Without Quoting Prices, What Actually Drives the Cost of a Deck Up or Down?

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Welcome to another Q&A session where we answer questions from you all on the internet.

Today's question is:

"Without Quoting Prices, What Actually Drives the Cost of a Deck Up or Down?"

Summary:

The owner identifies three main factors that influence a deck's overall cost. The first and most straightforward is simply size: bigger decks cost more, smaller decks cost less. The second is railing and accessories, specifically how much railing is needed and what type is chosen, which he describes as the number two biggest cost factor. The third involves the deck's layout and location, such as whether it's a ground-level or second-story deck, and whether the property itself makes access or construction more difficult compared to a flat, straightforward backyard. Together, these three factors form his go-to framework for explaining cost variables to homeowners without discussing specific dollar amounts.

Answer:

That's a great question, and I talk about this every single day. This is what I tell everyone after we first discuss their wants and needs: there are a couple of things that are your main gauge for how much a deck costs. Number one is simple but straightforward, and it's the size. The bigger your deck, the more expensive it's going to be; the smaller your deck, the less expensive it's going to be. That's the number one factor. Number two is variables like railing and accessories, so how much railing and what type of railing is going to be the second biggest thing affecting the cost of the deck. The third factor starts to be things like whether it's a ground-level deck or a second-story deck, or whether the deck is located somewhere on the property that makes it more difficult to build, versus being on a flat backyard. So I'd say the layout, the footprint, and the surrounding area around the deck would probably be the third biggest impact on cost.