{"id":290439,"date":"2024-08-01T13:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T17:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.familyhandyman.com\/?p=290439"},"modified":"2024-09-12T02:10:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T06:10:37","slug":"how-to-calculate-trex-decking-cost-for-your-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.familyhandyman.com\/article\/how-to-calculate-trex-decking-cost-for-your-project\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Calculate the Cost Of Your Decking"},"content":{"rendered":"If you're planning to build a new deck<\/a>, there are two things you absolutely need to remember. The first is to check with your local building department to find out if you need to apply for a permit (you probably do), and the second is to draw up a materials list so you can budget for the project. Lumber prices may not be experiencing the hefty rise they were a few years ago, but they're still high, and no one appreciates the shock of an unexpectedly big bill after a project has been completed.\r\n\r\nEvery large decking project I've ever done has had its share of glitches and spontaneous design changes that make the initial cost estimate just that \u2014 an estimate. Irregular soil conditions, sloped terrain and other factors tend to make labor costs variable, but those costs don't matter if you're building the deck yourself. As long as you know the deck dimensions and you're clear on the type of decking you're going to use, materials costs should be fairly predictable.\r\n\r\nHere's the strategy I use for drawing up a materials list for a decking project.\r\n

Calculating the Cost of Decking<\/h2>\r\nThe choice of decking material greatly affects the cost of the deck. If you're on a budget, you'll probably want to go with pressure-treated pine or fir ($2 - $5 psf), which is the least expensive choice, but if money is no object, you may be attracted to premium materials like ip\u00e9, tigerwood or other exotic wood varieties ($7 - $20 psf). Composite and pure PVC decking from such suppliers as Trex, AXEK\/TimberTech and Fiberon are mid-range options ($5 - $22 psf). Rot-resistant softwoods like redwood and cedar, which are perennial favorites, are a little cheaper than composites.\r\n\r\nDecking materials are generally priced by the square foot, but if you opt for redwood or cedar, you'll probably find them priced by the linear foot at the lumberyard. Assuming they are standard 6-inch decking boards, it's easy to convert the price per linear foot to the price per square foot. Just double it. This works because it takes two 6-inch boards (which are actually 5 1\/2 inches wide) to make a width of one foot (counting the gaps between the boards). Similarly, if you come across 4-inch boards priced by the linear foot, just triple the price to determine the price per square foot.\r\n\r\nHaving determined the price per-square-foot of your chosen decking material, all you have to do now to estimate the total decking cost is measure the deck area in square feet and multiply that number by the cost per-square-foot of your decking material. I always tack on 10 percent to the total square footage to account for cutting waste.\r\n