How Much For A Patio Deck

Outdoor Patio Gazebo Cost

The cost of building a gazebo on your patio averages $7,500 to $10,000. This makes the total cost of a patio with a gazebo between $9,228 and $15,400. Gazebos offer more shade and protection than pergolas. However, they do not have louvered options that allow light and breezes in. They have varying wall types, from screens to fully formed walls with windows. The more structure a gazebo has, the higher its overall costs.

Required Gapping Between Deck Boards For Drainage

All composite decking requires gapping for installation to allow for expansion and contraction. Trex goes as high as 3/8 when installed below 40°F , but in warmer temperatures ¼ is required. TimberTech and most other composite decking are similar in required gapping. Most manufacturers have propriety concealed fasteners wit the gapped built into them. Providing both convenience and consistency. More expensive than screws but well worth it for its correct gapping space.

Wood decking requires gapping for drainage but is not as easy as composite decking. As treated wood decking will often shrink after installation as the boards dry. Most 5/4 decking installed directly from the store can be installed tight but will sufficiently gap after drying. A 5 ½ board shrinking the required 1/8 to ¼ to providing the gap for the deck boards after a season.

Cedar decking will shrink less than treated wood. Installing the decking with a small gap while installing will help in correctly gap the boards. Camo hidden fasteners with their built-in spacer, helping to provide a consistent decking gap while installing the screws on the edge preventing small pools of water and sentiment from pooling in the screw head rotting out the decking.

What Should You Not Skimp On

There are a few elements you may want to be cautious about skimping on, but your main priority should be to follow the relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations, particularly those around safety. This is an absolute must when it comes to building decks, even if it means you have to pay a little extra.

Choosing the best materials you can afford will tend to keep your deck in better shape in the long run, and could help enhance your enjoyment of the space.

Main image source: Ruth Peterkin/Shutterstock.com

Sub edited by Milan Cuk.

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This content was reviewed by Sub EditorJacqueline Belesky and Sub Editor Tom Letts as part of our fact-checking process.

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Porch Roof Cost Calculator

Building a porch roof costs $16 to $30 per square foot. For a 200-square-foot structure, this ranges from $3,200 to $6,000. A significant portion of the total depends on the material, which usually matches whatever you have for the rest of the house.

Roof Construction Prices Per Square Foot

• Cost to screen in a porch: $5-$7 per square foot

Does A Deck Or Patio Add More Value

Both a deck and a patio offer an impressive resale value. However, patios are usually less expensive to put in and their resale value sits at 100%which is slightly higher than the 76% resale value of a deck. Cant argue with that! Concrete patio resale value is the real star of the show, offering the lowest price point to install and the highest returns.

But the numbers will show you that if youre doing this solely as a financial investment, the best you can reasonably hope for is to break even on the cost of completing the project. If youve got a few years left in your current home, we recommend going for whichever addition most excites you. Go for the option you want to spend time in. Those hours will be worth it whether you recoup your entire financial investment or not.

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Will Adding A Deck Increase My Taxes

Adding a patio or deck will probably increase the resale value of your propertyso does it increase your taxes, too? It depends.

Cities have varying laws when it comes to taxes, so youll want to consult your local authorities to find out for sure. In general, adding a deck will slightly increase your taxes since it boosts your propertys value. In fact, almost any changes to the structure of the home will increase taxes, including the installation of a pool or gazebo.

This doesnt need to be a deal-breaker since the tax increase may not outweigh the resale value added. Ultimately, if you think youll enjoy your deck and get a lot of use out of it over the years, it is probably worth the investment. Just make sure to do your research so you know what to expect when it comes to local tax increases.

Design Like A Traffic Conductor

When deciding on the layout of your patio deck, make sure you direct the flow of traffic in a way that eases congestion. Think about the way that guests will enter and travel through your outdoor space. Is there a clear and unobstructed path to the entrance and exit? Are there areas that will likely become crowded? For best practice, I recommend allowing 30-48 of space for high traffic areas. You can cut this measurement down to 24 for areas that receive less foot traffic.

PRO TIP: Arrange your patio furniture in a way that directs guests around the primary seating area rather than through it. Nothing is more irritating than excuse me, pardon me while youre getting to the butt of your joke. No pun intended!

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The Main Difference Between A Deck And Patio

The main difference between decks and patios is that decks are structures elevated from the ground, while patios rest directly on the ground. Since decks and patios are not the same structure, their cost to build varies. These two structures also vary in price, materials used, sustainability, and more!

Can A Beginner Build A Deck

can be single level or multi-level they can be some of the simplest first projects for a beginner, or elaborate examples of sophisticated craftsmanship. Decks are quite often the first project many beginning do-it-yourselfers tackle, but its important to understand the basics of deck construction.

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Heres How Much It Costs To Install A Deck Or Patio For The Summer

In general, it costs less to build a patio than a deck, according to Bob Vila.

Youve been thinking about it for some time and youve finally decided to take the plunge youre going to build a patio or deck this summer.

Luckily, the official start to the season isnt until June 20, but if you want to have a space to socialize and entertain outdoors, the cost is going to be one of the main components to think about.

In general, it costs less to build a patio than a deck, according to Bob Vila.

Building a patio is often the more cost-effective option due to a variety of factors. Patios consist of more affordable materials like stamped concrete or stone as opposed to wood or bricks, which are common for decks. Patios also require less labor and maintenance, which can help keep the costs down. Since patios generally dont require permits or inspections, they can save you money as well. For the most affordable solution, build your own patio as a weekend DIY project.

Still, pricing can be flexible on patios and decks.

Better Homes and Gardens reported it can cost $5,000 to install a simple, small concrete patio. A complex, stone or more unique patio can range from $10,000 to $35,000. A DIY project could cost less, according to Fixr. You can spend $700 on a 16-by-12-foot one using heavy concrete pavers.

Meanwhile, a 16-by-20-foot deck can cost as little as $6,720 or as much as $22,720. On average, itll cost $10,560.

What Is The Minimum Slope For Drainage

The minimum slope for drainage under Section R401.3 of the IRC is a fall of 6 or more in the first 10-feet out from a building or a 5% grade. Proper drainage is important to protect structures from moisture damage and erosion.

Drainage pipes fall under plumbing codes and need a minimum slope of 1/4 every foot. They may slope to a maximum of 3 per foot, or run vertically. The minimum slope for hardscape or patios within ten feet of a building is 1/4 per foot or a 2% grade away from the dwelling.

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Cost To Install Deck Railing

Depending on the material used in building your deck, the average cost to install deck railing is $20 per linear foot. Normally a railing will not be on all four sides of the deck because one of the sides of the deck will be along the house. For a 42-high handrail, one 2 x 4 horizontal top rail, and one 2 x 6 placed on the edge directly below the top rail, prices with balusters are:

• Fireplace options start with a small, wood-fired, self-enclosed metal structure with metal-mesh side panels that allow the heat to escape on all four sides.
• At around $1,000 for a fireboxwhich is like an indoor fireplace and only allows the heat out through the front.
• From between $1,400 and $6,500 for products typically mounted in a tall, vertical structure similar to an interior fireplace complete with its own chimney. These products are also available as wood-burning or gas-fired fireplaces.

Stucco Patio Cover Cost

The average cost of a patio cover ranges from $20 to $45 a square foot installed. This is a two-part cover. You essentially have a cover built from another material like wood with stucco applied to that cover. The stucco is the long-lasting outer finish, but it is not what you build the cover from. There are three different stucco types used for this purpose – one-coat stucco, three-coat stucco, and exterior insulation and finish systems . The most common is the thin-coat or one-coat method of stucco. It is faster and easier to apply and less expensive.

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How To Slope A Patio For Drainage

A laser level or contractors level can be helpful to determine and set slope, but a string line and line level are still the go-to. Remember to contact local utilities to ensure there are no lines where you plan to place the patio.

To set a string line, hammer a stake into the ground at each corner of the patio site and mark the desired elevation on the stake closest to the structure. Mark a point 6 up from the desired elevation on that stake and run a string around all 4 of the stakes to form the perimeter.

Pull and tie the string taught to each stake and use a line-level to adjust each side by moving the string up or down at the stake so it is level with the 6 mark on the starting stake.

The distance from the building to the outer string, multiplied by 0.25 determines the 2% slope in that direction. The outer edge of the patio will drop that distance, plus the 6 below the string line.

• For example, a 15 distance would be 15 x 0.25 = 3.75 or 3-3/4. Add that to the 6 the string line is above the starting level, and the outer patio edge will be 9-3/4 below the string line. The thickness of the drainage base will be added to that for excavation and ground preparation.

How Choice Of Timber Can Impact The Cost Of A Deck

The type of timber you use will likely be a major factor in the cost of your deck. Hardware chain Bunnings says hardwoods such as jarrah, spotted gum and merbau are popular choices for decks, with merbau being the most popular. Other options include treated pine, composite decking, which is made from a mixture of timber fibre and plastic made to look like timber, and modular decking real timber boards prefabricated into panels for quicker and easier installation.

According to hipages, the cost varies between all these options. It says you can expect to pay in the region of $200 per square metre for treated pine decking, upwards of $320 per square metre for hardwood timber decking, and $350 or more per square metre for composite decking. Bunnings says the cost of prefab modular decking panels can start from around $90 per panel for treated pine, through to $116 or more for a composite panel.

The cost will also vary based on the type of balustrade you choose for your deck glass or thick timber posts will be pricier. You can expect to pay around $180 per metre for a timber and wire balustrade, or $320 per metre for a glass balustrade, says hipages.

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Labor Cost To Build A Covered Patio

The cost to build your covered patio can typically be broken down into two areas – material and labor. For this installation type, you may have one professional who can do both the patio flooring and cover. Or, you may need to work with two different professionals – one for the patio and one for the cover. This depends largely on the type of roof or cover you purchase and whether it is readymade, in a kit, or custom.

Labor costs also vary depending on the material and type of patio and cover you are building. A gravel patio with a sailcloth awning may have labor costs of between $4 and $6 a square foot, while a stamped concrete patio and pavilion-style gable roof have labor costs closer to $50 a square foot. Total labor costs average $25 to $40 a square foot for a covered patio. The more intricate the patio or more substantial the cover, the higher your total costs.

Privacy Of Your Deck And Patio Space

Its also quite important to consider privacy when youre thinking about building an outdoor space. To keep a deck private, you can install a screen anywhere and it would look natural. If you want to make your patio a little more private, you can build an enclosure for privacy and year-round comfort. However, theyre somewhat expensive and defenseless against moisture damage. Hence, the most affordable and accessible feature for privacy would be to choose a deck.

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Differences Between Decks & Patios

The primary differences between decks and patios include the way theyre designed, their location at your home, and the building materials used. While both provide you with valuable outdoor living space, there are factors to consider, such as wood vs. concrete and ground-level vs. raised. Understanding the differences between decks and patios can help you make an informed decision about which is right for you. Youll want to consider the costs, location, the terrain, and your own personal tastes.

Beyond the differences between decks and patios, there are different subcategories for each. Compare them to see which is right for you.

Freestanding Covered Patio Cost

The average cost of a freestanding covered patio averages $3,000 to $25,000. Freestanding patios and covers come in all the same sizes as attached patios. They can also have all the same base materials. The difference is that you are slightly more limited in the materials you can use for the cover. In addition, the cover often needs more material and support if it is not attached to the house. For example, a freestanding pergola has four legs, while an attached pergola has two. This means that the starting costs can be higher for freestanding pergolas.

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How Much Home Value Does A Deck Add

In short: A quality deck will almost certainly make a valuable addition to your house. So exactly how much does a deck increase the value of your home? Experts estimate that a deck offers a resale value of at least 76%, which is higher than just about any other home renovation project. So you can do the math and estimate the increased value to your home. Just as an example, if you can add a deck for $10,000, then on average it will increase your home value by approximately $7,60076% of the total.

Of course, the true value varies a little depending on where you live. But a deck in a warm-weather climate is almost always a good idea.

The materials you use can also influence the resale value. Wood decks offer the most bang for their buck, since theyre affordable and desirable in the home market. Composite decking is more expensive and doesn’t provide as high of resale value, but it is higher quality than wood decking. On average, high-end decking material runs about $30 per square foot.

Fiberglass Patio Cover Cost

The cost of a fiberglass patio cover is between $16 and $39 a square foot installed. Fiberglass is one of the materials considered to be the gold standard by many contractors. It is attractive, durable, and very easy to maintain. Fiberglass comes in lattice, pergola, panel, and many different styles, colors, and shapes. Fiberglass is sometimes combined with other materials to give it greater durability. It is also a good insulator, making it a useful option for roofs where the sun is directly overhead.

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What Is The Proper Slope For A Patio

Hardscape surfaces within 10 feet of a building are subject to the IRC and must have a minimum slope of 2% or 1/4 per foot away from the structure. Hardscape refers to permeable and impermeable walkways, patios, and decks that are permanently placed as part of a buildings exterior.

Patios made of hardwearing materials like pavers, flagstone, brick, cut stone, tile, concrete, loose material like pea gravel, or even wood, composite, or plastic materials are classed as hardscape. That means the proper slope for patios, regardless of construction material, must have a 1:48, 1/4 per foot, or 2% grade.

Many professionals acknowledge that while the overall average fall across a patios run is 2%, individual pavers, bricks, or tiles may range from 1/8 to 3/8 per foot. Packing and screeding sand to a perfect 2% grade while placing heavy or irregularly textured stones or pavers is the reason for the individual deviations.