Your Deck or Porch Remodel or Addition questions, answered
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much does it cost to build a deck near me?
The average cost to build a deck is $25 to $50 per square foot or $3,600 to $7,200 on average. The total price depends on local labor costs, wood type, size, level built-on, and if there's seating or stairs built-in.
How long does it take to build a deck?
An average 12'x24' deck takes one to three weeks to build, depending on the size, style, and contractor's experience. A professional team takes under a week to build a standard deck, while a custom deck above the first-level with built-ins takes up to three weeks to finish.
How long does a wood deck last?
A deck made of untreated wood lasts 10 to 30 years, depending on the quality and proper maintenance, sealing, and repairs. Decks made of treated wood and composite materials last 25 to 50 years.
Should I repair or replace my deck?
Wood decks last 10 to 30 years with annual maintenance and repairs before disintegrating and potentially becoming dangerous or collapsing. Consider replacing decks older than 8 years that need major repairs or when the cost of repairs exceeds half the cost of new deck building.
Decks need regular maintenance, sealing, minor repairs, and cleaning annually to remain habitable and safe.
For major repairs, decks eight years old or less can be re-planked and re-railed without compromising the stability and safety of the structure.
Does a deck add value to a home?
Spending $10,000 on a new deck increases the value of a home by $7,500 on average. Adding a deck has a 70% to 80% return on investment when selling the home.
Do you need a permit to build a deck in my area?
A building permit is required if the deck is attached to the home, services a door, over 200 square feet, more than 30 inches above the ground, has plumbing or electricity, or be built in a floodplain. Contact your local building authority to see if you need a permit in your area.
How to find local deck contractors?
To find the best deck companies, do the following:
Get at least three price estimates to compare.
Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors.
Read reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide and Google.
Select companies that are licensed, bonded, and experienced.
Ask if they are part of their local chamber of commerce or any trade associations such as the North American Deck & Railing Association (NADRA).
Verify their insurance, worker’s compensation, and bond guarantees.
Ask about their warranties and guarantees.
Ask for a full itemized estimate or contract in writing.
Avoid making large payments upfront. Come up with a payment schedule for work completed.
After asking questions, hire the best deck contractor near you.
What questions should you ask deck companies?
When hiring a deck builder, ask them the following questions:
How long have you been a deck contractor?
What decking materials do you experience installing?
What decking material do you recommend for my project?
How many decks have you built?
How much would my deck cost?
What services are included in the cost?
Are there any potential complications you foresee with this project?
Can you provide testimonials and references from past customers?
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
How long will the project take?
Do I need permits, and will you obtain them?
What does your warranty policy include?
Can you provide me a written estimate or contract?
What’s your payment schedule?
Are financing options available?
What do I need to provide to get started?
Reviews for Seattle deck builders
Recent success stories from people in the Seattle area.
Nathania K.
I needed help to replace a kitchen faucet, Joseph was one of the first that responded to my inquiry. He gave me a set price that cost much less than other companies’ estimates.
Very professional, punctual and respectful. I will definitely be using his service in the future
JJ Handyman”s service
Chris S.
Kevin Dale presented himself well and seemed to have the experience to do our job. The scope of work was fairly large as we were renovating a 1948 house, including vaulting the ceiling. We were on a time deadline and needed the project completed in a timely manner. The beginning went well with the demo. We had an architect involved for sizing the beam needed for the vault. The day that the beam was to go in, we found out that there was an old oil furnace directly where the support needed to be. We had to rush to find someone who could remove the furnace. After that, the framing seemed to go well. That's where things fell apart. We were to have the house rewired and apparently the electrician that Kevin had hired took another job and because building was in high gear, he had trouble finding someone to do the job. Several weeks went by with no work done. The wiring was finally done, but at present, when you use a waffle iron in the kitchen, it blows a circuit. (We had even had the service upgraded to 200 amp, so there is plenty of available power.) We had to have the main water shutoff in the house moved and now the shutoff doesn't shut off the water. The date for completion was supposed to be July 31 and since notice needed to be given to a current landlord, I asked Kevin about a completion date and he said that to be on the safe side Aug. 15 would probably be better. Our arrangement was to install all of the trim and do the painting. Since we were flying out to do this, we needed prior notice of when this would be available to be done. The date that was given ended up being about a month earlier than it was ready. Because the ticket had been bought, Kevin agreed to install the trim in compensation. Sounds good, but he used his framing carpenters to do it. Not the same skill set. He also used them and new workers for the drywall taping and mudding. It took weeks and many call-backs to get most of it in at-least presentable condition. There were so many other annoying things involved. In mid September, when he was given a day and time to correct a list of things or forfeit a (small) amount of the last payment, He and his crew showed up at 4 PM that day and then was miffed that he was going to lose that money because he couldn't get everything done that day. We tried to work with Kevin, but he often would not respond to emails and just seemed to ignore criticism. There were weeks in the last month (a month and a half after the original completion date) when his crew would be there for 4 hours out of the entire week. This turned out to be a very stressful remodel and I would advise people to avoid Estate Renovations.
Estate Renovations llc
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