Understand Pricing and Process When Hiring Deck Contractors for Your New Deck

April 19, 2019

A wooden deck with a couch and a table on it

Spring is on its way in, and that means deck weather! With longer days and more sunshine in your future, you’re going to want to be outdoors. Now’s the time to start looking ahead at having your dream deck built.

Though it seems simple, building a deck requires some skill and professional know how. So, before you pull out the hammer and nails, you should consider looking at deck contractors in your area.

To hire the right contractor, learn about pricing and the deck building process. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Find Deck Contractors Worth Hiring

You can start with some online research. A local Google search can help you identify contractors in your area. But, that’s only the beginning of your search.

There’s a lot more to consider before you hire someone to build your deck. Like skills and experience with building decks.

Contractors are not one size fits all. Ask the questions that matter to sort them out.

The Deck Building Process

To ask the right questions, you need to understand the deck building process. The steps include getting permits, pouring footings, building, and sealing it. A deck contractor should be able to help you make choices and a plan that works.

Find out if your contractor has experience pulling local permits. It’s part of the service they should provide when building your deck.

Ask about the planning and design process of building your deck. They should provide choices of materials, sizing, and placement of your deck. Your contractor should help sort through the options.

Ask to look at samples of decking and roofing materials. See if your contractor can provide pictures of previous deck projects, too.

Understand that construction is disruptive to your life, even when it’s happening outside. Find out how long construction will last.

Competitive Pricing

To do it right, you should interview at least 3 deck contractors. That way, when you start talking about pricing, you know how they compare.

Things that affect pricing are the size of the deck, the materials, and the time it takes to build it. Also, any additions to your deck can increase the price. Extras like porch swings, electrical work, lighting, and ceiling fans add to the cost.

In general, an average 200-500 square foot deck might cost around $7,000. You can estimate $35 per square foot to get a ballpark figure for comparisons.

Keep in mind that better quality materials can make this cost much higher. Working on a difficult terrain can increase labor costs, too.

Referrals and Reviews Matter

Don’t forget that you can ask friends and family for recommendations. Often, this is the best way to find a reliable contractor to build your deck. Read reviews online to see how they stack up with previous customers, too!