Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Compiling a budget for a deck

I need to come up with the rough costs of wood decking materials for a project I'm working on. Is there a rule of thumb regarding the basic cost of a deck, say so much per square foot?

How much it will cost will depend on what kind and what size of wood you are using for the framing, what kind of wood you are using for the decking, and what if any railing is required.

I haven't done a wood deck in about 10 years. They have all been composite or Azek. The only wood available for decking around here is redwood, and, depending on the grade, I can get a composite for about the same price. Why would the customer want all the maintenance that comes with a wood deck?

I would check with a lumberyard and they should be able to give you a range given certain perameters. I would still go with a wood deck, as you can't beat the natural look, particularly if you have an old house.

Compile a complete bill of materials required to build the deck. Take the list to the lumber yard or home center and price each item, then extend by the quantity to get total cost of materials.

That will give you a 'ballpark' idea, but until you actually design the deck and go out actually PRICE the material, you really won't know. (I can blow your $20/sq.ft. number right out of the water!)

Add extra for things like using Cortex fasteners if you go that route. Add extra if the deck is going to be less than 12" above grade. Add extra when you find a railing system that you 'just have to have'. Add extra if you choose to use Azek rather than some less expensive composite. Add extra ...

Buying a deck is a lot like buying a car or a house. Figure out what your budget for it is AND THEN see what you can get within that budget.

You $6 for wood and $20 for a composite is fairly close. It's going to vary some, depending on what part of the country you're in, what species of woods are available, and product pricing of course.

You have Azek available at $2.89. Around here it's $2.99, except for Kona and Fawn, which are $3.29.

About the only wood decks being built in this area are redwood, and the grade of that is going to have a HUGE impact on the price. A con common 2X6 is about $1.50/ft., and con heart starts at about $2.75 and goes up from there.

The PT Doug Fir that we have is fine for framing (that's all I'll use), but I wouldn't use it for a deck board.

PT pine is very common on the east coast, but you won't find it around here.

And railing, of course, can be anywhere as far as price. What look do you want and how much do you want to spend.