A professionally installed composite deck in Everett usually costs about $70 to $95 per square foot for a new build, according to local builders, and more when the deck is elevated or needs structural work. That puts a 12x12 deck in the low-to-mid five figures and a 20x20 deck near $28,000 to $38,000. Lower numbers exist, but they usually leave out framing, railings, stairs, permits or engineering.
Below, we break down where the money goes, what typical sizes cost, which Everett rules add to the bill, and how to compare quotes so you are comparing the same job.
TL;DR
- Budget roughly $70 to $95 per square foot installed for a new composite deck in Everett, and $95 to $125+ for elevated or structural rebuilds.
- A 12x12 deck typically runs $10,000 to $20,000. A 20x20 deck typically runs $28,000 to $38,000.
- Most attached decks need a city permit. Fees are estimated at $140 to $550, and up to $1,500 when engineering review is involved.
- Composite costs more on day one, but in our rainy climate it often catches up with cedar within about a decade because you skip the recurring restaining.
- Ask every contractor whether the quote includes framing, railing, stairs, permit and inspections.
Table of Contents
- What composite decking costs in Everett right now
- Composite deck cost by size
- What drives the price up or down
- Permits and fees in Everett
- Composite vs. cedar: the cost over ten years
- Why national price guides don’t fit Everett
- Our perspective: where we see homeowners overpay and underpay
- How to compare composite deck quotes
- Planning your budget
- Get a quote for your deck
- FAQ
- Sources
What composite decking costs in Everett right now
Published numbers for Everett vary a lot, and the spread is not an error. It comes from what each source counts.
One local cost model, updated August 2026, puts a typical composite deck in Everett between $6,700 and $34,200, with a modeled midpoint of $14,000. Per square foot, it shows professional installation from $36.50 to $125 or more, depending on complexity, height above grade, and whether the job is a new build or a re-deck over an existing frame. The same model estimates Everett projects run about 22% above the U.S. national average because of local labor rates and code requirements.
Local builders who publish their own pricing tell a tighter story: $70 to $95 per square foot for a complete new deck including framing, decking, railing and stairs, and $95 to $125 or more when the deck is a second-story or walkout structure that needs structural work. Re-decking an existing, sound frame lands lower, in the mid-$50s to mid-$70s per square foot by those same local estimates.
So which number applies to you? Use this rule of thumb:
| Project type | Typical installed cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Re-deck over an existing sound frame | About $55 to $75 |
| New ground-level or low deck, full build | About $70 to $95 |
| Elevated, second-story or walkout deck | About $95 to $125+ |
These are market ranges reported by local builders and cost models, not a Cactus Decking price list. We do not publish fixed prices because the frame, the height and the site decide the number. Our estimates are written for your specific deck.
Composite deck cost by size
People searching this topic usually ask about a handful of common sizes. Here is what the Everett-area figures translate to.
| Deck size | Square feet | Typical installed budget |
|---|---|---|
| 12x12 | 144 | $10,000 to $20,000 |
| 14x20 | 280 | About $19,600 to $26,600 at $70 to $95 per sq ft |
| 20x20 | 400 | $28,000 to $38,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,000 | About $70,000 to $95,000 at $70 to $95 per sq ft, more with custom features |
The 12x12 and 20x20 ranges come from local builder pricing. The 14x20 and 1,000 sq ft rows are our own arithmetic applied to the per-square-foot range, so treat them as planning figures.
Two things to notice. First, small decks cost more per square foot, because stairs, a ledger connection, footings and a permit cost about the same on a small deck as on a larger one. That is why a 12x12 can span $10,000 to $20,000 and still be reasonable at both ends. Second, large or custom projects climb fast: decks over 500 square feet, or those using PVC boards and custom designs, can reach $70,000 or beyond.
What drives the price up or down
Board tier
Composite comes in entry, mid and premium lines. Premium boards have deeper grain, better fade resistance and often longer manufacturer warranties. The board is only part of the bill, but moving up a tier can shift a 400 sq ft deck by several thousand dollars. If you are weighing fully plastic boards, see our breakdown of PVC deck cost and sample budgets.
Height and structure
A deck 18 inches off the ground is a very different job from a walkout 10 feet up. Height adds posts, bracing, bigger footings, guard requirements and engineering. In Puget Sound, builders also account for seismic and moisture provisions that warmer regions skip, which is one reason national averages mislead here.
If you want a sense of how local engineering and code factors move residential project budgets in general, this overview of design-build project costs explains how early design decisions affect the final number.
Railings and stairs
Railings are a major line item. Local pricing for composite railing runs roughly $120 to $150 per linear foot, labor and materials. A 20x20 deck with railing on three sides can add well over $5,000 on that figure alone. Stairs add framing, treads, risers and a landing, and can be required by code if the deck is tall. We build both as part of the deck, see our deck railing systems and deck stairs pages.
Add-ons
Lighting, a roof or cover, built-in seating and privacy screens are separate lines. Deck lighting is a modest add if planned before the boards go down, and an annoying retrofit if not. A deck cover installation service is a bigger structural decision that affects footings and permitting, so raise it in your first conversation.
Demolition and the existing frame
Tearing off an old deck, hauling it away and checking the joists for rot is its own cost. If the frame is sound, a re-deck saves real money. If the ledger or joists are compromised, a rebuild is the safe answer, and the price moves into new-build territory. Our deck replacement team inspects the frame before quoting for exactly this reason.
Permits and fees in Everett
Permits are where homeowners get surprised. According to the City of Everett residential deck handout, a permit is required if the deck is attached to a building, exceeds 200 square feet, serves as a main exit, or stands more than 30 inches above grade. Estimated permit fees run $140 to $550, and complex projects with engineering review can reach $1,500. Approval involves footing, framing and final inspections.
A deck under 30 inches, freestanding and not serving an exit, can skip the permit. In practice, most composite decks are attached to the house at a ledger, so almost all of them need one.
The permit is not a formality. The city’s guidance is that a deck is not finished until the permit shows as finaled by an inspector, and unpermitted work can complicate a future sale because buyers and lenders may balk at unpermitted structural improvements. The city also explains in its permitting FAQ that work done without a permit may have to be redone or removed at the owner’s expense.
Setbacks matter as well. Before you fix a footprint, read our guide to Everett deck setback rules so the design does not stall in review. Permits are handled as part of our process, and the fee is part of your project budget, not an afterthought.
Composite vs. cedar: the cost over ten years
Cedar is cheaper to install. Composite is cheaper to own, sooner than most people expect.
Local builders point out that the Northwest’s persistent rain means a cedar deck needs recoating or restaining every two to three years. Their estimate is about $6 to $10 per square foot per cycle. On a 400 sq ft deck, one cycle is $2,400 to $4,000 in finish work, and over ten years you may pay for three or four of them. Composite usually needs only soap-and-water cleaning, so the total cost of ownership often reaches parity with cedar at around the ten-year mark, and composite pulls ahead after that.
Cedar still has a place. Some homeowners love the look and smell, accept the upkeep, or plan to sell soon. We build cedar decks too. But if you want to enjoy the deck rather than maintain it, composite is the safer long-term bet in Everett.
Why national price guides don’t fit Everett
National pages quote composite decks at anywhere from $14 to $32 per square foot, or as low as a few thousand dollars total. Those are usually material-only figures, or they price a small, simple, ground-level deck with no stairs or railing. Teaser rates in the $40 to $80 per square foot range commonly exclude structural engineering for elevated decks, proper flashing, railings and permit fees.
That gap is the biggest trap when comparing bids. A quote that looks $8,000 cheaper may be missing flashing at the ledger, which is exactly where water gets into a house. Always ask what is excluded.
Our perspective: where we see homeowners overpay and underpay
We build decks across Everett and the surrounding area with our own in-house crew, not subcontractors, and the same pattern comes up on nearly every estimate.
Homeowners underpay on the invisible parts. Footings, flashing, hardware and framing are what decide whether a deck lasts 25 years or needs a rebuild at 12. Cutting these to hit a number is false economy in a climate this wet.
They overpay on the visible parts they never asked for. A premium board line on a deck that is mostly covered, or a complex multi-level layout when a clean single level would serve the family just as well, can add thousands without adding enjoyment.
Our advice is to decide how you will use the space first: dining, grilling, a hot tub, kids, a covered area for rainy months. Then design backward from that. Our clear process runs from consultation to design, permitting and construction, so you know the scope and the next step at every stage, and our installations are warranty-backed. If a feature does not serve how you live, we will say so.
— Vlad
How to compare composite deck quotes
Use this checklist and ask each contractor to answer it in writing.
- Square footage and layout. Is the deck size on the quote the same as what the other bidders priced?
- Framing. Does it include new footings, posts, beams and joists, or are you reusing the old frame?
- Board line. Which brand and tier, and what is the manufacturer’s warranty?
- Railing and stairs. Are they included, and in what material?
- Flashing and hardware. Is ledger flashing and corrosion-resistant hardware specified?
- Permit and inspections. Who pulls the permit, and is the fee included?
- Demolition and haul-away. Is it in the price?
- Crew. Will the company’s own crew do the work, or is it subcontracted?
- Workmanship warranty. What does it cover, and for how long?
If two quotes differ by a lot, the answer is almost always in items 2, 4, 5 or 6.
Planning your budget
A sensible approach for a typical Everett homeowner:
- Measure the area and decide the size you actually need.
- Pick your starting range from the table above for your project type.
- Add a contingency of about 10% for surprises such as rot found during demolition.
- Add the permit fee estimate of $140 to $550, or more if engineering is required.
- Decide which extras are must-haves: lighting, railing upgrades, a cover.
- Get a written, line-item estimate.
Starting with a design makes every later step easier. Our Everett deck design service service turns your ideas into a plan you can price and permit.
Get a quote for your deck
We design and build composite, PVC and cedar decks in Everett and nearby communities, with permitting, an in-house build crew and warranty-backed work. If you are planning a new deck installation service or want something unique through custom deck installation, tell us your size, height and wish list, and we will give you a clear, itemized estimate. You can start on the Cactus Decking home page.
FAQ
How much does a 20x20 composite deck cost in Everett?
Plan on $28,000 to $38,000 installed for a 400 sq ft deck with framing, decking, railing and stairs. Elevated decks, premium boards and custom features can push it higher. Simple low-profile designs sit at the lower end.
How much does a 12x12 composite deck cost?
A 144 sq ft deck typically ranges from $10,000 to $20,000 in the Everett area. The spread depends on board tier, height, and whether stairs and railing are included. Smaller decks cost more per square foot because fixed costs are spread over less area.
Do I need a permit for a composite deck in Everett?
Usually yes. The city requires one for decks attached to a building, over 200 square feet, serving as a main exit, or more than 30 inches above grade. Fees are estimated at $140 to $550, and your deck should be marked finaled after inspection.
Is composite worth the extra cost over cedar?
For most Everett homeowners, yes. Cedar costs less upfront but needs restaining every two to three years in our wet climate. Composite usually reaches cost parity within about ten years and then saves money.
Sources
- Deck Construction cost in Everett, WA (Hometriva)
- City of Everett: Residential Decks handout
- City of Everett: Frequently Asked Questions About Permitting
