Frugal way of building deck?

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Hi, sorry I've been scarce lately. . .wife is due tommorrow with Baby Surprise.

Anyway, we just spent some dough and got an above ground pool so DW had something to occupy the older kids with. Now. . .of course. . .we just have to have a deck to go with it so we can enjoy the pool.

Here's the problem. . .we have $5000 but want a $12,500 deck (composite material). My wife and I are content to put it off but I was wondering if there wasn't a compromise.

Is it possible to build "half-a-deck" with composite material and then add an extension on later? That way there is at least room for a small table and chairs and an ability to get into the water and then we can add on the major room want later?

Or would it just look retarded with half the deck faded and the other half new? How much does composite fade?

One deck contractor did advise me on composite and said it was worth the investment. He said that composite added to the home's equity whereas pressure treated wood actually can depreciate it sometimes. What he said did make sense. I didn't ask him about fading though.

As a typical guy, I can see me house shopping with DW and saying, "Oh, no. . .not this house. . .I don't want to be staining that deck every year." (if it was wood) so. . .I'd like to do it right and go with composite.

[familyof4]

Well from my experience with building projects (been going non stop for 6 years).. it seems I always want the best, but end up getting a reality check with the prices, so I end up doing allot of work myself and also try to save on material costs.

Look at it this way, the structure of the deck will not be composite. You still need the support of preasure treated lumber and framework that will hold weight. The composite material is mainly the floor boards and facia as well as possibly the railings.

I would suggest using all conventional lumber to build it, even if you need to replace the railing and floor boards a few years down the road with the composite. Also maybe you can use a smaller deck for just around the imediate area of the pool, for getting in and out and also drying off or sitting a few chairs on.

Use the ground to make another area with some flag stone pavers laid into the grass. Not sure about your area or if you are having a builder do the work, but I put my deck on my house in 2001, 14ft by 12ft and it is 8ft off the ground, so I needed 6x6 supports. It was a 1300.00 cost doing the work myself.

[noppenbd]

Generally adding pools, decks, etc, are not an investment, because they do not add a value to the property larger than the cost of building them. For that reason, I would buy only what you can afford at this point, and which will give you the greatest enjoyment for your dollars.

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Funny, I just read in Kiplingers (or maybe it was money) that a deck is about the smartest home improvement you can make (basements are the smartest home building). . .per square foot, it's cheap "living space" seemed to be the theme of the article.

As far as doing it myself. . .unrealistic because of time and skill.

[familyof4]

Well with summer here and the advent of allot of builders looking for work, you should post the details of the deck on craigslist or look around for a local builder who is currently doing work in your neigborhood.

i have run accross many guys on a crew that needd extra work and were willing to do it as a side job. The thing you want to do is not an out of work builder try to get rich from one deck job.

use the 5k budget and have contractors give you the plans, layout and what is possible for that price.

Handly college students that have contrustion experience need work now too and can be found.

good luck. And remember to never pay labor until the job is done. it is okay to pay for materials so that someone does not need to foot that bill, but hold back the labor funds until end of job. A deck should not take more than 3 or 4 days.

[noppenbd]

Funny, I just read in Kiplingers (or maybe it was money) that a deck is about the smartest home improvement you can make (basements are the smartest home building). . .per square foot, it's cheap "living space" seemed to be the theme of the article.

I'm not saying it's a dumb idea. I personally love decks and am considering adding one myself next summer. My point was that you should not do it to increase the resale of your house. You should do it because you will get enjoyment out of it. Since it is not a financial investment I would not go into debt to do it. So I agree with familyof4 that you should go with the P/T for now and get the largest footprint your budget allows. Then if you feel the need to upgrade later and you have the cash you can tear off just the decking and get the composite.

CNNMoney's Renovation calculator says the average deck costs $14K and adds $11K to the value of the house:

Calculators - Renovation wizard

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Well, DW and I just had a fight about it anyway.

I told her she can do what she wants. I am not sure if it is the whole nesting thing going on but she's not listening to me anyway.

She wants to do the wood because she sees space, space, and more space (the deck she wants is about 13 x 30).

I appreciate you all listening to me though. My hands are off it as of now.

She's talking to a deck guy right now and I'm at work.

[familyof4]

Sorry to hear that. If you both can't work together and come to an agreement, one of you will end up suffering and resenting the other for thier actions. Sometimes you need to fight your battles, but there is a huge difference between a set of bedroom sheets or window dressings and a 13x30 deck that could be 15k.

Best of luck.

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Well, I just posted a "vent" and then thought better of it and erased it. Hopefully, DW is just "nesting" and once the baby comes, she'll get her wits about her.

I personally saw nothing wrong with starting with a small deck and adding little by little but right now. . .there is no talking to her.

[maat55]

Well, I just posted a "vent" and then thought better of it and erased it. Hopefully, DW is just "nesting" and once the baby comes, she'll get her wits about her.

I personally saw nothing wrong with starting with a small deck and adding little by little but right now. . .there is no talking to her.

For 5,000, I could build a really nice deck. You can put your list together and have lowes and home-depot bid for your purchase on the supplies. Then, borrow some power tools and a couple of your buddies and get to it.