You probably need some steps to get to your deck from outside, regardless of how high it is or how close it is to the ground. A crucial component of making sure your deck is secure and safe for your home is adding stairs to a new deck or replacing shaky ones on an old one. Below, we’ll go into greater detail about the expense of adding steps.
Rundown of The Cost to Build Deck Stairs
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| National Average Price | Approx. $1,750 in 2024 |
| Typical Price Range | $1,380 to $2,520 |
| DIY vs. Professional Installation |
|
| Cost per tread | $15 to $210 |
| Cost per frame/stringer | $115 to $210 |
| Steps for average deck | 8 steps, 48″ wide with four stringers ($1,380 to $2,520 installed) |
| Height of deck affecting costs | Higher decks increase costs due to longer stringers. |
| Width of stairs | Stairs should be at least 36″, but 48″ is optimal. |
| Stringer cost | $3 to $5 per step, per stringer. |
| Deck Materials |
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| Maintenance costs | Painting and staining: $700 to $1150 or more. |
| Deck boards calculation | Tread depth plus overhang for total board count. |
| Risks of not adding risers | Safety concern for children (risk of foot/leg sliding). |
| Estimating balusters needed | Calculate from railing length and post numbers. |
| Cost of various railing styles |
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| Deck flooring calculator | Helpful for estimating decking needs. |
| Factors influencing costs | Size, materials, design complexity, local labor rates. |
| Obtaining quotes | Consider multiple quotes from contractors. |
| Local building codes | Must be reviewed to meet safety standards. |
| Safety measures | Railings and balusters are essential for safety. |
What Is the Cost to Build a Deck Yourself?
Depending on the material, building a deck yourself might cost anywhere from $8 to $10 per square foot for simple designs that use the least expensive lumber. If you want it professionally done, the cost will be around $30 per square foot.
A do-it-yourself deck may appear appealing when you think that employing someone else to complete the task will probably double or triple your expenses. In fact, a larger design or better materials can be possible due to the cost-effectiveness of a do-it-yourself deck. These examples compare the price of hiring a contractor with building a deck yourself for a range of sizes and designs.
8×8-foot Raised Deck: For approximately $1,300 in supplies, you can construct an 8×8-foot raised deck that is attached to your house yourself using treated lumber. The cost would go up by about $700 if the decking was made of red cedar instead. It will cost you an additional $3,200 to $4,800 if you hire a contractor to build it.
12×16-foot Raised Deck: The materials needed to construct a 12-by-16-foot raised deck with stairs made of treated lumber would cost roughly $3,100. The overall cost increases from $3,700 to $9,500 when you hire someone to complete the task for you. A professionally installed 12×16-foot deck could cost $3,700, but if you build it yourself, you could have a deck that is nearly twice as large (18×20 feet).
16×16-foot Raised Deck: It will cost between $5,600 to $9,800 to build a deck yourself for a 16×16-foot (256 square-foot) area. For a deck this size, a contractor would bill more like $7,800 to $15,700.
Prices may differ in your area. Any additional features—like planters, built-in benches, or shade structures—require more materials and raise the price per square foot. Find a builder that can work within your budget after focusing on designing the deck you want if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer or don’t have the time to do it yourself.
Conclusion
In this piece, you learned about the cost to build a deck yourself, the cost to build deck stairs, how much it costs to build a 12×16-foot raised deck, and other relevant information. For more informative guides, stay connected to Buildersviller.