DECK BUILD & REMODEL COST
Applicable for Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin
Find Out How Much Your Deck Build Will Cost
Table of Contents
The Value of Building Composite Deck
When planning and building a deck, it is important to take into consideration that you are actually making an investment in your home. And like any investment, there’s a return on your investment.
According to Remodeling’s 2022 Cost vs. Value report for Chicago area, a composite deck addition has the return value of 61.9%. Building a new composite deck is one of the highest returns on investment.
So, you invest the money now, enjoy your deck for years to come, and if you decide to sell your home your still benefiting from an investment done years ago.
Aside from ROI, there is also curb appeal. Whether your deck is visible from the road or not, to you or any family and friends you have over your deck is going to be one of your focal points as well as when selling your home if you choose to do so in the future.
Average 300 Square foot Deck 15 Year Cost Comparison
Pressure Treated
Cedar
Composite
*Wood Decks need to be stained, painted or sealed every other year at average of $750 a year. *Composite Decks need to be washed 2x a year with a hose and soap. DIY just cost of soap
Pressure Treated
Cedar
Composite
*Wood Decks have a life span of 15-25 years if properly maintained. *Composite & PVC decks has a life span of 25-50 years without the hassle.
Average Cost to Build a Composite Deck
Online, you may find average costs that are highly misleading typically just from searching or on sites such as Home Advisor or Angie’s List. These numbers usually estimate costs for materials pre-inflation with no final touches that make an aesthetic difference. There is so much that goes into the total cost of a deck build-out. This includes framing, decking, railing, stair, design, lighting, and labor. And if you’re looking for a high-quality build, anything less than standard probably won’t cut it. You’ll likely get much more value by investing in something that lasts.
Are Upgrades Necessary?
It depends on your lifestyle and how you use the deck. Having kids or entertaining guests often might make you want to upgrade your deck. While you can still enjoy the deck without an upgrade, there are a few benefits to upgrading. If your current setup is not meeting the needs that you have for your deck, such as wanting more space or needing better security options, then you should consider upgrading. Some options include:
- Heat or Slip Resistance: Upgrading your deck to a premium material may be the right choice. While it may be slightly more expensive than basic composite decking, the safety and peace of mind afforded by a more slip/heat-resistant composite decking is priceless.
- Aluminum or Customized Railing: . Create a modern look and feel without obstructing the view of your outdoor space.
- Additional Seating: Adding additional seating to your deck is a great way to make it more functional and inviting. It is important to have enough seating for guests if you entertain often.
- Outdoor Kitchen: An outdoor kitchen is a great way to make your deck more functional and inviting. If you love to cook outdoors, an outdoor kitchen is a great addition.
- Fire Pit: A fire pit is a great way to add ambiance to your deck. If you enjoy spending time outdoors throughout the day, a fire pit can be a great addition, too.
- Lighting: Lighting features can add a variety of benefits from safety to ambiance. We have an array of deck lighting accessories to choose from including step lighting, railing lights, post lighting, and more.
- Deck Skirting: Keep out rodents and other critters while completing the look of your deck with a clean finish.
With these upgrades, you are not only making your deck more functional and inviting, but you are also increasing the value of your home. Building a composite deck is a great investment in your home. It has a high return on investment and can increase the curb appeal of your home. Choose the right materials and upgrades to make the most of your deck.
What Can Drive the Cost up?
- Deck Design Complexity
- Stair Design
- Height
- Deck Patterns Or Inlays
- Built In Seating
- Deck & Accent Lighting
- Finished Underdecking & Dryspace
- Outdoor Kitchenettes
- Material Selections
What A Deck Remodel Can Do For You
Are you ready to reclaim your outdoor living space with our deck-building services? Our customers usually remark that after remodeling their decks, they now enjoy the following benefits:
- Enhanced aesthetics. With our professional deck remodeling services, we will take care not only of your overall design but also of all the finer details, including lighting and color schemes that match the rest of your home’s exterior or landscape. Whether you want a sleek modern look, our deck remodeling services can make your home so much more appealing.
- Improved functionality. Our deck designs are customized based on function. If desired, built-in storage and seating areas can help you better utilize your outdoor living space. You may also choose to include different layout options such as bar stools and dining tables, depending on your needs and preferences.
- Increased privacy and shade. If desired, our deck remodeling services can add more privacy walls and rooftop structures to create more space and shade, as well as provide a respite from the sun’s heat.
- Create outdoor memories that will last forever. When adding a deck to your backyard, you are not only adding all of the above benefits, but you are also creating a new space for family enjoyment and memories. Adding this outdoor living space will allow for parties, BBQs, late-night conversations, and more. It also gives you a quiet space to enjoy nature from the comfort of your home.
This deck in Green Oaks, IL includes Timbertech Azek Decking, Westbury Aluminum Railing with Post Cap Lights, Built in Seating and a Cedar Pergola
Approx. Deck Cost $85,000-$95,000
This deck in Towerlakes, IL includes Deckorators Voyage Decking, Westbury Verticable Railing with Cocktail Railing and Stair Lighting
Approx. Deck Cost $60,000-$70,000
This deck in Crystal lake, IL includes Deckorators Vault Decking, Deck Cladding and Built in Seating.
Approx. Deck Cost $35,000-$45,000
FAQ'S
Your backyard deck is a space that’s all yours, unless you live in an apartment. The deck is where you can be outdoors, BBQ with friends and host family gatherings all year round. And because the deck is a place where people either enter or leave your house, it’s important to install one that will make your home more attractive and valuable.
A homeowner might want to replace the deck on their house with a newer one in order to increase the value of the home. A new deck will give your home a fresh new look and can provide added space for any number of activities.
A terrific way to add value to your home is by building or refurbishing a deck. Whether you’re a new homeowner or want to improve your own space,
If you have ever walked past a house with a beautiful deck, it’s likely that the first thing you’ll notice is the deck – and if you’re like most people, your opinion of the house will be just as favorable.
Most experts agree that a deck addition can increase the resale value of your home by as much as 80%. The type of deck you install will also affect how much value is added to your home. When done right, a deck addition can be a great selling point for your home. Buyers are always looking for homes with outdoor entertaining spaces, and a well-designed and built deck can be the perfect spot for hosting summer parties or gathering around the fire pit on a cool autumn evening.
Often times we do not recommend it for longevity and safety reasons. Please refer to our article “Can I reuse my existing framing to save costs”
Absolutely! We can design your space based upon both your desires and your budget.
The short answer is no. We have found that customers who have supplied their own materials did not get the correct amount or types of materials. For efficiency and quality reasons we supply all the materials for our project builds.
As a homeowner, you might wonder why there can be significant differences in the price quoted by different contractors. Every deck contractor approaches their builds differently. To make it easier for you, here are some tips for understanding the estimates you receive from deck construction companies:
Materials Used
The biggest difference we see when comparing quotes comes down to the materials being used. Contractors use their choice of different materials, so there for is not the same selections or pricing.
This also brings having 2 or 3 quotes to compare to, is one leaving out that the others included or what does the quote fully entail.
What does their finish product look like?
Are all of the quotes similar? Or are there big differences? If there are big differences, it’s important to find out why. Is one contractor using lower quality materials? Are they cutting corners on the project? It’s important to get all of this information before making a final decision so you can be sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
Job Skills & Knowledge
It’s not uncommon for newer companies to charge less. Whatever the discount, if the job isn’t done right, you could end up paying more in the long run fixing your contractor’s mistakes. Remember that it is worth it to spend more money to get a contractor who knows what they are doing. A reliable contractor will answer your questions and can reassure you that the job will be done right.
Customer Service
This is about you. It is your project, your home and your family! Consider customer service when selecting a reliable contractor for your project. In fact, you should factor it in to the cost of your project. You should ask what type of communication you can expect. During construction projects, it’s important that your questions or concerns are addressed right away with honesty. Understand what’s going on so you won’t regret making costly mistakes because of poor communication with the contractor. Maintaining an open line of communication is key so that you feel involved in the project. This one of our strongest values is that we ensure to keep an open and frequent line of communication open.
Labor
The companies that you obtain quotes from, it is important to know who will be working in your home. Some companies use subcontractors. Others, like Decked Out Builders use in-house employees. This makes a big difference and can change your experience and outcome. Subcontractors are usually paid by the job and have no set schedule.. They might not have the same high standards or take pride in their work like employees do. You should also consider how many outstanding projects the contractor has when selecting a partner for labor in your deck project. The time it will take them to do your project depends on how many other projects they have going on at the same time. They might take longer to finish yours if they’re working on multiple projects at once.
Product Knowledge
This is important because what one customer might use or what is best for their lifestyle may not be best for you. It is important to have knowledge on all the different products to offer and educate what is best for you and your family.There are a lot of different types of products on the market. It can be confusing trying to compare estimates from different companies, but an experienced contractor should know about all the different products and recommend what is best for your lifestyle based upon what is discussed.
Warranties
Any project is an investment. You want to make sure you are protected in case anything goes wrong. A contractor should warranty their work but also you want to have a manufacturer’s warranty in case something goes wrong or is faulty. We do see time to time that a manufacturer warranty is denied because a certified installer wasn’t the one that did the work.
Reputation
Choosing a builder with an impeccable reputation means that you are choosing a builder that is proactive, responsive, and fair. We pride ourselves on our reputation in our community for delivering top-notch results and quality builds.
This answer is straight forwards. If you are building any new deck, screened porch outdoor living structure the answer is YES! This is to protect you as the homeowner during the build but also after. The permit process ensures that your project is built to code, structurally sound and safe. The contractor is reliable for pulling permits to their scope of work and specifications. They should not begin until the permit is displayed to ensure that it has been obtained.
Unfortunately, we have heard too many times of the homeowner promised that a permit was applied for but was never gotten before starting work and then it turned into a disaster.
Working without a permit can lead to fines and/or removal of the work done.
Please refer to our article “Composite decking vs wood”
YES! Decks are one of the best investments. It is not only a great resale value, but the value it gives to your family and creating memories outdoors is priceless.
Please Refer to Our Article
Please Refer to Our Article
