Free AI-generated deck building proposal — composite vs. PT lumber, footing specs, railing, and permit handling. Customize in 2 min, send as PDF or link.
Proposal from
Ridgeline Deck & Outdoor
Prepared for
Derek & Nora Callahan
New Deck Construction — Composite Decking, Attached
Remove and dispose of existing 180-square-foot rotted wood deck. Build new 400-square-foot attached deck (20' x 20') with composite decking, pressure-treated subframe, concrete tube footings to 42-inch frost depth, and aluminum railing system. One stair section to grade, 4 steps.
Decking: Trex Transcend composite, Tiki Torch color (25-year fade/stain warranty) Subframe: #2 pressure-treated southern yellow pine, 16" OC Footings: 12" diameter concrete tube, 42" depth (4 footings) Ledger: New 2x10 PT ledger with code-compliant lag spacing and flashing Railing: TimberTech aluminum posts and rail, cable infill, 42" height Hardware: Hot-dipped galvanized joist hangers and structural screws throughout
Demo and haul existing deck: $650 Footings (4): $1,200 PT framing and ledger installation: $2,800 Composite decking (material + labor): $6,400 Aluminum railing system (40 linear ft): $3,600 Stair construction: $850 Building permit (estimated): $385 Total: $15,885 30% deposit ($4,766) due at permit issuance. 40% at framing inspection pass. Balance at final inspection.
Ridgeline will apply for and manage the building permit. Typical approval: 10–15 business days in Hennepin County. Estimated build time: 4 days once permit in hand. Two inspections required: framing and final. We schedule and attend both. Final permit card and inspection report provided at project closeout. Estimated start: 3 weeks from deposit. Weather delays communicated same day they occur.
Send proposals like this in minutes with BidMaker.
Create Your Free AccountPut the lumber decision in writing before any other number. Composite decking runs $8–15 per linear foot; pressure-treated runs $2–4. That's a $6,000–12,000 difference on a 400-square-foot deck. Clients who haven't thought about it will make a decision on the spot when they see the gap — and second-guess you if you assumed wrong.
Spec your footings by frost line, not by habit. A 12-inch tube footing that works in Charlotte will heave and crack in Minneapolis. Pull the local frost depth before you quote. Getting this wrong means a rebuild in three years, and it will be your problem.
Quote railing systems as a separate line item. Code requires 36-inch guards for decks under 30 inches high; 42 inches above that. The gap between PT 4x4 posts with cable infill and powder-coated aluminum with glass panels is $4,000 on a 40-foot run. Break it out so clients choose, not guess what's included.
Handle the permit yourself, not as a client task. Decks attached to the house require a building permit in almost every jurisdiction, and decks over 200 square feet often do regardless. When clients pull their own permits, inspections get missed and you inherit the liability. Add the permit fee as a line item, manage the process, and document the final sign-off.
Photo the existing ledger board before you start. If you're building attached to an existing structure, that ledger is your biggest liability. Rot, improper flashing, or a lag bolt into siding instead of framing can mean structural failure. Document the condition in the proposal so there's a paper trail when anything unexpected shows up.
Not sure what to charge?
See typical deck construction rates, common service prices, and what moves the number up or down.
Deck Construction pricing guide →BidMaker has deck construction templates built in. Fill out your business details once — proposals take under 5 minutes.
Or skip the template. Describe the job, and AI writes the proposal for you.
Start for freeFree plan: 3 proposals/month. 1 AI-written. No credit card.