Should You Build Your Own Deck or Hire a Pro?

Should You Build Your Own Deck or Hire a Pro?

Whether you’ve just bought your first drill or you’ve been remodeling your own home for years, it can be tempting to view almost any home construction project as an opportunity for flexing your DIY muscles. With some projects, DIY can indeed make the most sense — after all, why hire someone for a simple job when you can do it yourself for less? Unfortunately, many homeowners fall victim to underestimating the underlying complexity of a deck project and realize too late that they should have hired an experienced contractor.

 How Difficult Is It to Build Your Own Deck?

Depending on your experience and the specific design you’re hoping to bring to life, building a deck can seem like a deceptively straightforward project. After all, what is a deck but a bunch of planks nailed together and secured over the ground? Unfortunately, while a simple new deck is indeed a relatively simple project, DIY deck building can end up being more complex than expected.

The reality is that a properly built deck requires extensive knowledge of concrete, landscaping, engineering, and, of course, woodworking and carpentry. Here are some other important factors that you might not have considered.

Things to Consider When Building Your Own Deck

• Cost. Building your own decking can be a very expensive project. The cost of materials alone is often much greater than most people realize and adds up quickly. Hiring a professional, on the other hand, can significantly lessen unexpected costs based on their experience, as well as provide options for wholesale pricing not available to individual consumers.
• Time. Another hidden cost factor to consider is the amount of time designing, building, and reinforcing a properly constructed deck can take. As with any DIY project, be realistic about the amount of time you’re willing and able to spend on a project — especially if it ends up taking twice as long as your estimate!
• Design/Planning. Proper planning is critical for a successful deck-building project. Professionals are best equipped to ensure that all coding regulations, permit needs, and surrounding utilities are accounted for, as well as help you ensure your deck is best suited for your needs and backyard.
• Equipment. There’s nothing worse than being midway through a project and realizing you need a specialized tool that you don’t have. Professional contractors have a variety of expensive, specialized tools at their disposal to ensure your deck is built in a timely manner.

Why You Should Hire a Deck Builder

So, should you build your own deck? Probably not! Hiring a professional provides you with additional levels of security. If nothing else, we encourage you to reach out to a professional contractor with deck-building experience for a free consultation to see if your project is indeed as simple as you may believe it to be. Perimeter Remodeling is a trusted deck builder in Atlanta and we would love to show you some of the many examples in our portfolio of the work we’ve done for homeowners like you. Want more info? Reach out today and ask how we earned our reputation as one of the best contractors for custom decks Atlanta residents can rely on.