Build a Deck or Shed
A deck attached to the house carries people and needs a real footing and ledger. A small shed kit is a different, smaller decision.
This is a judgment page, not a step-by-step how-to. The procedure lives in the vetted links at the bottom.
The call
Hire a contractor, or DIY only with permitted plans, for a deck attached to the house. The ledger, the flashing, and the footings are where decks fail. A small prefab shed on a flat pad is a more reasonable DIY if you can move the panels and your city allows the size. Don't treat those as the same project.
- Difficulty
- Time
- Several days to a few weekends
- DIY estimate
- Deck materials often $15–$40 per sq ft; a small shed kit $1,500–$6,000
- Pro estimate
- Deck often $30–$80 per sq ft installed; a site-built shed often $5,000–$15,000
4 of 5
Rough national estimate, not a quote. Prices move with the city, the brand, and whatever the job turns into once you open it up. The DIY dollar range here is a small shed kit, not a deck. Deck material cost is listed per square foot because the size changes the total.
Tools
- TODO: affiliate link
Circular saw, drill, and a long level
- TODO: affiliate link
Post hole digger or auger for footings
- TODO: affiliate link
Framing square and a chalk line
- TODO: affiliate link
Safety glasses, hearing protection, and gloves
Materials
- TODO: affiliate link
Plans that match your local code, or a listed shed kit
- TODO: affiliate link
Pressure-treated framing rated for the exposure
- TODO: affiliate link
Ledger fasteners and flashing listed for a deck ledger, if the deck attaches to the house
- TODO: affiliate link
Joist hangers, structural screws, and the hardware the plan names
- TODO: affiliate link
Footings below the local frost depth
Affiliate slots are placeholders. A live shop link will be marked as sponsored. See the affiliate disclosure.
Safety notes
- Call 811 before you dig footings.
- An attached deck ledger that is lagged into siding, or into a band joist you have not actually found, is how decks pull off houses. If you cannot explain the ledger connection, hire a pro.
- Don't work under a deck frame that is only tacked. Brace it.
- Guardrails and stair geometry are life safety, not trim. Follow the plan and the local code, including the height that triggers a guard.
- A shed is still a structure. Don't build it over a septic tank, a utility easement, or a drainage swale.
Do I need a permit?
Plan on a permit for a deck. A small shed is sometimes exempt.
Decks are commonly permitted because people stand on them and the ledger ties into the house. Sheds sometimes have a size cutoff, and zoning can still apply when the building permit does not. Read both the deck line and the shed line on your state page. If either one says to check locally, that is the answer until the building department says otherwise.
On each state page, read: Deck, Shed.
Permit triggers are local. This is general information, not legal advice. All state pages · Disclaimer
Best How-To Videos & Articles
We link to guides that already exist. We don't rewrite them.
- How To Build a Deck
This Old House · Article
- How to Plan and Build a Deck
Family Handyman · Article
- How to Build a Shed
Family Handyman · Article
TODO: add a verified YouTube link for this project.
Questions people ask first
- Should I build a deck or a shed myself?
- Hire a contractor, or work from a permitted plan, for a deck attached to the house. A small shed kit on flat ground is a more realistic DIY after you confirm the size exemption and the setbacks.
- How much does a deck or shed cost?
- Deck materials are often $15–$40 per square foot, and an installed deck is often $30–$80 per square foot. A small shed kit is often $1,500–$6,000, and a site-built shed is often $5,000–$15,000. Those are rough estimates, not a quote.
- Do I need a permit to build a deck or a shed?
- Assume yes for a deck. A shed may be exempt under a local size limit, and zoning can still apply. Check your state page and call the local building department before you buy materials.