Most deck pages won’t give you a number. Here’s ours. These are the ranges we quote in Delaware County, what moves a price up or down, and what’s included before you sign anything. If your project is outside these ranges we’ll tell you that on the phone instead of wasting your afternoon.
These are planning ranges for a straightforward new deck with normal site access and a conventional rectangular layout. Final pricing depends on height, footing requirements, railing, stairs, demolition, access and finish details.
| Material | Installed, per sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated pine | $28–$42 | Lowest up-front cost. Requires periodic cleaning and sealing or staining to look its best. |
| Western red cedar | $35–$50 | Higher material cost than pressure-treated, with a more finished natural appearance. Still requires maintenance. |
| Composite, entry to mid-grade | $45–$62 | Lower maintenance and no routine sealing. A common upgrade for homeowners planning to keep the deck long-term. |
| Composite, premium | $60–$80 | Higher-end colors, finishes and warranty coverage, with the highest material cost of these options. |
The numbers below assume a simple rectangular deck, normal access and a standard railing package. Stairs, unusual elevation, tear-out, premium railing and custom detailing are priced separately based on the actual job.
| Deck size | Sq ft | Pressure-treated | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 12 | 144 | $4,500–$6,500 | $6,500–$9,000 |
| 12 × 16 | 192 | $5,500–$8,000 | $8,600–$11,500 |
| 16 × 20 | 320 | $9,000–$13,500 | $14,500–$19,500 |
| 20 × 20 | 400 | $11,000–$16,500 | $18,000–$24,000 |
A deck 3 ft up and a deck 10 ft up are different jobs — more posts, deeper footings, and a guardrail code requirement.
The single most underestimated line item. A long run of stairs can add more than the decking itself.
Pressure-treated railing, black aluminum and cable are a swing of thousands on the same deck.
Rectangles are cheap. Angles, wraps and picture-frame borders cost cutting time and waste material.
Removing and disposing of an existing deck is its own number, separate from the build.
If material can’t reach the back yard without going through the house or over a fence, that’s labor.
Rock, fill or a high water table changes what the footings have to be.
Deck permitting in Delaware County is handled by the individual municipality, so the exact application, drawings, fees and inspection requirements depend on where the property is located. Skyscrape Contracting verifies the local requirements before work begins and can coordinate the permit process with the homeowner; permit and third-party review fees, when required, are shown separately rather than buried in the construction price.
Permit review can add anywhere from several business days to a few weeks before construction can start, depending on the municipality and the scope of the deck. Any required inspections are scheduled as the work reaches the applicable stages.
Itemized, so you can see exactly what is and isn’t in the price.
Not one lump number you have to take on faith.
The materials figure is an allowance. Any unused portion is credited back to you.
Materials plus 50% of labor to start, balance on substantial completion. Stated before you sign.
Out-of-scope work is priced and approved before it happens.
So you have time to think about it without the number moving.
Media, Springfield, Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, Havertown, Broomall, Ridley Park, Glenolden and the surrounding Delaware County townships, plus greater Philadelphia.
A straightforward residential deck commonly takes about one to two weeks of active construction, depending on size, height, stairs, railing and weather. Permit approval happens before that and can add additional lead time. Larger, elevated or more detailed decks can take longer.
In many cases, yes, but the exact requirement is set by the municipality rather than Delaware County as a whole. The deck’s height, attachment to the house, size and location can all affect what is required. Skyscrape Contracting checks the applicable local requirements before the project starts and coordinates the permit process as needed.
It depends on how long you plan to keep the deck and how much maintenance you want to do. Pressure-treated lumber costs less up front, but it needs periodic cleaning and sealing or staining. Composite costs more initially, but it eliminates most of that recurring maintenance. For homeowners planning to stay in the house for years and who value lower maintenance, composite can make sense; for a tighter up-front budget, pressure-treated is still a solid option.
Sometimes. If the existing joists, beams, posts, ledger connection and footings are structurally sound and suitable for the new decking system, resurfacing can save significant money compared with a full rebuild. If there is rot, undersized framing, failed connections or questionable footings, those items need to be repaired or replaced before new decking goes on. Skyscrape can inspect the existing structure and price the work based on what is actually reusable.
Skyscrape Contracting primarily takes on full deck builds, resurfacing projects, stair and railing rebuilds, and structural deck repairs rather than one-board replacements or isolated cosmetic fixes. As a general rule, standalone deck work is best suited to projects with a total scope of roughly $2,000 or more. Smaller repairs may still make sense when they are part of a larger project.
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