One of the least expensive ways you can add more living space to your home is with an outdoor room. How much does it cost to build an outdoor deck? The average 200-square-foot deck costs about $7,000, according to Home Advisor, which estimates the construction costs at about $35 a square foot. Prices can vary widely, however, depending on the flooring you choose.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons—and costs—of various decking options, including natural wood (from mahogany to cedar), pressure-treated lumber, and composite materials.
Which decking material is best for your budget? See more inspiration in How to Successfully Design a Deck or Patio for any outdoor space.
Natural Wood Decking
Above: An open-air gazebo in Connecticut is built from rot-resistant, untreated, unfinished cedar. See more at Outbuilding of the Week: A Teahouse on the Connecticut Coast. Photograph by Sean Kernan.
Natural wood decking feels good underfoot (and may stay cooler than other materials in hot weather). Prices for flooring can vary—from about $16 to $35 per square foot—depending on the type of wood you use. Pine is the least expensive choice (but also the least durable). Another benefit: wood is absorbent, which makes it less slippery in rain or near a swimming pool.
Some wood—including redwood and cedar—is more rot-resistant and less susceptible to insect damage than others. To keep wood decking looking good year after year, apply a sealer annually.
Teak
Above: A custom Brazilian teak deck. For more information and pricing, see Creative Fences & Decks.
A handsome hardwood, teak is particularly durable. It’s also one of the most expensive flooring options for a deck. If you can afford the upfront cost and factor in a longer lifespan, its longevity may make it a sensible choice. You can calculate the Cost of Teak Decking at Remodeling Expense.
Redwood
Above: A a dining platform with redwood decking (and built-in bench) is a natural complement to mature redwood trees in a garden in Los Angeles (also shown in the top photo). See more in Before & After: From Desert to Redwood Forest, the Essence of California in One LA Garden. Photograph courtesy of Terremoto.
A strong wood that resists warping, redwood is most cost effective if you live on the West Coast (closer to the source). Left untreated, redwood flooring will weather naturally to a silvery gray. If you prefer to stain it, plan to reapply a sealer every year.
Mahogany
Above: Staining mahogany decking or sealing it with wood oil will increase the lifespan of the wood. For more informations and prices for kiln-dried mahogany decking, see Green World Lumber.
A long-lasting choice for decking, the wood has an attractive, tight grain and resists splintering. Its dense nature—the wood is heavy and more difficult to cut than some other choices—add to the expense.
Two commonly used types of mahogany decking are Cambara and Meranti, which come, respectively, from Brazil and the Philippines. You can calculate the Cost of Mahogany Decking at Remodeling Expense.
Ipe
Above: A silvery gray ipe deck connects to the kitchen of a cabin on the southern end of Puget Sound. See more at Architect Visit: A Puget Sound Cabin That Rests Lightly on the Land. Photograph by Jeremy Bittermann.
The same durable hardwood used on seaside boardwalks in Coney Island and Wildwood, New Jersery, ipe has a tight grain and feels pleasing underfoot. It weathers beautifully to a silvery color. However, the wood’s hardness makes it difficult to cut, adding to construction costs. You can calculate the Cost of Ipe Decking at Remodeling Expense.
Ipe, which belongs to the Handroanthus plant genus, grows in Central and South America and is resistant to pests and rot.
Cedar
Above: A simple palette for a beach house at the end of a rugged road on the tip of Long Island, New York includes a wooden deck with matching steps, abutting a cedar-sided facade. See more in Hardscaping 101: Wood Decks. Photograph by Kevin Greenberg, courtesy of Space Exploration.
A softer wood than teak, mahogany, redwood, or ipe, cedar is a common choice for decking. Its softness makes it prone to splintering, however.
Pressure-Treated Lumber
Above: An 8-foot length of Prime Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Lumber (2 by 6 inches) is $6.57 at Home Depot.
What is pressure treating? “Pressure treating is a preservative process that helps wood withstand the elements and wards off termites, microorganisms, and fungal decay,” notes Home Depot, which sells a wide assortment of pressure-treated lumber. “The most common chemicals used to treat wood are Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ), Copper Azole (CA), and Micronized Copper Azole (MCA).”
The price pressure-treated lumber decking costs about $15 a square foot (less than half the cost of hardwood decking).
Composite Decking
Above: See more of this Cape Cod balcony deck at Out at Sea: A Shipshape Renovation in Provincetown by Hein+Cozzi. Photograph by Justine Hand.
Composite decking, which combines plastic with wood fibers, is typically slightly more expensive to install than hardwood decking. However, its low-maintenance nature means you won’t need to stain, seal, or oil composite decking to keep it looking good. And its durability—you can expect composite decking to last up to 25 years—means fewer replacement costs, saving money in the long run.
Available in a wide range of colors, composite decking can be painted or stained to nearly any color you desire. See more information and pricing at Trex and TimberTech; both manufacturers offer a wide range of composite decking products.
Bamboo Decking
Above: Bamboo X-treme Decking is a solid board made from compressed bamboo strips; for more information and pricing, see Moso.
Bamboo decking, with prices similar to hardwood, is made by gluing together pressurized bamboo strands. An otherwise sturdy and durable material, bamboo decking is prone to cracking; prevent problems by sealing it every year.
Read more about Decks & Patios 101 in our curated design guides to Hardscapes 101. For more ideas, see: