Composite Deck Builders in Eugene, Oregon

What Drives the Cost of a Composite Deck?

Six things decide where a composite deck lands on price: its size and shape, the decking line you choose, how high it sits off the ground, the railing, the stairs, and what has to come out before we build. Here is how each one moves the number.

• Size and shape. A simple rectangle is the least expensive deck per square foot. Angles, curves, multiple levels and picture-frame borders all add cutting time and material waste.
• Which decking line you choose. Capped composite costs less than PVC. PVC lines such as TimberTech AdvancedPVC sit at the top of the range, with Trex and Fiberon composite lines below them. This is usually the single biggest material decision on a quote.
• Height off the ground. Below 30 inches, no guardrail is required. Above 30 inches, Oregon residential code requires a guardrail at least 36 inches tall with openings a 4-inch sphere cannot pass through — and the framing and footings grow with it. Crossing that 30-inch line is the most common reason a price steps up.
• Railing. Railing is priced by the linear foot and swings further than any other line item. Composite and aluminum cost more than pressure-treated wood, and cable or hog panel infill costs more again. A long, low deck can spend more on railing than on decking.
• Stairs. Stairs are the most labor-dense part of a deck. Oregon code caps risers at 7¾ inches and requires treads of at least 10 inches, so the higher the deck the more steps it needs — and any flight of four or more risers also needs a handrail. Landings add framing and footings of their own.
• Substructure and site work. Footings have to reach at least 12 inches below finished grade in most of Oregon. Tearing out and hauling away an old deck, tight backyard access or soft ground all move the number before a single board goes down.

Every price range we publish — decks, fencing and outdoor living — lives on one page, along with exactly what a fixed-price proposal includes.