Many people think that building a deck can be very expensive. However, if you have the right method from idea, planning and construction, you can absolutely build a quality, beautiful deck without being too expensive. One way to save money when building your deck is to make sure you have a plan, know how to shop, and don’t spend too much on the wrong things. This article provides good ways to make decks at a good cost.
Determine you goal
You need to determine the goal of creating a deck before proceeding with other steps. You can answer the questions: what is the purpose of making a deck? What is the area? What material?…When determining your goals, you will focus on necessary and prioritized items and not invest in unnecessary things.
Plan
When you have a goal, planning will be easier and clearer. Making a deck is not a big project but requires precise planning. A plan will say what you will do, who will do it, how it will be done, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. You also need to describe a wish list to control everything while building according to plan. A good plan will help you achieve your goals and reduce costs while avoiding any unforeseen problems.
Set a budget
With the check list in the planning section, you can budget most accurately. You should also decide how flexible you are with your finances, that is, spending on the main and necessary items for you. You should make a file clearly stating each large item (such as wages and materials), dividing it into many smaller, more detailed items and thinking about replacements or cost reductions corresponding to each item. (for example, what type of flooring can be bought (natural wood, composite wood…), where to buy them (big brand stores or small local stores, or buy at discount stores… .)
Simple design
You need a simple, standard design and avoid any customization as it will cost you extra. Your design is simple. It also helps keep the deck from going out of style. The good saying “Less is more” will help you keep your design simple. Design your deck so that you use standard sizes of lumber (8, 10, 12, and 16 feet lengths). Let the deck extend 12 feet away from the house instead of 11 or 13 feet. These standard sizes help you save significant costs because you can buy standard materials at a cheaper price than non-standard sizes.
Make a materials list
You need to list all the materials, quantities, standards, etc. that you will need to build your deck. You can send them to some deck supply stores to get their quotes.
Consider renting equipment
Renting expensive tools that are used only a few times is more profitable than buying them. Retail stores offer rental services. You can rent for short hours to save money.
Choose wood
Wood is the material that accounts for the most money in deck construction. Real wood is beautiful but it degrades and is not durable due to outdoor weather. Therefore, composite wood flooring is a great alternative to natural wood. It’s almost as beautiful as real wood but doesn’t rot and never needs repainting. Importantly, they are affordable and do not require much maintenance.
Use pre-fabricated pieces where possible
Prefabricated materials will reduce labor time and material costs. For example, if your deck has stairs, buy stair ropes that come with an attached railing system.
Find good deals
Check the catalog to see if yours has promotions at local suppliers. You can visit the stores regularly or leave your phone number for the store so they can call when there is a good deal. You also consider buying combos to get good discounts.
Say no to cheap materials
Many customers try to cut costs with cheap and poor quality materials, but in reality, this will not save you much money and you will end up buying a poor quality deck. . This means longer-term costs, which are not only unpleasant but also expensive. For example, if you buy cheap, poor quality boards, after a few years it will rot and break. At that time you will have to replace it, the cost will increase significantly. For example you can spend a little more on high quality composite decking because the benefits give you value for money.
Paint
Applying a protective coating to your finished deck will protect your investment and ensure that your deck will not deteriorate and require one or more expensive deck repairs.