After 41 years of pricing decks, I can tell you the question I get more than any other: what's this going to cost? Here's an honest breakdown of what drives the price of a new deck in Mobile County.
Size is the obvious one — more square footage means more material and more labor. But height matters just as much. An elevated deck for a waterfront home needs taller posts, more bracing, and often a stair run, all of which add to the build.
Material choice is the biggest swing. Pressure-treated pine costs less up front and is what most of my customers choose. Composite resists rot and splintering and needs less upkeep in our humidity, but it costs more. Either way, near salt air the fasteners should be corrosion-resistant — and that's standard on every Protech build.
Stairs and railings add to the price, and the railing style you pick matters. Curved black metal balusters look sharp and last on the coast; wood railings cost less. Multiple levels and angled cuts add labor too.
Whether the deck is covered or screened changes the scope a lot. A patio cover or screened enclosure is a bigger build, but it extends the life of the decking beneath it and gives you usable space year-round.
Site access and ground conditions matter, especially near the water. If we can't get equipment to the back of the house, or the ground is soft, that affects how we set footings.
Every Protech estimate is free, written and itemized, with no hidden fees. You see the line-by-line price before any work starts, and it's final unless you change the scope. That's the way it ought to be done.