How Much Does It Cost to Build a Mahogany Deck?

Estimating the Cost to Build a Mahogany Deck

To fully estimate the costs to build a mahogany deck, you should consider items such as labor and the price of materials. You can’t forget to pull permits, either. Otherwise, all the hard work may go to waste.

"When planning to install a mahogany deck, make sure you have a plan to maintain it in the future,” says Andy Kilborn, owner of Andy's Handyman Service in Des Moines, IA. ”Failure to perform maintenance will severely reduce the life of your deck."

Material Prices

The cost of mahogany decking will sit anywhere from $8 to $11 per square foot on average. Besides the decking material itself, you should consider other materials needed, such as joists and fasteners.

Labor Costs

When you hire a deck company near you, you should expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $35 per square foot in labor. Labor typically makes up around 50% of the total cost of the deck.

Permits

When it comes to permits and the prices behind them, you’ll need to contact your local municipality for more information. Generally, you should expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $500.

Additional or Unexpected Costs

Don’t be caught off guard by delivery fees for mahogany decking. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, mahogany wood comes from Central and South America, which can lead to higher import costs. To be on the safe side, increase your budget by 5% to 10% to account for any increases in delivery fees.

Cost to Build a Mahogany Deck by Square Foot

The total cost to build a mahogany deck is around $23 to $46 per square foot. This includes the cost of materials as well as the cost of labor. However, the final cost may vary depending on labor costs and the size of the deck you’d like.

How Much Mahogany Deck Can I Get on My Budget?

Whether you’re looking for a simple place to sit down and enjoy the outdoors or want to go all out and have the best deck experience ever, there’s a mahogany deck right for any budget.

$5,000

If you’re working with a budget of around $5,000, you should expect around 100 square feet or less. This will net you a simple deck where you can set up a grill or maybe a few chairs to cook and relax.

$10,000

With a budget of around $10,000, you can expect 200 square feet or less. Adding an extra 100 square feet can be a game-changer when it comes to space. You may also be able to opt for add-ons such as light fixtures in favor of sacrificing some square footage.

$15,000

For a budget of $15,000, look forward to having a deck of around 300 square feet or less. You may want to get fancy with seating options, adding benches, or even a hammock.

$20,000

At $20,000, the mahogany deck can truly become whatever you desire. Expect to have around 400 square feet worth of deck. You can stain the wood whatever color you see fit and even add a roof if your budget aligns with local prices.

Cost to Build a Mahogany Deck Yourself

If you’ve worked on decks before or have dabbled in other major projects such as hardwood floor laying or building a shed, you might be able to tackle this job yourself. Even with that experience under your belt, building a DIY deck is still no easy feat. These are the major tools and materials you’re going to need to handle this project:

• Mahogany decking: $8–$11 per square foot

• Fasteners: $0.50–$0.75 per square foot

• Frame lumber: $3–$5 per square foot

• Saw blades: $25–$50 per saw

• Joists and beams: $15–$25 per square foot

• Shovel: $15–$40 per shovel

• Hammers: $5–$20 per hammer

• Drills: $70–$150 per drill

Expect to take around two to four weeks to fully complete this project—and that includes if you get a friend or two to help you. This brings the total cost of DIYing a mahogany deck to around $5,200 to $6,750.

Cost to Install a Mahogany Deck Yourself vs. Hiring a Contractor

Realistically, unless you’re also a professional deck builder, there’s next to no competition when it comes to DIYing versus hiring deck builders. They’ve had time to make mistakes and understand the shortcuts to finish a deck on time.

So while you’re going to save around 35% to 50% on completing the deck project yourself, you’re going to sacrifice quite a bit of time. So if you’re even remotely wondering if this project is possible, the competition between a pro versus a DIY deck makes the professional the clear winner.

Cost to Build a Mahogany Deck by Style

Your deck doesn’t need to be a replica of every other deck in the neighborhood. You should consider where you want the deck built and what shape the deck should be.

Custom Shape

Mahogany decks that require a custom shape, such as an L-shape or wrap around, should expect to add 50% to 100% more to their budget. These custom shapes can be complicated, especially if you’re working with slopes in the yard.

Floating Mahogany Deck

A floating mahogany deck sits away from the house rather than attached like a traditional deck. Floating decks generally increase the price by around 10% on average since these decks require more foundational support. Though it’s not unusual to see an increase of around 25% if the area where you want the deck requires extra foundational support.

Ground-Level Mahogany Deck

Not a fan of being in the air? No need to worry, as you can opt for a ground-level mahogany deck instead. These decks don’t require as much structural support, and there are no stairs either.

When designing a ground-level deck, make sure you plan to include groundcover (landscape fabric and rock or stone) under the deck, to minimize any plant or weed growth underneath.

Expect to pay around 10% to 15% less for a ground-level mahogany deck. However, if the ground where the deck will be doesn’t have the best support, this might reduce the savings.

Second-Story Mahogany Deck

Going the opposite direction of the ground, you have the option for a second-story mahogany deck. These decks require extra structural support to maintain structural integrity on both floors and the extra stairs. Expect a price increase of around 15% to 20%.

Old Deck Removal

Pricing out old deck removal will vary depending on the state of the old deck as well as the size of it. Old deck removal can range from $300 to $900, including tearing down the deck and then removing the debris.

FAQs About Mahogany Decking

Is mahogany stronger than oak?

There are several species of mahogany that are stronger than oak. The strongest mahogany will have a higher resistance to denting and wear than the strongest oak, but the weakest mahogany will have a lower resistance to denting and wear than the weakest oak.

What is the ROI on mahogany decks?

Mahogany decks have around a 60% to 80% ROI. However, this number will fluctuate based on the housing market at the time.