What will your new deck cost?
Answer a few questions about size, material and finish, and watch a real Charlotte-area price range build as you go. Then get an exact quote from our team, free.
- Built and installed by GXR
- Serving Monroe, Indian Trail and greater Charlotte
- Free, no-pressure quotes
Is it cheaper to build or buy a deck?
Short answer: a pre-made kit or a DIY build looks cheaper on paper, but the real cost is in the framing, footings, permits and the years the deck has to last. Here is the honest breakdown of build vs buy, and of doing it yourself vs hiring a contractor.
DIY or a deck kit
Is it cheaper to build your own deck? On materials alone, yes. A simple ground-level pressure-treated deck can run $15 to $25 per square foot in materials if you own the tools and do the labor.
Is it hard to build a deck yourself? The surface boards are the easy part. The footings, framing, ledger attachment, flashing and railing are what fail inspections and cause problems years later. Most counties near Charlotte require a permit and an inspection, so the work has to meet code either way.
Build vs buy, done for you
Is it cheaper to build a deck yourself or hire a contractor? Hiring costs more up front because you are paying for labor, a permit pulled correctly, the right footings and a deck that is built to last. You are buying the parts that are hard to get right, not just the boards.
Can you finance a deck? Many homeowners do. Ask us about current financing options when you request your quote. When you add it all up, a professionally built deck that passes inspection and lasts 20 to 40 years is usually the better value than a DIY build you have to repair or replace early.
What goes into the cost of a deck?
These are the questions people ask us most about deck cost. The calculator above uses the same current Charlotte-area numbers.
What all goes into the cost of a deck?
The cost of a deck is the sum of a few things: the square footage, the decking material you choose, how high off the ground it sits, the railing, and any extras like lighting, stairs, built-in benches or a pergola. Framing, footings, fasteners, labor and the building permit are built into the price too. The calculator above adds each of these up so you can see what goes into the number.
How to calculate the cost of my deck?
To calculate the cost of your deck, start with the square footage (length times width), multiply by a per-square-foot rate for your material, then add railing by the foot and any extras. In the Charlotte area that rate runs roughly $22 to $40 per square foot installed for pressure-treated wood and $35 to $72 for composite or Trex. The calculator above does the math for you and gives a range, and we confirm the exact number when we see your yard.
Is it cheaper to build or buy a deck?
Buying the materials and building it yourself is cheaper on materials alone, but a professionally built deck includes the labor, the permit, the right footings and framing, and a deck that lasts. For most homeowners the long-term value of a deck built to code and built to last comes out ahead of a DIY build that may need early repairs.
Can you build a deck without a permit?
In most of the Charlotte area you cannot build a deck without a permit once it is attached to the house or above a certain height. Union County, Mecklenburg County and the surrounding towns require a permit and an inspection for most decks. We pull the permit and handle the inspection as part of the job. For the full local rules, see our Charlotte deck builder page.
Can you finance a deck?
Yes, many homeowners finance a deck. Ask about current financing options when you request your free quote and we will walk you through what is available.