Where an affordable deck saves money, and where it should not
We do not publish a per-square-foot deck price, because two decks of the same size can differ by the cost of their stairs alone. What we can tell you is where the money goes, so you can decide what to spend it on. Every quote itemizes the parts below.
Resurface instead of rebuild. If the existing frame is sound, correctly spaced for the new boards and properly attached to the house, new decking on the old frame is the biggest saving available. Often it is not: older frames spaced for 2 x 6 wood decking may need extra joists for composite, and a ledger nailed to the house without flashing has to be redone. We show you what we find.
Choose an entry-level capped board. Trex Enhance and Fiberon Good Life are scalloped, lighter and cost less than premium lines, and both are capped with no staining ever needed. The difference between them and a premium board is mostly warranty term, color range and heat, not whether the deck lasts.
Keep the shape simple. A rectangle with boards running one way uses the least material and labor. Picture frame borders, diagonal boards, curves and multiple levels all add cutting and framing.
Match board length to the deck. Composite comes in 12, 16 and 20 foot lengths. A deck sized to use full boards wastes less, and fewer butt joints look better too.
Where not to save. Footings, the ledger connection and flashing, and the joist spacing the board manufacturer requires. These decide whether the deck is safe and whether the decking warranty holds, and they are the hardest things to fix later.
Composite or modified wood
WPC composite decking needs only cleaning and holds its color, and the boards we carry report recycled content of up to 95%. Modified wood such as Kebony and Accoya is real, FSC-certified wood with no plastic, and weathers to silver gray unless oiled. Composite is usually the lower-cost route; modified wood is the one to choose if you want a wood deck without tropical hardwood.
Permits in DC, Montgomery County and Northern Virginia
The District requires a building permit for deck construction, and DC's Department of Buildings has a dedicated deck permit for one-level residential decks under 500 square feet. Montgomery County requires a building permit for residential decks and publishes its own Residential Deck Details. In Fairfax County, a permit is required for any deck attached to the house and for freestanding decks above set size and height limits, and the county publishes Typical Deck Details. Arlington and Alexandria have their own rules. We confirm the requirement for your address and handle the application; permit fees are listed as their own line on the quote.
Decks on DC-area houses
Rowhouse rear decks in the District are often small, second-story platforms over an alley or an English basement stairwell, where the ledger connection and access for materials drive the job more than the size. Suburban rear decks in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia are larger and often low to the ground over clay soil that stays damp, which is where a four-sided cap such as TimberTech PRO Terrain and good airflow underneath pay off.
Moving indoors too? The same crews handle waterproof flooring for the sunroom or basement off the deck. See WPC decking vs WPC flooring for why the two are different products.
Common questions
How much does a new deck cost in the DC area?
It depends on size, height, stairs, railings, the board you choose and whether the frame can be reused. We give a written, itemized price after a measurement visit instead of a per-square-foot guess, so you can see what each part costs.
Can you put composite decking on my old wood deck frame?
Often, if the frame is sound, attached correctly to the house and spaced for composite. Many older frames need extra joists or a new, flashed ledger first. We inspect it and itemize any repairs.
Do I need a permit to replace deck boards?
Rules differ between DC, Montgomery County and the Northern Virginia jurisdictions, and between resurfacing and structural work. We check the requirement for your address and pull the permit when one is needed.
What is the cheapest composite decking you install?
Trex Enhance and Fiberon Good Life are the entry-level capped boards we carry. Local stock and the color you want usually decide between them.
