Our Trade
Our expert estimators are trained to deliver precise deck takeoffs to busy builders so that every job is quoted on time and finished within budget. Our clients trust us to keep their bids accurate and their decks profitable!
24–48 hour turnaround
Bid-ready in 24 to 48 hours
Get accurate deck estimating services from SMA Estimating LLC to quote faster, protect your margin on every job, and stop wasting time on manual takeoffs. Send us the plans or a simple sketch and you get back a priced material list and labor breakdown you can hand straight to the customer. Our skilled estimators read your actual plans and count linear feet of decking, not just square feet. We price everything using RSMeans data and live lumberyard rates for your project's zip code from ground-level platforms to multi-level builds with cable rails. That means you quote from real numbers for your build and your market instead of a national average that is wrong in both directions.
Our fixed-fee policy means you see the price and the delivery date before you pay a cent, and amendments and revisions are free of charge. You are never billed by the hour and never locked into a contract, so you pay per deck and only on the jobs you actually chase. We never compromise on the quality of our work and always deliver accurate, reliable estimates.
Bidding a deck this week? Send us the plans and get your takeoff back today.
What we takeoff
Our deck estimating services cover complete new builds, specialty decks, renovations, repairs, and outdoor structures.
We take off the full build, from the hole in the ground to the last rail cap, with quantities organized for a complete construction estimate. That includes footing depth and concrete volume, post and beam sizing, joist layout at your specified spacing, ledger and flashing, decking with the correct waste factor for your board pattern, railing, stairs, and skirting.
We measure posts, beams, bracing, and footing depth against the actual deck height, so an elevated build never gets priced like a ground-level one. Every level and direction change is measured on its own to catch the extra beams, rim boards, and cut waste a stepped or wrap-around footprint creates.
We take off pedestals, sleepers, drainage layers, and the waterproofing detail at the parapet, including the related quantity takeoff requirements. You get the cost of everything under the deck as well as the boards on top.
We take off roof framing, screen panels, kneewalls, posts, and upgraded beams alongside the deck, so you bid on the whole enclosed structure rather than the deck alone.
Our takeoff team measures picture-frame borders, curved rip cuts, and equipment access hatches, which is where most of the hidden labor around a pool edge sits. We measure footing and pad volumes alongside it, so the concrete takeoff comes back with the deck instead of separately.
We count posts, beams, rafters, purlins, and hardware at your exact spacing, with no lump-sum allowance and no guesswork on span. Our estimators price built-in benches and planters on separate lines so the framing and blocking hours they absorb stay visible.
Our deck estimators measure pile layout, stringers, and decking runs across the full length because a small per-foot error multiplies fast on a long walkway.
We calculate tear-off area, board material, and haul-away volume, so your disposal line reflects real dumpster loads instead of a round allowance. On a resurface, we count the new decking, fasteners, and trim, then add a stated frame repair allowance for what shows up when the old boards come off.
Our expert team measures ledger length, fastener schedule, flashing, sister joists, beams, posts, footings, and stair stringers component by component, each on its own line. Guard height and connector upgrades an older deck needs to pass inspection are priced up front before an inspector raises them mid-job.
What lands in your inbox
Every estimate you get from us includes the following:
Nothing is locked. Fully editable Excel file, plus your own template format on request. You can change the pricing, adjust your markup, and reuse the format on the next deck.
Your estimate Timeline
Decks are smaller than most projects we handle, so they move fast. You get a confirmed delivery time with your quote.
| Deck Type | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
| Single residential deck, under 400 sq ft | 4–8 hours |
| Mid-size deck with stairs and railing | 8–24 hours |
| Multi-level or wrap-around deck | 24 hours |
| Deck plus pergola, kitchen, or pool surround | 24–48 hours |
| Multifamily or commercial deck package | 48–72 hours |
| Same-day rush | 4–6 hours |
Every one of these times is confirmed in writing with your quote. Our estimators honestly tell you up front if we cannot hit your deadline, rather than taking the job and missing it.
Deck estimating is usually priced the same way other small-scope residential estimating work is, using one of a few standard models depending on project size and drawing detail.
| Pricing Model | Typical Range | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Per Square Foot | $0.10 – $0.50 per sq. ft. | ||
| Flat Fee (small/standard deck) | $150 – $400 per project | ||
| Hourly Rate | $50 – $150 per hour | ||
| Percentage of Project Cost | 0.5% – 1.5% of estimated build cost |
Most deck projects fall into flat-fee or per-square-foot pricing since the scope is smaller and more standardized than a full building estimate, but the final rate still depends on drawing quality, deck complexity, and turnaround needs.
We offer amendments and revisions free of charge. You get a QuickBooks invoice with a fixed price and a delivery date before any work starts, and the quote itself costs nothing.
Projects Types
Our estimators provide detailed takeoffs for the deck projects builders bid and build every day.
Built for bidders
We prepare deck takeoffs for anyone who needs accurate quantities for bidding and budgeting.
Why contractors stay with us
Our team includes skilled and experienced estimators who regularly work on deck projects. They understand the details that can easily be missed, such as extra joists for a spa, additional materials for picture-frame decking, and stair stringers. Our estimators have the knowledge and experience to carefully review deck plans and prepare accurate takeoffs.
SMA Estimating LLC has been working in the US construction industry for more than 15 years. Your deck is measured by a team that has already priced thousands of jobs.
Our skilled estimators quote decking in linear feet by board length, railing in linear feet, hardware by the piece, and concrete by the bag or the yard. You can use the material list when placing your order.
We estimate pressure-treated pine, cedar, redwood, Ipe and tropical hardwoods. We also work with composite and PVC lines including Trex, TimberTech, AZEK, Fiberon, Deckorators, MoistureShield, and Wolf. We know each line's board widths and fastener requirements, so your counts match the product you are actually installing.
Our estimators work in the professional takeoff software the industry runs on, kept current as new versions release. Nothing is scaled off a printed plan or measured with a ruler, which is why our counts hold up when a customer questions them.
We answer 24/7. Question about a ledger detail or a stair run at 9 p.m. before a morning bid? We are here to help.
Tools and credentials
Your deck takeoff is measured in professional takeoff software by estimators credentialed through the bodies that set cost estimating standards in the United States. Nothing is scaled off a printed plan by hand.
Six simple steps
With a careful, detail-focused approach, our estimators turn your deck plans into accurate quantities and reliable costs you can confidently use for your next bid.
Before we measure anything, we check the drawings for the gaps that decide the price, such as footing depth, board pattern, railing type, and stair count, and we come back to you if something is not shown.
Our expert estimators take off footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger, and hardware before the decking because the frame is what the inspector checks and what most bids underprice.
We convert square footage to the units you buy. This includes linear feet of decking by board length, boxes of clips or screws, pieces of hardware, and bags or yards of concrete, so your lumberyard can quote straight off our sheet.
Straight, picture-frame, and diagonal patterns waste different amounts, so we apply the right percentage and show it on its own line instead of burying it in the total.
We use local pricing for lumber, composite materials, and labor based on your project’s location. Our estimates use RSMeans data and current supplier pricing instead of relying only on national averages.
Before sending the final estimate, another estimator reviews every deck takeoff for missed items such as stairs, railing sections, and hardware. You receive the marked-up plan alongside the numbers so you can verify any line yourself.
Questions we get asked
A standard single-trade deck takeoff is around $200, and small decks that take only a few hours come in under $100. Larger or multi-level decks are quoted on scope. The quote is free, and the price is fixed before you pay.
Yes. A sketch with dimensions is enough for most residential decks. We will list what we assumed so you can check it.
Yes. We count hidden fastener clips, board lengths, and the slower install time composite needs, which face-screwed wood does not.
We flag where a permit is required and leave the fee as a line item, since permit costs are set by your local jurisdiction and change often.
We apply the waste factor that matches your board pattern and show it as its own line, so you can see exactly what it is adding.
Both. Homeowners use our takeoffs to check whether a contractor's deck quote is fair before signing.
Send your drawings and we will come back the same day with a fixed price and a delivery date. Your bid-ready in 24 to 48 hours.
