What a complete deck quote includes
If you are holding two or three written quotes, they are hard to compare, and it is usually not because of the prices. It is because they are not describing the same build.
Here is everything that belongs in a deck estimate and what each line is actually for. Read it with your quote next to you. Anything on this list that is not on your page is worth asking about before you sign.
Under the deck
Nothing here is visible once the boards go down, which is exactly why it is worth reading twice.
Footings, and how deep they go
Look for The quote should say what the deck stands on and that it is carried below frost depth.
We pour concrete into sonotube forms so every post has its own column below the frost line. A surface block that sits on the ground moves every time the ground does.
Definition →Post-to-footing and post-to-beam hardware
Look for Named connectors, not just "posts installed".
We spec Simpson Strong-Tie at these connections. This is the hardware that keeps the structure tied together as a unit.
Definition →Joist spacing
Look for A number, in inches, on centre.
Ours are framed at 16 inches on centre. Spacing is what you feel underfoot, and with composite it is what you see over time.
Definition →Double rim joist
Look for One member along the outer edge, or two.
Railing posts bolt into the rim. A double rim gives that connection something real to hold, and it stiffens the whole perimeter.
Definition →Blocking
Look for That it is there at all, and ideally that it is staggered.
Blocking stops joists twisting. We stagger ours so fasteners coming from opposite sides never collide, which means every block is properly fastened rather than one screw running into another.
Definition →Joist hangers sized to the joist
Look for A hanger line, with a size on it.
A hanger is what carries the load where a joist meets a beam or ledger. It gets sized to the joist it holds.
Definition →Keeping water out of the frame
These two lines are small money and they are most of the difference between a frame that lasts and one that quietly rots from the top down.
Joist tape on every joist top and the ledger
Look for A tape or membrane line covering the whole frame, not just the ledger.
Water runs between the deck boards and sits on the joist tops, and every screw hole is a route into the wood. We run G-Tape the length of every joist.
Definition →Cut-end sealer
Look for A sealer line for treated lumber cuts.
Pressure treatment only goes so far into a board. Every cut made on site exposes untreated wood to the weather, and sealer puts that protection back.
Definition →Flashing at the ledger, on an attached deck
Look for How the deck meets the house wall.
The ledger connection carries load into the house and takes the most water of anywhere on the deck.
Definition →What holds it together
Fasteners are the least glamorous line on any estimate and one of the easiest to read past.
Structural screws at framing connections
Look for A named product, not just "screws" or "fasteners".
We use GRK structural screws at major connections, typically RSS, LedgerLOK, or ThruLOK depending on the joint. These carry rated structural loads.
Definition →Coated screws rated for treated lumber
Look for That the fasteners are coated, and that structural work is screwed rather than nailed.
Treated lumber corrodes plain steel. We use screws on structural work so every connection can be drawn tight, inspected, and taken apart if it ever needs to be.
Definition →What you actually see
The part everyone compares, and the part where two quotes can name the same thing and mean very different products.
The decking product, by name
Look for Brand and product line, not just "composite" or "wood".
We build with Eva-Last, TimberTech, and TruNorth. Composite is a category, not a spec, and the warranty attaches to the specific line.
Definition →Picture frame edging
Look for A border board running around the perimeter.
It hides the cut ends of every field board, which is where a board starts to go. Without one you are looking at a run of exposed end grain around the whole perimeter.
Definition →Fascia and skirting
Look for The outside face and the underside, and what they get finished in.
This is what makes a deck look built rather than assembled, and skirting is what keeps animals from moving in underneath.
Definition →Railing type and material
Look for The material, and whether it is included at all.
Railing can be a large share of the total. Aluminum, glass, cable, and wood are very different numbers for the same run of deck.
Send us the quote and we will walk you through it.
Bring us the written estimate you already have and we will go through it line by line so you understand what is in it, what is not, and what the words mean. No obligation and no pressure. If it covers everything above, we will tell you that too.
Common questions
Why do two deck quotes for the same backyard come out thousands of dollars apart?
Usually because they are not describing the same build. Footing type and depth, joist spacing, whether the frame gets joist tape and cut-end sealer, whether hangers and structural screws are specified, and whether railing and skirting are included all move the number substantially. Square footage on its own tells you very little.
What is joist tape and does a deck really need it?
Joist tape is a self-adhesive waterproof membrane run along the top of every joist before the decking goes down. Water gets between the deck boards, sits on the joist tops, and every screw hole is a path into the wood. It is one of the cheapest lines on an estimate and one of the largest contributors to how long the frame lasts in a freeze-thaw climate.
How deep do deck footings need to be in Central Alberta?
Below frost depth. We pour concrete footings in sonotube forms so each post stands on its own column carried past the line where the ground freezes. A footing that stops short of it gets lifted every winter and settles unevenly every spring.
Should a deck quote name the decking brand?
Yes. Composite is a category rather than a specification, and the material warranty attaches to a specific product line. We build with Eva-Last, TimberTech, and TruNorth, and the estimate says which one.
What is the difference between an attached and a freestanding deck?
An attached deck carries part of its load into the house through a ledger board. A freestanding deck stands on its own posts and footings. We build both, and which one suits your project depends on the wall, the height of the deck, and what is behind the siding.
Checklists for other builds
Quoting more than one thing? Each build has its own list of what belongs in the document.