How Much Does Wooden Decking Cost?

Costs

• Wooden decking is most commonly constructed from cedar or southern yellow pine, which runs about $9 to $11 a square foot. Materials for a 500-square-foot deck will thus total from $4,500 to $5,500. Labor normally costs the same amount as the material, so professional installation of the same deck will also cost $4,500 to $5,500, with a total of $9,000 to $11,000. Get quotes from multiple contractors to find the best combination of price, quality and warranty. Ask for references, so you can see samples of their work first-hand.

Staining

• Building is only one part of creating a new deck. If you are using pressure-treated wood, you must also stain the deck six months after installation. This seals the wood against the elements and allows it to last longer. A 500-square-foot deck will need about two gallons of stain and brushes. This costs about $50 to $100. You can easily tackle this process yourself. However, if you prefer a professional job, you can hire someone for about $250. Decks need staining every year to preserve their appearance.

Labor

• Because wages vary across the country, at least 50 percent of the cost of wooden decking varies according to its location. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the average hourly rate of carpenters was $21.10, as of May 2010. The lowest 10 percent of carpenters earned $11.85 per hour, while the highest 10 percent made $34.45 per hour. The states with the highest wages for carpenters were Hawaii at a mean of $31.81 per hour and Alaska at a mean of $29.14 per hour. Among cities, the highest pay was in Honolulu, Hawaii, at a mean of $33.10 per hour, followed by Fairbanks, Alaska, at a mean of $33.08 per hour.

Materials

• You can also choose among other decking materials, which can affect appearance and durability. Redwood, for example, colors from light red to a dark reddish-brown, with clear heart varieties being the most durable and decay-resistant. Mahogany is expensive, and only the medium to dark-red and brown species from Honduras are suitable for outdoor use because of their decay resistance.

  Those who dislike the maintenance of wood can consider composite decking, which is made of wood and synthetic material, and all-plastic decking. Both styles can be made to look like natural materials, though costs can be higher, running $32 to $34 a square foot as of 2011, according to Deck Magazine. Maintenance is minimal, with the plastic varieties needing only an occasional wash.