The construction industry is thriving and there is no shortage of contractors vying for your attention. However, doing your due diligence before hiring a contractor can save you money and time down the road. Gone are the days when we were all satisfied with a deck that looked like it was slapped together by someone who wasn’t even sober at the time. Today’s deck looks like an extension of your home or business that has been well thought out, sturdy, and built to last for years to come.

Deck Installation in Bellevue is an excellent addition to your home or business, but it is not always the easiest or cheapest choice. Before you start putting in mortar and pouring concrete to build a deck, take some time to understand the areas of the project that will have the greatest impact on price. The more time you spend preparing for and pricing your project, the less pain you will experience when things don’t go as planned.

You may think that you are going to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a deck in Bellevue, but this may be one area where you can actually save money by making smart decisions early in the construction process. By properly preparing before you begin, you can save yourself money on your deck installation project.

If you have done a little bit of research, you already know that there are two main types of decks: wood and composite. Of course, the price you pay for your deck installation is affected by many factors. If we broke it down and compared a redwood vs composite deck, for example, we would find that there are several different things to take into account when pricing.  

The following list includes some of the more common factors that affect the price of a deck:

  1. Size: A deck can range in size from as small as a couple of feet to more than two dozen feet in length. The larger the deck, the more materials will be needed to build it and this naturally affects the price.
  2. Type of Deck: The type of deck you choose impacts the construction costs. A wood deck is going to be more expensive than composite or composite decking or even a vinyl pool deck.
  3. Materials used: Different materials are available for your options for your project, but each option has its pros and cons when it comes to price and maintenance issues .
  4. Seating: Do you need a place to sit while overlooking your deck? This can add considerably to the price of your deck.
  5. Location: The location of your deck will impact the cost. Consider how windy or sunny the area is, if there is room for drainage, and if you have easy access to power and water in order to determine how much it will cost.
  6. Plan Design: A poorly designed deck can be a real problem and may run you far more than expected. The more detailed and accurate the plans are, the less work that needs to be done and this cuts costs down the road .
  7. Professional Help: Hiring professionals to help with your deck will cost you more money up front. However, if you are not experienced in deck construction, getting some professional help can be the difference between a quality finished project and something that is not an asset to your home or business.

Some of these points mentioned above are easy to estimate and take into account when planning for a deck project. For example, how large do you want your deck? If you know exactly how big you want it to be, there is no need to estimate that . Estimating the material costs may not be as easy because each type of material has its pros and cons.

Here are some tips on how to plan your deck installation:

  1. Do the math and determine how much money you have to spend.
  2. Determine if you want your deck to be built in phases or all at once.
  3. Do you need an expert or skills that are lacking, such as carpentry expertise?
  4. How much work will you do yourself?
  5. Choose where, when, and how all of this is going to be done.
  6. Consider whether you want a custom deck or a prefabricated one. This can make a big difference in terms of price and longevity.
  7. Look into the cost of any building permits that may be required by the city or county where you live and take time to investigate any legal requirements for decks in your area.

Do you have a good idea of how much you will spend on the materials for your deck? Have you chosen a contractor and work with him or her to get bids on your project, or are you working with several different contractors to get estimates?

If you are planning a deck renovation, think about these tips and keep them in mind as your project takes shape. After all, if you want to make your money go as far as possible, it is in your best interest to plan ahead.

Tips for reducing deck installation costs:

  1. Before you start framing for your deck, take notes on things that will have a negative impact on the look of your deck. While you are planning, take pictures of all the details so that you can accurately recreate them when it is time to finish the project.
  2. Get estimates on materials needed to build your deck and break down how much each material is going to cost. You can save money by purchasing materials in bulk or selecting pieces of lumber based on size rather than quantity. Choosing lumber by board foot or by the number of pieces in a box will cost less at market value per board foot than purchasing a massive amount of lumber at the same price per piece.
  3. Take into consideration where you will be placing your deck and consider how much room you will have to work in order to be able to mount the deck on your home during construction. This could mean working with second-story contractors. Also, think about your neighborhood and how this may impact the way that people move up and down from their homes if the deck is close to their place of residence .
  4. Take time to weigh all of your options for deck materials before you start building your deck. You can save money by using common construction materials such as plywood or OSB instead of more expensive products such as treated lumber or pressure-treated lumber.
  5. When you purchase lumber for your deck project, pay close attention to the type of markings on the lumber. The markings can indicate if the wood is treated or processed in some way. You do not want to end up with a product that is treated with a pesticide since this will have an effect on the structure of your deck, and could lead to a finish failure.
  6. Ask for an estimate for painting your deck according to what surface it is going to be and how much it will cost per surface area and per gallon of paint used.
  7. Make sure that all parts of your deck are constructed in strict accordance with standards set forth by the National Building Code .
  8. When you are looking for a deck contractor, ask for references from previous customers to verify their work.
  9. When your deck is done, be sure to find a deck cleaner that can make your deck look like new by cleaning and sealing it inside and out .
  10. Do some research on your city or county as well as the state in which you live in order to find the best resources for taking care of things such as warranties and maintenance for your new deck project.
  11. Consider purchasing outdoor furniture that has been designed specifically for outdoor use . This will make cleaning the patio furniture much easier by preventing dirt from falling into crevices or between the cushions of furniture pieces during normal usage.

Conclusion:

A deck adds a lot of value to a home. It is one more aspect of the design that makes your property stand out in the neighborhood. If you plan ahead and build a deck in accordance with your specific needs, you will have no trouble getting the job done right and saving money doing it.

The last point mentioned above is very important because it has to do with maintenance. This can help you stay on top of things and make sure that your deck project stays looking great over years to come. To accomplish this, be sure to take some time to learn about maintenance on decks when planning your project so that you don’t find yourself needing repairs later on down the road.