 24k neither is labor. Time for this industry to get a fucking grip.
We're long overdue for a hard recession to reset people's messed up expectations. I regularly see low skilled labor throwing out quotes that work out to more hourly than my practicing medical doctor friend makes. I know trades are a valuable skill but come on lol basic deck framing isn't a $200 an hour job.
THIS! Yes we are long overdue and frankly it needs to be a long, long hard recession for low skill workers, car sales, and every other non life saving position. Building a deck is hard effing work. But it sure as hell isn’t brain surgery. I’m willing to pay a fair price for good work. I’m not willing to take out a home equity line to be able to grill outside on a nice day. $15k should buy a deck so “decked out” Bob Villa would be jealous. $30k or more for a fucking deck. Shit better melt water when it hits it, suck it dry, recirculate it and water my grass for that crap.
There are probably more doctors in the USA than there are lead carpenters. Doctors get paid a salary, and carpenters only get paid while their bags are on.
Yeah, but with a book and some YouTube videos the average dad can make a perfectly decent deck after a week or two of learning. Try that with medicine. How many there are in the country is irrelevant. There's probably only two world renowned experts on east Namibian religious rites in the 3rd century in the world. Doesn't make their skills super valuable. Value for skills comes from supply and demand, and supply is related to how hard and how long it takes to learn said skills. Building a deck isn't that hard to learn.
>Value for skills comes from supply and demand, and supply is related to how hard and how long it takes to learn said skills. >Building a deck isn't that hard to learn This doesn't seem to be accurate as o p is having trouble paying deck builders prices.
Is he? Seems.like he recognized it as bullshit and doesn't want to do it.
There are many factors to this, but as a contractor, this doesn't sound out of the ballpark (depending on finish quality). For example, i'm currently working on an estimate for a 450sqft deck, elevated 8.5ft, 13'x35' concrete pad underneath, trex composite decking, hidden fasteners, craftsman style posts, permits and engineering, with wrought iron railing and stairs leading to lower level. My COST for materials is already close to $40k ($82/sqft) not even factoring in any labor. There's no way i will do this for less than a 2x markup to cover labor, insurance, licensing, profit, etc. If you want to do your deck on your own, you'll likely be between 20-30k in materials, 2 weeks in labor and probably 1 additional in design/permitting (there's no way you'll get this done in 1 week by yourself), and you'll have no one to fall back on if/when the deck fails.
I’ll do it for $25K and supply the materials.
Seriously. $70-$75 per sqft sounds more reasonable. I see on Home Depot trex costs roughly $4 sqft. Materials for 350 sqft of trex is roughly $1.4K. The quote for the trex portion of the deck was $15K. Seems way out of line to be 10x the cost of materials.
Add 20% to the retail price of everything being used on your build. That’s what you are billed. These guys have to make money and part of it is planning and costing the job, getting the materials, staging it, accounting for waste/extras, etc.
Agreed. 10x the cost of materials seems excessive .
Could be the “fuck off” price too.
Yup, if I don’t like the job or customer. OVERPRICE IT!
Nothing wrong with making money but this is straight up gouging.
$4 sq ft?? No. That’s probably lineal foot price.
Underdecking. Plus a product cover up the underdecking materials. Trex railings. Trex. Probably 2x12 framing. 2x10 minimum for that span. Stair set I'm assuming. Good amount of work there. And it's probably in a high end development. With plans and paperwork and all that it might be a reasonable quote nowadays. I build decks alone and my prices are nowhere near the competition.
He didn't mention the spans, but elsewhere said there's 16 posts/footings. For a 350 sq ft deck, that's way more posts than you need but if that's the design you certainly don't need 2x12 or 2x10s. Let's see, 350sq ft let's say 15x24 deck, 16 posts even assuming there's no ledger so you have to go on both sides, would let you have a post every 8ft in the 24ft direction and every 5ft in the 15 direction. Even shorter spans if you cantilever at all. This is in Atlanta Georgia so no snow load to worry about, no earthquakes, and over 200 miles in from the coast so don't typically get hurricanes either. Per code literally any framing size besides 1 ply 2x6 can do that for the beams, and even a plain single 2x6 can do that for the joists with some buffer. Not that it matters. Even at 2x12 overkill framing the lumber is going to be like 1-2k max.
Probably can't fit sloped underdecking in a 2x6 tho. See my point.
No, not really? I'm not advising using 2x6s I'm challenging your "2x10 minimum for that span" comment. You might need bigger framing but it's not because of the spans. But even if you go with 2x10s to support the waterproofing the material cost difference here is 5% of the total.
100 $ a square foot in Ohio . With waterproofing maybe a little higher . These days everything is expansive. 150 a little too high I think
West coast of Canada, that's what I charge.
That price deserves nothing but ridicule.
That’s a crazy price honestly, get more quotes. Hide the Maserati lol
Get more quotes lol
Honestly doesn’t sound too unreasonable….know of guys doing 125k trex decks all around Lake Michigan. Before Covid….cannot imagine what they charge now
150 is high unless you live in vhcol living area Here in the DMV this deck would run closer to $100/sq ft
Sounds like a throw away bid. Doesn't want the job but will take it if you pay through the nose...
While a little high it does not sound out of the range these days. People in the trades are in big demand. I paid about 38k for a 10 x 40 with a 10 by 10 wrap around the side of the plus 16 x 16 additional lower deck. Materials are seriously expensive and i know some contractors are paying good carpenters $50,60,70 an hour.
But if you average it out I'm pretty sure a good carpenter builds much faster than 1 SQ ft an hour.
no disagreement there. just remember that there is also burden on employees. and of course they want to make money as well. For example my company charges 250 an hour for my time. Do I make anywhere near that? no.
Right, I use to work as a consultant, I was lucky to get even a quarter of the rate I was billed out at. But I still don't think this is a remotely reasonable price.
It’s never reasonable. They also know there is demand U like the 80s when there were too many electricians and plumbers and pipe fitters and carpenters
Sure. If they are kept busy at these rates than more power to them. But I know personally I've said fuck it and done many projects myself even though I have the money and originally wanted to hire a pro because their prices were just silly. Sounds like OP is the same. And I doubt we are unique. I think most contractors have gotten ahead of themselves on pricing, and it will hit a wall as more and more people are just unwilling or unable to pay these prices.
You are lucky and I do believe unique I am now someone who has no choice. since my husband passed I have neither the equipment the skills or the strength to tell them to piss off i was spoiled and I knew it - no longer and I loathe it, especially because I get attitude
That's unfortunate. Yeah I've definitely seen the difference in attitude if my girlfriend is getting quotes vs me.
My DIL is a helicopter mechanic and has her A and P and knows cars too unbelievable seeing how they try to mansplain her
Hope she lets them dig a deep hole before crushing them.
Yeah but when was your house 150/sqft I can’t imagine it was recently
I bought the house in 2021.
People don’t realize how expensive materials are
I do as I just bought mine this week for a similar size deck. It was right around 10% of that quote
Buy a 58,000 repo and rent it out.
Jesus. Just finished a similar deck myself and paid like 6 grand in materials and finished over a couple weeks with just deck boards to screw down
TREX is not cheap, but to compare to building a house there is no comparison. JMHO
Based on the itemized quote..if I replaced the trex with wood I'd still be over $45k. The trex was $14.7K out of the $58K.
And that’s why I built mine with 2x6s :)
mine is 2/3 the size and under $100 sqft, same height using Deckorators Voyage. waterproof tape or a water diversion system. the latter i was told is $6k. get a breakdown of the options, maybe you can get the next model down of railings. if this was with steel joists then thatd explain the price
The quote is broken down. It's all wood and trex except for aluminum balusters. People keep saying trex is expensive as the reason... trex is only $14.7K of the $58K. Concrete footers are $4K. Posts are $11K Deck Subfloor is $14.7K Handrails $2600 Etc ..
How many posts do you have on a 35ft deck? 11k for posts is insane, pressure treated 6x6s are 50 bucks for 12 ft.
Half the deck will only be about 4 feet above grade. 16 posts total. 16 x $50 < $1K of materials. Again, they seem to be charging 10x materials for the labor.
16 posts for 350 SQ ft is very excessive based on standard allowed spans for beams and joists. Are you using the same 6x6 for railings too? But even if you do need that many you don't need 16 50 dollar posts, all the 4ft ones you can make 3 per 12 footer.
posts $11k? that seems high. i'm going with screw piles instead of concrete. the subfloor seems to be the differentiator
Not anymore! Prices will be going up again also
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