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South Shore Home Guide

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Cost of building a deck on the South Shore, 2026

Pricing ranges for pressure-treated, cedar, and composite decks across the South Shore and Plymouth County, drawn from public cost data. No contractor-specific pricing.

April 20, 2026 · 4 min read · South Shore Home Guide Editorial

Deck pricing across the South Shore shifted materially in 2025 and stayed elevated into 2026. Lumber prices eased from 2022 peaks but labor, permit, and footing costs held. Composite decking continued to take share from pressure-treated. Coastal towns like Scituate, Hull, and Marshfield added cost via elevated-structure requirements in FEMA zones.

The ranges below reflect publicly available cost data from home-improvement cost reporting (HomeAdvisor, Angi, Remodeling Cost vs. Value), contractor-published pricing pages, and averaged homeowner-reported totals. Actual quotes vary materially by property, scope, and contractor.

What drives the cost

Before you look at numbers, understand the five levers:

  1. Square footage. The headline cost-per-square-foot number is what homeowners remember, but raw square footage is a multiplier on every other line item.
  2. Material grade. Pressure-treated is the cheapest. Cedar and redwood are a step up. Composite (Trex, TimberTech, AZEK) runs significantly higher but dramatically reduces long-term maintenance.
  3. Height and structure. A deck 30 inches off the ground is inexpensive. Second-story decks, walkout basement decks, and elevated beach-home decks add footings, engineering, and railings. Coastal flood-zone decks can double in cost because of pier/column requirements.
  4. Railings and features. Standard wood railings are the cheap option. Aluminum, cable, and glass railings are premium. Built-in benches, planters, lighting, and screened enclosures each add real cost.
  5. Permits and footings. Most South Shore towns require a building permit for any deck attached to a dwelling. Sonotube footings and proper frost depth add labor.

2026 South Shore price ranges

Pressure-treated decks

Ground-level or low-profile, typical 12x16 build. Standard wood railings, no features.

  • Materials only: $10 to $16 per sq ft
  • Installed (materials + labor): $30 to $45 per sq ft
  • Example 200 sq ft deck installed: $6,000 to $9,000

Cedar decks

Same structure, cedar decking and rail caps. Higher-end finish, softer wood.

  • Installed: $40 to $60 per sq ft
  • Example 200 sq ft: $8,000 to $12,000

Composite decks (capped PVC or wood-composite)

Typical mid-grade composite (Trex Enhance, TimberTech Edge) with standard black aluminum railings.

  • Installed: $60 to $90 per sq ft
  • Example 200 sq ft: $12,000 to $18,000

Elevated / coastal decks

Elevated second-story or flood-zone-rated decks with pier footings, structural engineering, and hurricane-rated connectors.

  • Installed: $85 to $140+ per sq ft
  • Example 300 sq ft elevated beach deck: $25,500 to $42,000+

Screened porches and covered decks

A covered or screened addition is effectively a room with a roof, so it costs more than a deck.

  • Installed: $120 to $220+ per sq ft depending on roofing, screen system, electrical, and ceiling finish.

What the numbers do not include

Most quotes will list these. You should still ask about them:

  • Demolition and disposal of an existing deck ($1,000 to $3,000 typical).
  • Permit fees (commonly $100 to $400 depending on town, higher in coastal-zone cases).
  • Engineering and stamped drawings for elevated or coastal structures.
  • Conservation Commission review in coastal and wetland-adjacent properties.
  • Electrical for outlets, lighting, or fans.
  • Furniture, grills, and any built-in gas or electrical hookups.

How towns differ

Coastal flood zones in Scituate, Marshfield, Hull, Duxbury, and parts of Plymouth routinely require elevated structures with engineered pier footings. That is a real added cost, not a premium. Conservation review can add 4 to 10 weeks of calendar time.

Towns in Plymouth County farther from the shoreline (Middleborough, Carver, Halifax) see faster permitting and lower overall pricing on like-for-like builds.

North-of-the-canal towns (Hingham, Cohasset, Norwell, Duxbury) often specify composite with premium railings by default, so the “typical” quote in those towns skews higher than the state average not because of pricing inflation but because of scope.

How to get a useful quote

  • Ask for a fixed-price quote, not a time-and-materials estimate. On a deck, a fixed price is reasonable for any contractor who has seen the site.
  • Ask for line items: footings, framing, decking material, railings, stairs, permit, disposal.
  • Ask whether the price includes removal of the old deck.
  • Ask for a payment schedule. A reasonable schedule is 10-to-30 percent at signing, progress payments tied to milestones, and the final payment after town sign-off.

Get three quotes. Do not choose on price alone. A deck is a ten-year product.