Anyone Built a Deck?

[disneymom3]

I am trying to figure out how to know how much materials will cost and what I will need. We looked at hiring a company to build a deck but MAN is that expensive. Call me crazy, but the labor of 4 days at a price of $3000 seems a bit steep to me.

So, my nephew knows how to do all of this stuff and we will pay him, but I am trying to figure out how much to offer and how much the deck will still cost buying the materials ourselves. I am totally clueless in this stuff and am lost. I don't even know where to begin.

 

[LiteBrite]

I am trying to figure out how to know how much materials will cost and what I will need. We looked at hiring a company to build a deck but MAN is that expensive. Call me crazy, but the labor of 4 days at a price of $3000 seems a bit steep to me.

So, my nephew knows how to do all of this stuff and we will pay him, but I am trying to figure out how much to offer and how much the deck will still cost buying the materials ourselves. I am totally clueless in this stuff and am lost. I don't even know where to begin.

DH is a carpenter, and he says a good place to start would be to go Lowe's and look at their self-help book section. Also, he suggests talking to someone at the commercial sales desk - that's where you'll find the people who would know how to help you figure how much lumber and other materials you'll need.

 

[stauncie]

We built our deck about 4 years ago and let me just say, DH is NOT a 'handy man'. Building a deck takes very basic skills and a few tools.
We went to our local home improvement store and bought a book on how to build a deck. (Did you know they offer how-to books for EVERYTHING?!?)
After a couple of weeks, we decided we could do it together. We went BACK to the home improvement store and used their self-help computer to configure our deck(s) and the computer printed a complete list of the supplies we needed.
******Important note here*******
Doing something yourself always costs twice as much as the estimate and takes THREE times as long as originally planned!!!!
*******************************
Also, don't forget to check your local building codes early enough to get all building permits approved before starting your project.

The final results of our deck(s) is very good, but it DID take longer than we had estimated to do it ourselves.
repeating......

******Important note here*******
Doing something yourself always costs twice as much as the estimate and takes THREE times as long as originally planned!!!!
*******************************

 

[cardaway]

Lowes also has a deck software program where you can put in the basic style and dimensions you want to build. Go through the motions and ask them to break down the price. You'll know exactly what the materials will cost, at least at Lowes prices.

We did exactly what I just described, but then went to Dunn.

 

[Beth76]

I am totally clueless in this stuff and am lost. I don't even know where to begin.

That's why they have professionals!

 

[disneymom3]

Beth, yeah, but those professionals are expensive!!!

Thanks for the info--we have a Home Depot just down the street. DH thinks he can do it with help from a few friends who have built their own too. My biggest concern is that I just want to get it done and DH works these hours from #%@ so I am a bit concerned.

stauncie--actually our first house was a major major fixer upper so we learned that lesson thouroughly. The part of the rule you forgot was that each project also takes three times as many trips to the hardware store as you thought it would!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I have to agree..building a deck is NOT as complicated as the pros would have you think.

DH, DFIL and I built one on the back of our house shortly after we moved in because all we had for a 'porch' was a small square of concrete. If you stood on it, or put one chair on it..there was nowhere else for anybody to sit except in the grass.

I think we spent around $600-700 for materials and it took us three days to get it all built. The hardest part was putting in all those screws. Of course, it may take longer if you choose to get fancy with it and drill a bunch of countersinks so the screws are recessed into the wood.

TOV

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We had the deck put on when we built the house so that was not a project for DH but we decided to put new railing and posts on the front porch this summer. DH and by Dad and neighbor thought they could do the job. They ordered the vinyl for the rails, posts and everything else they needed. It took days!! I had to keep running back and forth to Home Depot for things they forgot they would need. They scratched the railing on the cement porch when they were moving them. The posts have chaulk fingerprints all over them. They were frustrated and angry and hot while working on it. I know it saved us money and it really looks nice.....from a distance . No, it does look really, really nice but next time I will spend the $ we save on a nice quiet hotel room for me to stay in while they work!!! Make sure you can do this and you are not taking on more than you can finish. Good luck!!!