Turning your home into your castle is a major undertaking. And you want to do it right and avoid any unnecessary costs and surprises. The old saying goes “Well begun is half done.” (It’s attributed to Aristotle, but I suspect he didn’t have the rhyming thing going on.) So when you decide to add a deck to your house, you want it done right, without any worries.
Counting the Costs
The two most important things about your project are what to use, and how much will it cost? To restate the obvious, one affects the other.
Given that you have invested much in your house, we can safely assume that you’re not going with vinyl decking options. You already know that wood decking looks better and increases your home’s value more.
And of course, you want to go with the king of woods–ipe wood, aka Brazilian walnut or ironwood.
While that may cost more on the front end, on the back end, you’re going to be saving time in longevity and maintenance costs.
Breaking it Down
The average national costs of building a back deck are about $7,100, with the range running from $1,800 on the low end, and $17,000 at the top end. The cost per square foot for ipe decking averages about $7.50 per square foot but can go as high as $10 per square foot. Remember to add your labor costs, which start at $20 per hour, and can run as high as $35 per hour. Always calculate the highest cost, this avoids unpleasant surprises.
Start with the basics: How big is your deck going to be? The average size of a back deck is 200 square feet to 500 square feet, although some can be much larger.
When you’re doing your calculations, remember to include support materials as well, such as beams and joists.
Don’t Forget the Extras
So far, we’ve talked about your basic costs. But you have to be careful to remember the extras when calculating your costs.
What extras?
You might not think of them as such, but things like benches, pergolas, planter boxes all count as extras. Don’t forget to add those in as you’re calculating your total cost.
The Bottom Line
You may be having a heart palpitations as you start looking at your costs, but you’re only looking at the subtotal, not the total.
Yes, using ipe wood to make your deck will cost you a little more on the front end. But when you look at the lower maintenance costs, and what ironwood adds to the resale value of your house, you come out ahead. Remember this is an investment, and the best investments pay out in the long haul.
Ipe Woods USA–ipewoods.com–the industry’s low-cost leader is here to help you build the most beautiful ipe deck possible. Our wood is the best, and our customer service is second to none. We consider it a privilege to be your partner in making your home your castle.