HomeMatchup
Decks · Services

Deck services

Deck contractors do five distinct jobs, and they are priced very differently: new installation ($15-$55 per square foot), full replacement (about $6,000-$18,600 for a 300 square foot deck), repair (national average around $1,500), resurfacing (new boards on sound framing), and maintenance work like cleaning and staining ($2-$5 per square foot). The right service depends almost entirely on the condition of the framing, not the boards.

  • 25Decks servicesCovered on this site
  • CheckedLicence & insuranceVerified against the issuing body
  • 1-to-1MatchingOne pro, not five callbacks
  • FreeTo homeownersContractors pay us, you never do
In short

What deck services actually cover

Installation means new framing, footings, and decking. It runs $15 to $55 per square foot installed, and the deck type matters more than the brand of board: platform decks $10 to $30 per square foot, raised decks $25 to $50, two-story $30 to $60, multi-level $30 to $75, covered $40 to $100.

Resurfacing replaces the decking and railing while keeping the existing frame. It only makes sense if the joists, beams, posts, and ledger are genuinely sound. Ask the contractor to probe the joists and the ledger board and show you what they found. If the frame is questionable, resurfacing is money spent on top of a problem.

Repair averages about $1,500 nationally and ranges roughly $500 to $3,000, or $10 to $55 per square foot. Individual items: joists $100 to $300 each, railing $25 to $100 per linear foot, stairs $15 to $50 per step. Deck professionals commonly charge $50 to $100 per hour with a $50 to $75 call-out fee.

Maintenance is the service most homeowners underbuy. Wood decks need restaining and sealing every two to three years. Staining runs $2 to $5 per square foot, restaining $4 to $7 because it includes power washing and stripping. Skipping it is what turns a repairable deck into a replacement.

How to choose

Picking the right deck job

The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.

  1. Get the frame assessed before you buy anything

    Every service decision - repair, resurface, replace - follows from the condition of the joists, ledger, and posts. Insist that assessment happens first and in writing.

  2. Beware of a resurfacing quote with no framing inspection

    New boards on rotten joists is the most expensive mistake in this trade. It looks finished and it is not safe.

  3. Repair, until repair approaches replacement

    The standard guidance is to replace when repair cost approaches new-deck cost, when the deck is over 20 years old, or when beams and joists need replacing.

  4. Bundle staining with the build only if it's itemized

    Staining is $2 to $5 per square foot as a standalone job. If it's folded into a build quote with no line item, you cannot tell what you paid.

  5. Confirm who pulls the permit

    Permit service is a real line item. Get it named in the contract along with who attends the inspection.

Two people working through home paperwork at a kitchen table
Illustration, for reference.
Before you call anyone

The wrong service call is the expensive one

Most people booking deck work are buying a diagnosis, not a job - and the trade you pick decides what diagnosis you get. Book the wrong specialist and you pay a call-out fee to be told it is somebody else's problem.

  • Describe the symptom What you can observe, and when it started. Not what you think it is.
  • Ask what the visit includes Whether the diagnostic fee is credited against the work is a question with a real answer.
  • Get the scope in writing A number with no line items cannot be compared to a second number.
FAQ

Decks services - common questions

Still have a question? Talk to our team →

Resurfacing replaces boards and railing on existing framing. Replacement rebuilds the structure too. Replacement is the right call when the deck is over 20 years old or when beams and joists need replacing.
National average is about $1,500, with a typical range of $500 to $3,000, or $10 to $55 per square foot. Rot repair alone can run $300 to $5,000 and a sagging deck $750 to $10,000.
Every two to three years. Budget $2 to $5 per square foot for staining, or $4 to $7 for restaining that includes power washing and stripping the old finish.
Most will, and they should. Permits generally cost $100 to $500. Requirements are set locally, so confirm with your building department what your jurisdiction wants.
Sources

Where these figures come from

Sources last checked

How this works

We don't do deck work. We match you with pros who do.

HomeMatchup is a matching service, not a decks contractor. Your job goes to a few local pros who take this work - not a cold-call list.

  1. You tell us the job

    ZIP plus a short description. About a minute.

  2. We match, you don't chase

    Routed to licensed local pros who take work like yours.

  3. You compare and decide

    Compare quotes and hire, or walk away. No fee either way.

Get matched free or call (866) 582-8523

Free to you · No obligation to hire · Only your matched pros get your details · How we vet pros

You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.

That is worth something only while you are still choosing. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a few deck pros whose licence and insurance we have already checked - free, no obligation.

Get matched free

Free · No pressure · Only your matched pros get your details

Who wrote and checked this

Written by

The HomeMatchup Content Team

Editorial
Reviewed by

Michael Thompson

Senior Home Improvement Reviewer · 20 years

Senior technical reviewer.

Team-written. Second-person reviewed. Sources dated. Report a correction.

(866) 582-8523 Get free quotes