To enhance your home and your outdoor living experience you have decided to add a deck. You know the size and shape, but you¡¯re not sure of your expertise with a power a saw. The answer could be in one of several companies offering a decking kit.
The better decking kit will come with everything you need except the labor and the willingness to do the work yourself. The higher cost associated with buying a decking kit as opposed to raw lumber, or any number of available materials, is more than offset by time saved in cutting and drilling.
Most companies offer a decking kit in a variety of sizes and styles with some built to your specifications, although those will generally cost a little more. However, the cost savings will still be tremendous.
For example, using pressure treated lumber to build a 300 square foot deck with two four foot by four foot landings and a set of stairs either into the house or down to your yard will cost about $2,500 for materials. Labor costs for this deck will be about $3,000 for a total labor and materials cost of roughly $5,500. The average price of having a contractor do all the work, buying materials, pouring cement for footers ¨C absolutely everything will average about $24 a square foot. In this case, it would come to about $7,200.
You can find a decking kit in this size range for around $4,500. That comes to almost $2,000 more for materials but you¡¯re doing the work yourself and saving $2,700 over the cost of having someone else do it all. This does not, of course, consider additional costs if you break something in the decking kit and have to replace it.
Variety of Decking Materials are Available
A variety of materials can be found for your decking kit, from treated wood to vinyl and composite materials, each have their advantages and disadvantages. Each type will have to be judged on their appropriateness with your geographical location, the use for which the deck is intended, and the life expectancy you expect for the deck.
The precut edges in materials used in the decking kit are designed to fit right the first time and will offer a professional finish and appearance. Mitered joints and close fitting edges around newel posts will give the appearance of having had a professional install your deck and you don¡¯t have to tell.
