Shoutout to the guy at the lumberyard who told me about the real cost of a DIY deck

I was pricing out cedar for a 12x16 deck in my backyard and the guy at the counter said the average DIYer spends about 40% more than they budget because they forget to factor in fasteners, concrete, and permit fees. I found the exact same stat later in a book from the library called 'The Homeowner's Guide to Outdoor Projects'. Does anyone have a good checklist for hidden costs on a big build?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire_ross6114d agoMost Upvoted

Totally agree with @kelly_rivera about the mental load, it's exhausting. My checklist always has a line for "tool rental or purchase" and another for "waste disposal" because that lumber wrap adds up. Don't forget the cost of gas for all those extra trips to the store, I made three in one day once. Budget for at least 10% more materials for cuts and mistakes, it saves a last minute panic.

samreed14d ago

Ever think about the cost of your time? That 40% extra is just the stuff you buy. If you're new to this, a deck takes way longer than you plan. Renting tools you don't own adds up fast. Then there's fixing mistakes, which always costs more money and time. The real hidden cost is the weekend you lose for every day the project runs over.

kelly_rivera14d ago

Oh man, the mental cost is huge too. Like, you're stressing about it at work, you dream about lumber, and you can't even relax when you're not working on it. That constant background worry for weeks straight is a real tax. It makes the whole thing way less fun than you pictured.