About this example
This example is the estimate a decking contractor in Minnesota gives homeowners for a new 16 by 14 foot (about 4.9 by 4.3 m) composite deck behind their house: footings below the frost line, pressure-treated framing with joists at 12-inch centres, capped composite boards with a picture-frame border, black aluminium balustrade and steps down to the lawn, with drawings, the permit and removal of an old patio.
Decking buyers compare materials as much as contractors, 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 closer 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 itemised in five sections, followed by an eight-day build programme, payments tied to the city inspections and a short page on what can still change before the contract.
Who it is for
Decking contractors, fencing and garden landscaping firms, and handymen who estimate decks, verandas and pergolas for homeowners.