Deck Building Estimate Example: Composite Deck

About this example

This example is the estimate a deck builder in Minnesota gives homeowners for a new 16 by 14 foot composite deck behind their house: footings below the frost line, pressure-treated framing with joists at 12 inches, capped composite decking with a picture-frame border, black aluminum railing and stairs down to the lawn, with drawings, the permit and removal of an old patio.

Deck buyers compare materials as much as builders, so this estimate puts both in front of them. A specification table and a framing plan explain how the deck is built and why composite needs tighter joist spacing, and a checklist shows the structural and safety code points the design meets. Three decking choices, cedar, composite and PVC, are priced side by side for the same deck. The cost is itemized in five sections, followed by an eight-day build schedule, payments tied to the city inspections and a short page on what can still change before the contract.

Who it is for

Deck builders, fence and outdoor living contractors, and handymen who estimate decks, porches and pergolas for homeowners.