What a deck proposal is for
Most deck buyers are choosing between wood and composite, and between a plain railing and something nicer. Three options on the same footprint make the trade clear: what the customer pays now against upkeep later. The step up to composite is also where pay over time helps.
What to put on a deck proposal
- The same footprint and height in each.
- Decking material and fasteners.
- Railing style.
- Upkeep each option needs.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same 320 sq ft deck. Framing, labor and permit use the calculator's typical prices; upgrades are yours to price.
Option 1: Good: pressure-treated. Pressure-treated decking and wood railing.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decking and framing materials, pressure-treated pine * | 320 | sq ft | $4.50 | $1,440.00 |
| Deck build labor * | 320 | sq ft | $25.00 | $8,000.00 |
| Wood railing * | 40 | ft | $45.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Building permit * | 1 | each | $331.25 | $331.25 |
| Total before tax | $11,571.25 |
Option 2: Better: composite decking. Composite boards on treated framing, wood railing.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck build labor * | 320 | sq ft | $25.00 | $8,000.00 |
| Decking, composite | 320 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Wood railing * | 40 | ft | $45.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Building permit * | 1 | each | $331.25 | $331.25 |
Option 3: Best: composite with aluminum rail. Composite decking, aluminum railing and post cap lights.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck build labor * | 320 | sq ft | $25.00 | $8,000.00 |
| Decking, composite | 320 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Railing, aluminum | 40 | ft | Your price | |
| Post cap lights | 6 | each | Your price | |
| Building permit * | 1 | each | $331.25 | $331.25 |
Say plainly how much upkeep each option needs. That is often what decides it.
* Typical price from our free deck cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items deck builders use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Footings, dug and poured | each | Depth to your local frost line and the inspector's rule. |
| Framing: posts, beams and joists | sq ft | Lumber grade and joist spacing. |
| Ledger with flashing | ft | Attached to the house with the fasteners code calls for. |
| Decking, pressure-treated | sq ft | Board width and fastening. |
| Decking, composite | sq ft | Brand, color and hidden or face fasteners. |
| Railing | ft | Wood, composite, aluminum or cable. |
| Stairs | each | Per step; width and landing. |
| Tear-out of old deck | sq ft | Demolition and haul-off. |
| Post caps and lighting | each | Low voltage or solar. |
| Skirting or lattice | ft | Around the base. |
| Permit and inspections | each | Footing, framing and final. |
| Stain and seal | sq ft | For wood decks, after the wood is ready. |
Terms and deposit language for deck
- Deposit. The deposit at signing orders lumber or composite and books the build week. Each state sets its own deposit limits on home improvement work.
- Payment. Balance due at the final inspection or when the deck is finished and walked.
- Warranty. You warrant the framing and your workmanship for a stated time. The decking maker warrants the boards. Normal checking, warping and weathering of wood are not defects.
- Permit and inspection dates are set by the town and can move the schedule.
- Buried lines and sprinkler pipe at footing locations are the owner's to have marked.
- Pressure-treated wood needs time to dry before stain; the timing is in the notes.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for deck
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for deck builders: how deck builders run on Koira.