A new deck can add thousands of dollars to your home. In fact, with its high return on investment, it’s one of the best and most reliable ways to increase your property value.
But whether you want to create an outdoor living space or want to make worthwhile renovations before putting your home on the market, you might be asking yourself this question: “How long does it take to build a deck?”.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It’s impossible to put an accurate timeframe on the deck-building process because there are so many variables that can slow everything down.
We’ve put together this guide to help you figure out what to expect when you’re adding a deck to your home, so make sure you keep reading below.
The Planning Process
Before you can buy the wood and start nailing, you have to design your deck. Once you have the basic plan, you’ll need to run it past a contractor so (If you aren’t one for drawing blueprints, you can have the contractor handle this entire step).
This takes time.
You should set aside a week or two to come up with a design, choose the right wood, and double-check the details. The process might not take this long, but don’t be surprised if you need more than a few days to get everything done.
Hiring a Contractor
If you don’t already have one, you then have to hire a contractor in your area. To ensure you get the best price and the best services, it’s a good idea to get a quote from several different companies.
Researching and calling all these companies can take a week or two. If you want your new deck as fast as possible, you can start looking for a contractor in advance so they’re ready right when you need them.
You also have to consider the contractor’s schedule. They may be booked for the next few weeks (or even months). You may have to spend some time waiting to get a contractor you trust.
Getting the Right Permits
Your contractor will have to examine your property and review the zoning laws in your area. Depending on where you live, you may have to apply for a building permit before you start building. Filling out the application won’t take longer than an hour (give or take), but you may have to wait days, weeks, or even months before the local government grants you a permit.
The Construction
The actual construction is often the fastest part of the deck process. But again, it’s difficult to put an accurate timeframe on this step because there are a number of factors that impact how long the job will take, such as:
- The Size — the bigger the deck, the longer it will take to build
- The Design — if you choose a custom design over a simple style, you should expect a few days (or more) of slowdown
- Extra Additions — things like built-in benches, stairs, rails, hot tubs, etc. take more time to add
- The Accessibility — if there are a lot of plants or other objects on your property, the contractor will have a difficult workspace, which will slow things down
- The Building Site — depending on the condition of your yard, the contractor may need to clear or level the ground before they start building
You also have to order the wood in advance, and the shipping can take several days (or weeks). This is especially true if you buy a unique or uncommon type of wood, such as exotic woods like Ipe or Tigerwood.
It’s also important to remember that some woods need time to acclimate to the local climate. You won’t be able to start building with them as soon as they show up at your house. Instead, you’ll have to let them sit outside for a few days.
If you skip this step, your deck may show signs of damage much faster than it should.
The Weather Conditions
Building a deck is an outside job. Because of this, the contractor is forced to work around the weather conditions, and it may not cooperate.
If it starts raining, you may have to put the process on hold until the area gets better weather. Always plan for a delay due to weather even if there’s no rain in the forecast.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Deck? Getting From Start to Finish as Fast as Possible
So how long does it take to build a deck? If you have a simple design and everything goes according to plan, you can get through the entire process in about one to three weeks.
However, it often takes much longer than this. Waiting for the necessary permits and adding extra features to your deck can slow things down. You may have to wait several months before your deck is completely finished.
Make sure you set realistic expectations. Hiring a reliable contractor will allow you to finish your deck as fast as possible, but there will always be delays. You should plan for your deck to take a week or two longer than you think. This way, you won’t be disappointed when things fall behind schedule.
Ready to start the deck-building process?
Make sure you take a look at some of the beautiful wood we offer and don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions about our products!