Deck & Exterior cluster
Deck & Exterior: Driveways, Walls and Outdoor Renovation
Start with the outside work your home needs: a driveway, retaining wall, deck, patio, replacement fence, siding or repaint. Combine separate scope subtotals in the outdoor renovation planner without double-counting shared drainage, fees or contingency. Compare repair with replacement before choosing a finish, separate materials from installation, and use the guides to prepare questions for contractors. The siding ROI tool explores your assumptions rather than predicting your home's resale price. Editable rates are planning allowances, not verified local prices.
- Visible decking is only 35-45% of a materials bill — framing, footings and railing make up the rest.
- A nominal 6-inch board covers 5.5 inches plus a 1/8-inch gap; plan 10% waste on straight layouts.
- Deck costs swing 25-40% by region — ZIP-based labor multipliers matter more than material brand.
Guides in this cluster
Driveway Calculator: Installation Cost and Base Volume
Build a driveway installation budget from measured area, surface materials, labor, removal and site work, with a worked example and compacted base formula.
Read guideRetaining Wall Calculator: Block Count and Project Cost
Estimate retaining wall face blocks, waste, installation labor and drainage allowances while separating a planning budget from site-specific structural design.
Read guideOutdoor Renovation Calculator: One Budget for Every Scope
Combine driveway, retaining wall, deck, patio, fence and landscaping quotes into one outdoor renovation budget without duplicating site work, fees or contingency.
Read guideGravel Driveway Calculator: How Much Gravel Do I Need? (2026)
A typical gravel driveway needs about 1 ton of gravel per 80 sq ft at 4 inches deep. Use this guide to size your order in tons, yards, and dollars in 60 seconds.
Read guidePatio Cost Calculator: Build an Itemized Budget in 2026
Estimate a patio budget using your own materials, labor, removal and site-work rates, with a worked 300-square-foot example and a free calculator.
Read guideFence Replacement Calculator: Removal and New Fence Costs
Build a fence replacement budget with removal, disposal, new installation, gates and footing repairs; compare replacement with repair using a worked example.
Read guideSiding Replacement Cost Calculator: 2026 US Price Guide
Siding replacement is one of the highest-ROI exterior projects of 2026, with fiber cement returning 88% at resale (Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value). This guide breaks down the real per-square-foot cost by material, with a free calculator that handles waste, tear-off, and labor in one shot.
Read guideSiding ROI Calculator: Resale Recovery vs. Net Return
Compare siding replacement cost, assumed resale value, net cost and optional savings without treating recovery percentages as a guaranteed investment return.
Read guideExterior House Painting Cost Estimator: 2026 US Prices by Siding & Size
Painting the outside of a US home costs $3,800–$11,500 in 2026, driven mostly by siding type, condition and how many stories the crew has to reach. Here's the 2026 pricing math — with an estimator that adjusts for your ZIP.
Read guidePatio Paver Calculator: Count Pavers, Base and Sand
Calculate patio pavers with waste, compacted base and bedding sand volumes; follow a worked example and learn what a materials estimate excludes.
Read guideFence Cost Calculator: How Much Does a Fence Cost in 2026?
A new fence costs $15 to $60 per linear foot installed in 2026. Wood runs $20–$40, vinyl $25–$55, chain link $12–$25, and aluminum $30–$60. Here's the full breakdown.
Read guideFence Installation Calculator: Materials, Labor and Removal
Compare fence installation scope using separate materials, labor, removal, gates and fees, with an editable calculator and a clear worked budget.
Read guidePaver Installation Cost in 2026: Patio, Walkway & Driveway Prices per Square Foot
Paver installation runs $12–$32 per square foot installed in 2026. Material and laying pattern move the number more than any other variable — here is how to plan.
Read guideDeck Cost Calculator by Square Foot: 2026 Prices per Sq Ft by Material
A new deck runs $22–$95 per square foot installed in 2026 depending on material, height and railing choice. Here is the per-sq-ft math by material, plus labor share, add-ons and how ZIP-based labor moves the number.
Read guideDeck Materials List and Cost in 2026: Every Board, Joist and Screw Priced
A 300 sq ft pressure-treated deck needs roughly 60 boards, 26 joists, 12 posts and $4,000–$7,500 in materials in 2026. Here is the full shopping list with current prices, and the math to size it for your deck.
Read guideHow Many Deck Boards Do I Need? 2026 Calculator and Formula
A 12x16 deck needs about 55–60 twelve-foot 5/4x6 boards with waste. Here is the exact formula, coverage table by board width, and a free calculator that counts boards and prices them.
Read guideHow Much Does It Cost to Stain a Deck? 2026 Price Guide
The average deck staining cost in 2026 is $2 to $5 per square foot for a pro and $0.40 to $0.90 per square foot DIY. Here is the full breakdown, formula, and prep checklist.
Read guideDeck Replacement Cost in 2026: Tear-Out, Disposal and Rebuild Pricing
Replacing a deck costs more than building new because you pay for demolition twice over — once to remove the old structure and once to haul it away. Here is the full 2026 math.
Read guideDeck Labor Cost in 2026: What Installers Charge Per Square Foot
Labor is the biggest line in most deck bids — bigger than the boards. Here is what deck labor costs per square foot in 2026, what drives it up, and how to compare contractor quotes.
Read guideDeck Permit Cost in 2026: Fees, Plan Review and Inspections
Most attached and elevated decks need a building permit, and the fee is usually a percentage of project value. Here is what deck permits cost in 2026 and how the fee math works.
Read guideDeck ROI in 2026: How Much Value Does a New Deck Add?
Decks are one of the better outdoor projects for resale value, but material choice changes the return. Here is the 2026 deck ROI math by material, size and region.
Read guideCalculators for this topic
Frequently asked questions
Which driveway calculator should I use?
Use the Driveway Calculator for surface installation, removal and fixed site allowances. Use the existing Gravel Driveway Calculator for gravel volume, weight and delivered material cost.
Does a retaining wall calculator provide a structural design?
No. It counts face blocks and builds a budget. Soil, slope, groundwater, nearby structures and vehicle loads require site-specific assessment; verify permits and engineering requirements locally.
How do I avoid double-counting an outdoor renovation budget?
Enter each scope subtotal before contingency, then include shared drainage, site work and fees only if not already in those scopes. Apply one reserve to the combined subtotal.
Which patio calculator should I use?
Use Patio Cost for an editable installation budget, Patio Paver for unit counts and base volumes, and Paver Installation for the existing material comparison estimate.
Should I repaint or replace my siding?
Repainting may suit sound siding with a failing finish. Warped panels, rot or moisture damage need diagnosis and repair before paint; compare replacement and repair quotes for the same measured wall area.
Does siding ROI guarantee a higher sale price?
No. The calculator uses your chosen recovery percentage. Local comparable sales, installation quality, the home's condition and the time of sale determine actual value; savings are a separate optional assumption.
How is fence installation different from the fence cost tool?
The original fence calculator uses one combined rate. The installation calculator separates materials, labor, removal, gates and fees so you can compare bid scope without counting labor twice.
How much does a deck cost in 2026?
Installed decks run $22-$95 per square foot depending on material and height — pressure-treated $22-$45, cedar $32-$52, composite $42-$80, tropical hardwood $65-$95. A typical 300 sq ft pressure-treated deck lands around $9,000-$13,500 installed.
How many deck boards do I need for a 12x16 deck?
A 12x16 deck needs 26 rows of 5/4x6 boards (5.5 in actual width plus a 1/8 in gap). With 16-ft boards that is one board per row — 26 boards, or 29 with a 10% waste allowance.
What materials do I need to build a deck?
Beyond the decking boards: joists at 16 in on center, doubled beams, posts every 8 ft, one 80 lb concrete bag per footing, joist hangers and post hardware, ledger flashing, screws or hidden fasteners, and railing. Framing and hardware typically cost as much as the visible decking.
Is it cheaper to build a deck yourself?
DIY saves the 45-55% labor share — roughly $4,000-$7,000 on a 300 sq ft deck — but you take on footing depth, ledger attachment and railing code requirements. Most failed inspections are ledger flashing and guard-rail height, not the decking itself.