Deck Replacement Cost Calculator

Small replacements under 200 square feet typically run $8,000 to $18,000, 200 to 400 square feet runs $15,000 to $35,000, and large or multi-level replacements run $30,000 to $70,000 and up. Removing and disposing of the old deck accounts for $1,500 to $6,000 of that, and rebuilding footings another $2,000 to $8,000 where it is needed.

Sometimes, and it saves roughly a third of the build cost. It requires the joists, beams, posts and footings to be sound, the joist spacing to suit the new boards, and the hardware to be intact — which on a La Jolla deck over about fifteen years old is a real question, because salt air corrodes connectors long before the lumber looks bad. Have it inspected before you count on the saving.

Roughly 15% to 30% over a like-for-like wood rebuild. Because demolition, framing and labour are being paid for either way, the upgrade costs less as a proportion on a replacement than it would on a new build — which is why replacement is usually the cheapest moment to switch material.

Generally yes if the deck is more than 30 inches above grade, even on the same footprint. One thing that catches people: if the old guard was 36 inches tall, the replacement has to be 42 inches to meet the current California requirement. Confirm with City of San Diego Development Services.

For a straightforward same-footprint replacement, typically one to three weeks on site once permits are in hand. Plan review adds to that, and anything needing engineering or coastal review adds considerably more. Bad weather matters less here than almost anywhere, which helps.

The siding and flashing behind the ledger, first and foremost — that is where attached decks fail, it is invisible any other time, and you will not see it again for twenty years. Lighting, under-deck drainage and skirting are all far cheaper to add while the structure is open than to retrofit later.