What Is the “Real” Cost to Build a Deck Yourself, Versus Hiring a Seasoned Pro?

Bob lives in Dallas County, Texas, and he has been thinking about an outdoor deck for years. Maybe a gazebo or pergola, possibly even an above ground pool deck. But he did some research on the cost to build a deck, and he did not like what he found.

So he is aggravated. He saw somewhere online, he cannot remember where, that for a seasoned professional to build any type of outdoor pressure-treated wood deck he was going to be looking at about $10 per square foot or more not to even include any options.

If he wanted a professional deck builder to use something like Redwood or composite decking, his cost to build a deck shot up to at least $20 per square foot and this didn’t include handrails, benches or steps. Bob’s no mathematician, but he could see things getting expensive really quickly.

The heck with this, Bob thinks, I’ll build one myself!

And so he does.

DIY Deck Building 101 – A Lot to Consider

He goes online to get some decking plans, and has to buy from 3 different companies until he gets his hands on some that are complete, and cover everything. Then he hops in his SUV and heads to the home improvement store.

Bob spends 8 hours on his off day from work, driving back and forth from his home to 2 different stores that are miles apart, just to get everything he needs. Fighting traffic, choking down a fast food lunch, and arguing with store employees who don’t seem to know what they are talking about. Have you checked the cost of tools lately needed to construct a deck?

It’s a beautiful Texas day outside, but Bob has to run around all day when he would usually be relaxing at home or enjoying some time with his grand-kids.

“This sure is beginning to feel like work,” Bob says to himself.

He organizes everything that Saturday evening, as darkness starts to fall, for an early start Sunday morning. He is excited to get to work tomorrow so he can actually see some progress.

The “Real” Cost to Build a Deck

Sunday morning comes, and Bob gets started. 12 hours later, in the failing light, he assesses his situation. He has had to pull out splinters from his hands, and the drill he purchased to drive the screws he is using was recommended by the deck plans he purchased, but it just isn’t strong enough.

His back is aching from toting lumber all day, and he calculates that, at this rate, he should be finished in about 10 more weeks. That seems like an eternity, and by then, summer will be over. He also doesn’t look forward to spending every off day working on a project instead of relaxing.

His job is hard and the hours are long, and he sure enjoys taking it easy on the weekends. That is not going to happen anymore if this deck is ever going to be finished.

He starts to calculate his “real” cost to build a deck. Wasted off time, situations arising where he doesn’t know what he is doing, a bad back, no warranty or guarantee for the work after it is completed, and what if he does something wrong and one of his grand-kids gets hurt because of his incompetence?

After cleaning up, Bob tells his pride to go take a hike, and he calls that Dallas deck builder he has heard good things about. The one that built his neighbor’s deck. The deck his neighbor and friends enjoyed a relaxing evening on just next door … while they good-naturedly ribbed Bob and offered comical advice while he was slaving away in the summer heat.

Sound familiar? Well, I hope it doesn’t. Before this happens to you, can I give you a piece of good advice?

Get the Cost to Build a Deck From a Pro – No Obligation, with Your Satisfaction Guaranteed

The cost to build a deck is not just some “per square foot” number you find online or get from a material calculator. There is a lot more involved. So don’t waste your time, money and energy, not to mention free time. Give us a call today. We will reward your intelligent choice with a no-obligation quote for a deck, patio cover or screened-in project.

And we’ll even throw in 35 years of deck building experience in Collin, Dallas and Rockwell counties absolutely free.

The problem is, we can’t be everywhere at once, and to be totally honest with you, we are in pretty high demand. That’s because we create the deck experience you want, just like it was going up in our own backyard.

We’ll figure the cost to build your deck, pergola, screened-in porch or gazebo and we know you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The earlier you call, the earlier we can come out and meet you, and get started creating the backyard experience of your dreams. You relax, you’ve earned that right. We’ll do all the work, with a guarantee.