How Much Does It Cost To Build A Deck?

There is something about a deck being the quintessential part of a dream Australian home. Whether it is those Summer barbeques, that morning coffee or having those birthday parties, having a deck can play a major part of your family’s lifestyle.

If you decide that your home could really benefit from having a deck installed, then figuring out exactly what you want in the deck and in comparison, to what your budget is will determine exactly the kind of deck that can be built. When it comes to building a deck, there are many factors that come into play when determining the cost of the deck.

You may have the ultimate vision of a beautiful deck that will suit your home, but when it comes to designing your deck, there are things that need to be considered before putting your plans into action.

How Is The Cost Of A Deck Determined?

When planning your dream deck, there are many parts to the design of the deck that have an effect on how much you will need to spend. From the materials, labour costs, permits, design itself…there is a lot that goes into putting together a quote, so to get the deck of your dreams, you may need to be flexible on your budget.

The average cost of building a deck in Australia is around $195 per square metre but can range between $170-$240 per square metre because there are different considerations that come into play when getting a quote on just how much a building a deck will cost. Depending on the size, the kind of deck (ie. Composite decking, wooden decking) and whether it is raised or not can be real factors on just how much it will cost to get your deck built.

Other factors like permits, labour costs, lighting etc. will also have an impact on the cost of the deck as well. Deck costs are mainly determined by the size of the deck, which makes sense because the larger the deck, the more material that is used.

The difference in price can range from $4,000 for smaller sized decks to $9,000 plus for larger decks. The cost is also determined by per square metre, and this is how materials are measured too.

Materials have a huge bearing as well on how expensive your deck will be, for example, a plain concrete deck would cost between $45-75 per square metre, whereas composite decking would cost $350 plus per square metre.

If you want to add extras like roofing and/or stairs, the deck may end up being over $800 per square metre and any elevation would cost even more.

What Materials Should You Use For Your Deck?

Budget plays a big role in making the decision of what sort materials you should use to build the deck for your yard. Materials can range in cost along with those who are able to install and work with certain materials.

What you also need to consider is the cost of the upkeep, if you decide to go with a cheaper material for your deck, what you may save in the initial cost may cost you more down track or you will have to make up for it by doing extra coating or taking other precautions.

Which is why when it comes to deciding on materials, it is not as straight forward as how much your budget is, it is how much are you willing to invest in your deck over time. Considerations like where is the deck located, what part of the country do you live in because where it is located will determine what sort of weather conditions it may have to endure, how much foot traffic will it endure, what are you putting on your deck etc. All of these factors must be considered when deciding on a type of material for your deck. For example, if you live in Melbourne and decide to go with composite decking, you need to find the specialists and installers of composite decking in Melbourne.

Composite decking in Melbourne may end up being more expensive than say other cheaper timber decking when it comes to the initial outlay, but over time due to the fact that composite decking in Melbourne can endure a lot more harsh conditions than other timbers as composite decking is waterproof, durable and strong and requires less maintenance over time, will mean that you will most likely be spending less money having to get the deck waterproofed and on the upkeep over time.

The question of how much does it cost to build a deck is not as straightforward as most people think. With all these factors having an impact on the overall cost, the only answer that somebody can give without the breakdown is it depends.

A deck is a solid investment for any home, but how much you must keep investing in it overtime should be factored into the overall budget that you have to build your deck. A beautiful deck can add so much value to a home, creating a great atmosphere and another place to entertain, so when it comes to building your deck, take your time and really invest on making worth as much as possible.