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Minneapolis Install Deck

by Matt Goering

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A deck isn't just a deck in the Twin Cities. From a lifestyle perspective, it's a place to socialize, relax, and entertain. And from a homeowner perspective, it's paramount to adding extra square footage and good looks to your home. Anyway you slice it, few home improvements have as much potential to add to your quality of life and your home's value as choosing to install deck in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or anywhere else in the greater metropolitan area.

Minneapolis Deck Installation and the Minnesota Climate

Some might argue that spending big bucks on an outdoor home improvement in the coldest major metropolitan area in the continental United States doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Ask any Minneapolis deck builder, however, and you'll hear otherwise. Minneapolis-St. Paul's long winters don't discourage people from using their decks, they just make decks all that more valuable and popular when spring and summer do finally roll around. Add to that the tough and resilient mindset of people who call Minnesota home, and you'll find that Twin City deck owners make use of their decks in weather that would have most Americans on the coasts running for cover.

Minneapolis Deck Installation: Costs

As attractive as installing a new deck onto your home is to most homeowners in the Twin Cities, it's important to plan ahead for how much one of these projects is going to set you back. Be forewarned, Minneapolis deck installation is not a cheap undertaking. ServiceMagic collects data on all projects in the Twin Cities that start out as contractor referrals in our system, and based on that information, the average cost to install deck in Minneapolis runs about $8,000, though they can run as little as $3,500, and reaching as high as $14,000. To be honest, that's more expensive than in most other major cities that we service, and Minnesota's brutal climate probably is as much to blame as any other factor. Cut rate materials simply won't last in the face of Minneapolis-St. Paul weather, making it necessary in most cases to spend a little more for quality decking.

Minneapolis Deck Installation: Materials

A deck is only as good as the material it's made out of, and that goes double for decks in Minneapolis-St. Paul. As a resident of the Twin Cities, you're well aware of the rough and tumble combination of weather systems that regularly cross Minnesota. From arctic blasts in winter to violent prairie thunderstorms in spring and summer, the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area gets more than its fair share of extreme weather. That's why, when you ask professional deck builders, Minneapolis is a prime location for using materials of higher-than-average strength and durability.

  • Pressure Treated Lumber— This is the old standby for Minneapolis deck builders, and if you're on a tight budget, this might be your only option. In an ideal situation, a properly maintained deck built from pressure treated lumber should last in the neighborhood of 15 years before it starts to show significant signs of wear. In Minneapolis-St. Paul, however, 15 years is a very generous estimate.

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  • Redwood and Cedar—Because of their natural ability to resist weather and insects, redwood and cedar are excellent choices for folks in Minneapolis. Deck builders have long said that these materials are worth the larger initial investment and most homeowners agree that in both looks and longevity, they're worth every penny. As an added bonus, because both are technically "soft woods," they splinter less than other wood species, which is good news for decking. If you go this route, it's worth the extra expense to invest in heartwood versus other cuts of these species, since the heartwood demonstrates the highest level of natural resistance to the elements.

  • Ipe—This South American hardwood is creating a lot of buzz in Minneapolis. Deck builders are not always familiar with ipe, as it is relatively new to the market and is so hard that it requires special tools and techniques to work with. Ipe is rumored to last up to 40 years if you completely neglect it, and a lifetime if you maintain it properly. Be aware, however: The long life and good looks of an ipe deck come with a price — and a high one at that.

  • Composite Decking—Composite decking is produced by combining sawdust and other "waste" wood, plastics, and a bonding resin, under high pressure to form planks. The result is a virtually maintenance-free, flexible, and attractive alternative to solid wood decks. When it comes to composite decks, it is worth the investment in the highest-quality planks you can afford, as some lesser-quality composites will eventually take on the very problems they were designed to withstand.

    Options for Minneapolis Deck Installations
    While no one will deny the hardiness of the folks who call the Twin Cities home, the bitter winters will eventually drive just about anyone indoors after a certain date. This is why very fancy deck additions like outdoor kitchens that are popular in other areas of the country simply might not be the best investment in Minnesota. Two deck additions that are worth looking into, however, are enclosures and heating devices. If you get the right portable heater or install the right outdoor fireplace and couple this heat source with a wind barrier and/or retractable roofing, you may very well be able to squeeze a few more weeks (or even months) into your decks annual usage.

    Minneapolis Deck Builders

    Minneapolis deck builders have a pretty tough job. While other areas of the country are a bit more forgiving to their deck builders, Minneapolis is a particularly harsh climate for any exposed woodwork. Do-it-yourself deck installations are typically not advised in any area where the weather can ruin your investment in a hurry if you make a few beginners mistakes, but in Minneapolis-St. Paul, even the pros need to be extra careful to cross all their t's and dot their i's.

    As a homeowner, one of the best things you can do to ensure a deck installation that will hold up is listen to the advice from your deck builders. Minneapolis can eat up a deck in no time, and while you might imagine a professional suggesting a more costly material or more intricate design having only profit on his or her mind, the fact is, Minnesota demands a more significant investment than other areas when it comes to deck installation!

    Deck Installation Project Guide
    If you enjoyed this article, check out our free Deck Installation Guide, which features expert advice, design & material comparisons, and custom price estimates for your remodeling project.
    Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.