Madison Deck Builder's - Guide to Planning your Deck

Some would argue that more thought and planning will go into designing an outdoor deck than a kitchen or bathroom remodel. There are a lot of options available to you and you will need to take some time to consider on the best options for YOU. First, you must establish your need for a deck and what its primary function will be, next, establish a budget, then, select your installer, and finally, decide on which material to use. Additionally, you may need to plan for further options regarding your deck. This will include but is not limited to, railings, built-in lighting, and landscaping.

Establish your need and use – what is the reason that you want a deck? This is important because it will eventually guide you in choosing the best material and layout for your deck. Is it going to be used for a pool surround? If so, you may want the material used to be more slip-resistant and less sun-absorbent. Is it going to used for entertaining? In this case, you may want to build your deck larger to accommodate more people. Will it be used as a second dining area? There are material options available that have an indoor look to them. This would give your deck a comfortable feel and establish a great flow from indoor to outdoor. There are a lot of different options that will depend on your future use of your deck. Visualize yourself using the deck and express these uses during your estimate so the best design can be created for your future deck.

Establish a budget – This is a tough one if you have never had an estimate for a deck before (or if it’s been many years). You don’t want to establish a budget just to find out that your budget isn’t going to come close to what you need to build an attractive, functional, and lasting deck for your home. You certainly will want to consider your personal finances. However, you may want to get an estimate or two in order to give yourself a good idea of what to expect and then narrow down your budget to a number you are comfortable with. This will help you when deciding how large to build your deck, what manufacturer to go with, or when you are thinking about additional options. To give you a general idea, according to the 2019 cost vs value report, the AVERAGE deck price in the Madison area is $13,109 for a wood deck and $19,221 for a composite (maintenance-free) deck. Understand that this price includes decks of all sizes and decks built with materials from many different manufacturers. For a large deck built with premium materials that include a long and inclusive warranty, you may be looking at a much higher cost. However, it is good to note the average price for an average deck in order to establish a general budget idea.

Select your installer – You should receive estimates to establish costs, but more importantly, to establish WHO you trust to build your deck. You should judge your choice based upon their product knowledge – do they have a well-rounded knowledge of the materials used, installation method, and manufacturer/workmanship warranties? Their responsiveness - Do they respond to you in a timely manner and are they listening to your needs? And finally, their previous customer testimonies – look at reviews on Google, Facebook, or another platform. What do previous customers have to say? This is important because it will give you insight into the experiences of others who have used the professional. What potential problems are highlighted in the reviews? Is this issue important to you? The last thing you want is to have a deck built and need to fix or rebuild it later, on your own dime.

Select your material – Do you prefer a deck with little to no maintenance or a classic wood look? It is possible for you to have both! There are so many manufacturers out there of maintenance-free decks and each one has several different options within options. Genuine wood decks are also a great option. This is where it is very important to express your desires to your installer. What features are most important to you within a product?

Additional Options – Once you design the basics of your deck, you will need to decide on any other options that you might need. Obviously, you will likely want railings. Do you prefer cable railings, wood, PVC, or something else? Will you be adding any built-in lighting? If you plan to use your deck late at night, you may want to consider this.

According to the 2019 cost vs. value report for the Madison area, wood and composite decks are a great investment for your property with 63% and 61% of the costs being recouped respectively upon the sale of your property. This is similar to the cost recouped for a bathroom or kitchen remodel (65% and 63% respectively). We hope this short guide will help point you in the right direction for building your brand-new deck and as always, reach out to us for your free estimate in Madison and surrounding areas.