I want to build a deck area on the back of my house. Is it cheaper to pour concrete or build it out of wood?

Question

I am doing it myself with Home Depot How To books. I am very handy and should not have a problem. I just am looking for the cheapest option. I also need to landscape the rest of my yard and I want to keep costs as low as possible.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

With all due respect to you and any other answers "Cheap" is subjective, and relative to your location, budget and suppliers.

Obvious,,,are the differences, and perhaps dependent on any height, or variations in height you might want...IE: Ground level with steps down/up...unless your house is already on a slab?

Certainly there are things to consider in zoning or permits perhaps, and the USE for the deck. Concrete, poured properly won't likely crack, crumble, rot, be suseptible to mold/mildew in your lifetime or the time you own the property. Even TREATED lumber eventually degrades.

If your budget allows I have a suggestion. If I was contracted for the job I might do both,,,BUT using composite decking material, suck as TREX, etc. over a slab.

Even a treated wood deck setup can be a long term place to hang out with minimal maintenance. I built a deck on a house,,,now my ex wifes, in 1992, and it's still solid today. Pressure washing and something like "Thompsons" once a year brings it back to near new. I live in Central FL.

Not knowing the ZONE you're in, burying support beams, even on concrete footers may be an issue with the depth of a frost line, but can be managed.

Landscaping can be accomplished as well with appropriate grasses, but too, with large, low maintenance plant beds and mulch. That's likely more a personal choice in your design notions.

Good luck for you, and enjoy what it's all about.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

A "deck" indicates to me that it is elevated to some extent. So, to pour concrete, you would have to put up block walls, then fill the interior with sand or some other type fill, then pour the slab on top of that. An alternative to the blocks is to build or rent concrete forms . Quite a lot of work. I haven't checked the price of concrete lately.

Wood decks are okay, probably less expensive in the long run, but I have never seen a wood deck made out of treated lumber stand up to the elements for very long.

There is a product sold by vinyl siding suppliers, that is made using PVC decking. Not the plastic lumber being sold, although that's good too, but the PVC decking comes in different colors and never needs any type of maintenance.

Answer 4

get a bid from a contractor on both a concrete and another for a wooden deck. Chances are that a wooden deck will be cheaper. You probably cant complete a cement deck alone. The only way I see is to build a wooden deck yourself. That way you can save on labor.
I built a small house that I live in and did about 90% of the labor my self. I have $66000 in it and it appraised for $143000. That may not be a good gauge for the labor but I believe it may be close.

Answer 5

Decks are normally made out of wood or a composite material. PATIO'S are made from concrete or paving blocks.

A deck or patio will last for several years if you do a good one. Cheap is not always good. Determine the kind you want, shop for prices, ask about warranties, ask how long the builder has been in business etc. Do your homework and quit thinking CHEAP. Buying cheap products normally costs more in the long run due to inferior materials and workmanship.

Answer 6

In most normal situations, concrete is less expensive per square foot than any wood decking and is completed faster. Poured in place concrete is also unforgiving and costly to repair mistakes as a DIYer. I'd cost out the two variations and see which is more cost effective.

Answer 7

If you by (frequently or infrequently) various gardening and landscaping magazines why don’t you just get a full one from right here https://tr.im/his21 a actually excellent resource with a lots of specifics and high quality guides , without a doubt it’s fantastic worth.
Ideas4Landscaping have comprehensive diagrams and straightforward to follow guidelines if you don’t know in which to start off, a program that is also coming with various themes and bonus resources like the “Landscaping Secrets Revealed guide, Save On Energy Costs – Green Home guidebook or How To Grow Organic Vegetables - without a doubt a total plan for the ones that want to find out landscaping or just to make the backyard or front yard much more interesting.

Answer 8

If you are a beginner or have done some woodworking you will find these plans easy-to-follow as the instructions are very clearly written https://tinyurl.im/aHLIa The woodworking plans are straightforward so they are not complicated at all. Even if you are a total newcomer to woodworking you will simply be able to master all the techniques that are needed and the woodworking skills very quickly by following the concise and clear instructions. Another thing which is so great about these woodworking plans is that there have been some videos included and there are some to guide you in how to build benches home furniture dog houses bird feeders sheds and much much more.

Answer 9

well, in my opinion, concrete is not a devk. it is a slab, or patio, if you will., if a slab is all you want, then that is easiest and cheapest way to go. building a deck out of wood is not nard. find some plans, though. use treated lumber of course. but the price depends upon the size. could be fairly expensive, but do some prudent shopping . i think concrete would be cheapest. but===

Answer 10

I poured a slab for my back patio. It is 12x22. 3 yards of concrete at 4 inches thick. It cost 100.00 a yard. I found it was cheaper to have a concrete one than wood.