How to Estimate Costs on Building a Deck
Adding a deck onto your house can be a fun do-it-yourself project, but it can also be quite expensive. It does not take a great deal of skill, but you need to be able to do simple calculations, move large pieces of lumber and operate a saw and drill. If your deck is going to be raised, you will need to mount support beams into the ground. Before you begin, determine your budget and estimate how much the project will cost. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Plan the size of your deck. The simplest deck to plan and build is a rectangular deck that is attached directly to your house. However, if you want to be more creative, you can build a deck in nearly any shape. Keep in mind that the more angles and curves, the more difficult the deck will be to build, and the more time and money it will take.
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2
Determine the approximate square footage of your deck. If you are building a simple rectangular deck, multiply the length by the width. If you are adding additional angles or curves, extend the edges to make a rectangle. The extra parts will likely end up as scrap, so don't try and calculate those as usable wood.
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3
Research the cost of your decking lumber. If you are using two-by-sixes, for example, find out how much these boards cost at your local home-improvement store.
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4
Determine the number of deck pieces you will need. Use the length and width of a rectangular deck to make an approximation. Consider the length of the deck and the wood you are buying. For example, if you are making a deck that is 10 by 14 feet, and you can only get 12-foot pieces of lumber, plan on 2 feet of scrap for each board. Multiply this number by the cost you determined in Step 3. Add in the cost of supporting lumber to determine the base cost.
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5
Determine the extra pieces that you will need. These include steps, built-in seats, railings or other "extras." Price each piece and add them all up to determine your extra costs.
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6
Calculate the total cost by multiplying the base cost times 1.5 (for hardware and miscellaneous costs), then add in the extra cost. This will provide you with a good estimate for the cost of materials. To determine labor costs, double the total cost.
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Tips & Warnings
This is an estimate, so your figures do not need to be exact.
