How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck This Fall?

How much does it cost to build a deck? If you ordered us to give you an answer that was as simple as possible, we’d tell you most homeowners pay $30 to $60 per square foot, according to Angi’s 2026 cost data. We know that’s a pretty wide range, and it’s only slightly helpful. You want more to work with, so let’s talk about everything that goes into cost and even timing so you can get the ball rolling on your deck!

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Deck in the Frederick Area?

Your total depends on the deck’s size, material, height, and design.

Google won’t give you a definite price. Why? Because every deck is different. You’ll find national averages, but even those are conflicting sometimes. Angi’s lists the average around $8,300, while NerdWallet reports closer to $14,000. Some online calculators count materials only, and national averages mix small ground-level platforms with large multi-level builds. 

Local labor rates and permit requirements also affect where Frederick-area projects fall in those ranges. It’s a lot to juggle, we know. We’re here to help you understand the process!

The cost to build a deck in your yard comes down to:

• Deck size
• Material: wood, composite, or hybrid
• Height and number of stairs
• Railing style
• Slope and access to the site
• Permits
• Removal of an old deck

Labor makes up a large share of the deck installation cost. Multiple levels, detailed designs, and hard-to-reach sites push labor toward the high end. If you’re still settling on dimensions, our guide to how large a deck should be can help.

What’s in a Deck Quote

An itemized quote answers the question homeowners ask us most: How much does it cost to build a deck in my backyard? It also shows where your money goes. TimberTech’s published estimates break a typical deck installation cost into four parts:

Footings and framing make up a big chunk of the cost to build a deck. Footings go below the frost line so freeze-thaw cycles don’t shift the deck, and the frame supports everything above it. A well-built frame keeps boards level and railings solid for decades, a standard we build everything to at Albaugh & Sons.

Some items are often priced separately:

• Permits
• Removal and haul-away of an old deck
• Extra stairs or landings
• Deck lighting
• Pergolas and screened enclosures

We give accurate estimates, because nobody appreciates hidden costs. Work with us, and you know what you’re paying for before work begins.

Composite vs. Wood Deck Cost

The difference in cost between composite and wood decks is widest on install day. For materials alone, pressure-treated wood can cost anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot, while composite runs about $5 to $20.

We build with three main options:

• Pressure-treated wood: lowest initial cost, with staining or sealing every two to three years
• Composite (Trex, TimberTech, and Azek): higher upfront cost, low-maintenance, no staining
• Hybrid: composite deck boards with wood railings, priced higher than wood and lower than composite

Over the life of the deck, the composite vs. wood deck cost difference narrows. Material choice affects the cost to build a deck on day one and every year after. A wood deck needs regular cleaning and a fresh coat of stain or sealer every few years, and a professional staining job can run $550 to $1,250. Maryland’s humid summers and freeze-thaw winters are hard on unprotected wood. Composite needs occasional cleaning and no staining.

For more detail, see our composite and wood deck comparison and our deck staining tips.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Deck?

The question we hear almost as frequently is about timing: How long does it take to build a deck? Again, it’s not simple to give one definitive answer. Some homeowners want to know the time the crew spends onsite, and others want to know the time it will take from first call to post-cleanup completion. Even then, it depends on the scope of the project. A simple deck won’t take nearly as long as an enclosed deck.

Most of the calendar goes to the steps before the crew arrives:

1. Estimate and site visit
2. Design and material selection
3. Permit review
4. Material ordering
5. Construction and inspections
6. Final walkthrough

Let’s talk about the steps we have less control over. In Frederick County, a one-level deck of 500 square feet or less qualifies for expedited permit review, which the county aims to complete within one business day. Larger decks go through standard review, and homes inside Frederick city limits go through the City of Frederick’s permit office instead. Inspections happen at set stages, including the footings and the finished deck, and the county schedules them for the next business day when they’re requested by noon.

We pull the permit and schedule the inspections for you. Our Frederick County deck permit guide covers the process in more detail.

Special-order composite colors can add time to material ordering. The longest wait, though, is usually for an open spot on a builder’s schedule, and that wait grows every spring. So if you want a shorter waitlist, you might want to look to the more immediate future.

Why Book Your Deck This Fall

Homeowners who wait for warm weather to start planning often wait longer for a start date. Booking in the fall gets you ahead of that rush (and we do enjoy some crisp fall air to shake things up a bit).

Working backward from a deck that’s ready by Memorial Day looks like this:

• Fall: estimate, design, and material selection
• Late fall into winter: permits, material orders, and a spot on the schedule
• Late winter into spring: construction, weather permitting
• Spring: first cookout on the new deck

Fall has practical advantages, too. Cooler weather is easier on your lawn than summer heat, crews can dig footings before the ground freezes, and you have time to compare composite samples and settle on a design without feeling rushed. We cover more reasons in Why Fall Is the Best Time for a Decking Installation.

Get a Free Deck Estimate This Fall

So how much does it cost to build a deck in your backyard? A free estimate from our team can tell you, including your deck installation cost. And, as always, we have a strict “no hidden fees” policy.

At Albaugh & Sons, we’re a family-owned company, and are licensed and insured. We’ve been building decks for Frederick-area homeowners since 2003. Local voters have named us Best of the Best for six years running. Our project managers stay involved from the first estimate to the final walkthrough.

Call us at (301) 964-9379 or request your free estimate online to get your project on the calendar.