A wood deck is an attractive, versatile and inexpensive way to extend your home’s living space into the outdoor environment. It can be designed to meet your unique needs and match the design aesthetic of your house. It also provides an excellent alternative to concrete patios.
A deck increases the value of your home and can also serve as a focal point of the landscape. Its versatility means it can be built to accommodate a hot tub, garden, grilling area, seating area or whatever you might like. It’s an excellent choice for uneven yard terrain, as it can be constructed on top of the existing soil instead of digging and pouring concrete foundation piers.
The primary building materials for a wooden deck are pressure-treated lumber and western red cedar or redwood. Both are readily available at local lumber yards. However, cedar is generally less expensive than redwood.
Both types of wood can be stained or painted to match your design and complement the natural colors of the landscaping around your deck. Wood is an easy construction material to work with and can be shaped to fit any layout or structure you can imagine.
The cost of a wood deck will vary depending on the size, location and complexity. It may also be affected by whether you opt for solid or hollow boards, and how it is built.
According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of labor is typically half or more of your total deck project costs. This includes the deck itself as well as the foundation installation. For a simple, square-shaped deck, the builder will probably charge about $15 per square foot to construct and install it. If you include a staircase or a wraparound deck, the cost will increase.
Before you begin constructing your deck, you’ll need to prepare the site. Begin by digging holes at 8-foot intervals in the locations of each foundation pier. Then, use batter boards and mason’s strings to mark footing locations on the deck’s outside corners and at 8-foot intervals along the front rim joist. Dig the footing holes to the proper depth for your region’s frost zone and set each pier in its form.
As you frame your deck, it’s important to follow the proper spacing of joists and to add a layer of bridging between the joists to keep them from twisting as they support the decking. You’ll also want to make sure that the deck is raised a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) above grade, especially if you live in an area with cold winters. This will prevent frost heave, which can cause your deck to sink over time.