What size deck should I build?

Most builders suggest that your deck should be no larger than 20 percent of the house's* square footage. This is so that the deck does not overwhelm a home visually. This, of course, is up to you. If you feel you need a larger deck that takes up more of your yard space, feel free!

Is a 12x12 deck big enough?

Urban Oasis — A deck measuring 12' by 12' is the standard size for many apartments and city homes. This amount of space is more than enough to fit a modest furniture set and still decorate with greenery and standing lights.

What is a good depth for a deck?

Add another foot for your feet, and you need a deck at least 4′ (1.2m) deep. If you want to share this moment with some special, your deck needs to be a minimum of 9′ (2.7m) wide and 4′ (1.2m) deep. Ideally, with the door from the house in the middle of the deck.

What is the most common deck size?

The average deck size is between 300 and 400 square feet. Generally, a deck should be wider than it is deep, with the longer dimension running along the house.

How much does it cost to build a 20x20 deck?

The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10x10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14x20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20x20 deck. The cost to build a deck with pressure-treated wood, hardwood, or composite is about $25 per square foot, for both materials and installation.

WHAT SIZE SKATEBOARD SHOULD YOU RIDE? (7.75, 8.0, 8.25, etc.)

Is it cheaper to build your own deck?

According to Remodeling magazine's 2021 Cost vs. Value report, on average, a homeowner can recoup around 63% of the cost of a composite deck or almost 66% of the cost of a wood deck. Why? Because home buyers are willing to pay top dollar to own a deck.

Does a deck add value to your home?

According to JLC Group's Magazine research report, adding a deck can increase your home value significantly. The average cost of constructing a wooden deck is $13,000 with a resale value of $10,080, meaning you can recoup about 75% of the total cost after selling your home.

What is the average size of a deck on a house?

On average, decks are between 144 and 300 square feet but often start smaller. A deck should be proportionate to the size of the house. Typically, it should not be bigger than the largest room in the house or more than 20% of the home's square footage.

How far should a deck be from the house?

A freestanding deck footing next to a house should be as far away from the house as possible. The allowable joist overhang determines the distance between the house and the deck footing from the house. Deck footing for 2×6 and 2×8 joist should be 16″ (400mm) from the house.

What is the average cost of a deck?

According to HomeAdvisor, as of 2020 the cost of most decks ranged between $4,153 and $11,219, with $7,686 being the national average cost of a new deck. The total average cost per square foot was between $30 to $60 with labor and materials each consuming about 50% of that budget.

How far can deck joists span?

Depending on the size of the deck itself, whether your joists are spaced either 12 inches or 16 inches from the center, and the framing materials and size of deck boards used, deck joist spans may vary. With this in mind, the joist span can range between 6 ft, 10 inches, to 18 ft.

How wide do deck footings need to be?

FOOTINGS: - Poured concrete footings should be a minimum of 8” wider than the posts (4x4 post – 12” min. width, 6x6 post – 14” min. width), a two level deck or deck with roof – 24”x24”. - The bottom of the footings must be a minimum of 36” below finish grade level.

How much does it cost to build a 16x20 deck?

16' x 20' Deck Cost

in total size are the most popular size in the U.S. They have a total cost range from $4,800 to $15,040, depending on the material and style. These decks can be configured to have separate areas for relaxing, eating, and entertaining.

What is a good size for a back porch?

Most resources will say the minimum for a porch is six feet in depth. This is for good reason, as that allows enough room for you to incorporate chairs, potted plants, and/or other furniture with enough room to move around and walk in front of the furniture.

How many square feet is a 10x10 deck?

x 10 ft. = 100 square ft.

Should I use 4x4 or 6x6 deck posts?

Deck posts must be a minimum of 4×4 according to the IRC but many jurisdictions require a 6×6 post as a standard. To avoid code violations, many deck builders choose the 6×6 even if the 4×4 is acceptable.

Should decks be sloped?

A solid deck needs to be sloped between a 1/8″ (3mm) and ¼” (6mm) per foot to encourage water drainage. Decks with properly gapped decking boards require no slope as rain will naturally run off the boards even when level.

How much does it cost to build a 12x12 deck?

A deck will cost much less than adding a similar size room to your home. For example, the cost of a 12 x12 deck. A 12 x12 deck can range in cost from $2 200 to $13 000, but the average will be $6 000. Costing $40 a square foot but can be as little as $15 or as high as $85, depending on the deck's features.

How many square feet is a 12x12 deck?

A 12×12 deck has a perimeter of 48' and square footage of 144 square feet. And just for kicks, we'll say that the joists are 16” on center. The joist spacing doesn't matter too much for this example, except that we can determine the exact amount of fasteners needed (2 per board per joist).

How much should I spend on a deck?

The average cost per square foot is around $10 to $30, according to HomeGuide. A deck under 200 square feet could cost as little as $3,000, HomeAdvisor data shows, while a deck that's more than 500 square feet averages a much higher $24,000, and can climb as high as $45,000.

Is it cheaper to build a deck or patio?

Patios generally cost less to build than decks do.

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.

Are Trex decks worth it?

Trex decks are worth it because you get what you pay for. They cost more than a treated lumber one, making up for your extra outlay of cash at the onset, and will last for years longer than the average treated deck, letting you more than recoup your investment. Trex decks are also low maintenance.

What to do before building a deck?

What's the least expensive way to build a deck?

Choose wood, but carefully: Untreated wood decks are generally the cheapest to install, but don't forget long-term costs. Wood decks require yearly maintenance and deteriorate quickly if they don't get it.