Updated
May 25, 2023 You may want to add a deck to your home to expand your living space, increase property value, or provide your family with years of outdoor enjoyment and entertainment.
You know why you want a deck, but do you know how to pay for it?
Financing options include home equity loans, HELOCs, and personal loans. Which is best for you will depend on your situation.
In this guide:
- Best deck financing options
- Other ways to finance a deck and patio installation
- Costs of building a deck
Best deck financing options
You’ll need to secure financing before starting work on your new deck. The best financing options include home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and personal loans.
Home equity loan
A home equity loan allows you to borrow against your home’s available equity—its value minus the mortgage debt—with a fixed-interest loan you pay back over time.
It has low interest rates, provides a lump sum of cash upon closing, and usually has tax-deductible interest. It can be risky because you put your home up as collateral in case you can’t repay the loan.
A home equity loan is a solid option if you know how much your deck installation will cost.
An example of a home equity loan lender: Spring EQ
- Loan amounts: $25,000 – $500,000
- Loan terms: 5 – 30 years
- Rates (APR): Starting at 9.50%
Spring EQ prides itself on providing a streamlined digital lending experience. Borrowers must have a minimum 640 FICO credit score and can get funding within two to three weeks without mounds of paperwork.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
A HELOC is a cross between a home equity loan and a credit card. You borrow against your home’s equity with a revolving line of credit. You make minimum monthly payments, often interest only at first, and withdraw funds as needed.
This works well for an ongoing project or if you’re uncertain about the overall cost of a deck installation. For example, will your new deck lead to a fence financing need?
The downside compared with a home equity loan is that your budget might be limited depending on the amount of equity you have.
An example of a HELOC lender: Figure
- Loan amounts: $15,000 – $400,000
- Loan terms: 5 – 30 years
- Rates (APR): 6.55% – 15.54%
Founded in 2018, Figure’s all-digital platform focuses on HELOCs and mortgage financing. Borrowers can get approved in five minutes and receive funds within five days.
>> Read more: Home equity loan and line of credit uses
Personal loans
A personal loan might be better suited for you if your deck project is inexpensive, you haven’t built up enough equity in your home, or you don’t want to put your home on the line.
You can apply online and get funding the same day you’re approved in some cases. Personal loans might have higher interest rates than home-equity-backed financing, especially with a lower credit score.
Here are two personal loan lenders for home improvement:
LightStream
- Loan amounts: $5,000 – $100,000
- Loan terms: 2 – 12 years
- Rates (APR): 7.49% – 20.24%
LightStream is our choice as the best personal loan for excellent credit. It’s so confident about its loan process it offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Upgrade
- Loan amounts: $1,000 – $50,000
- Loan terms: 2 – 7 years
- Rates (APR): 8.49% – 35.99%
Upgrade is a solid option for borrowers with fair to bad credit and those who need smaller loans to finance home improvement projects such as building a deck. You can check rates without affecting your credit score, and eligibility is based more on free cash flow than other lenders.
Other ways to finance a deck and patio installation
If you don’t want to leverage your equity or take out a personal loan, you have other options, including financing through your deck builder or using a credit card.
Builder financing
Your building contractor may offer financing as a fallback option if you have trouble sourcing your own financing. This one-stop method is convenient, but it relies on the integrity of your contractor, so make sure you vet and trust them.
Typically, your contractor will use a third-party lender they’ve partnered with. Sometimes, you can get an interest-free loan if you pay it off soon enough.
Before choosing builder financing, you should compare your contractor’s fees and rates with other deck financing options to ensure you’re getting a reasonable deal.
Credit cards
Only use a credit card to finance your home improvement project as a last resort. Credit cards have high interest rates, and credit card debt can be a red flag to the credit bureaus that generate your credit score.
However, using a credit card can be beneficial if you take advantage of a promotional 0% APR or sign-up bonus.
Promotional credit card offers are a good deal if your overall budget is low and you can pay off the balance before the introductory period ends to avoid owing retroactive interest.
Costs of Building a Deck
According to Home Guide, homeowners can expect to spend:
- $2,200 for a 10-by-10-foot deck
- $6,160 for a 14-by-20-foot deck
- $8,800 for a 20-by-20-foot deck
The biggest factors in price are materials, labor, deck size, and location. Labor will be the bulk of the bill at $8 to $22 per square foot, while the quality of materials you choose will determine how pricy your deck is.
Basic materials—pressure-treated wood or vinyl—cost around $15 per square foot, while premium materials—composite decking or hardwood—can be $30 or more per square foot, according to local services broker site Thumbtack. Then you must factor in stain, footings, railings, stairs, posts, or benches.
And don’t forget to include other fees such as homeowners association fees, insurance, permits, and property taxes. An online deck cost estimator can help you determine a ballpark budget.
Aside from choosing less expensive materials, you might find you can lower costs if you build the deck yourself.
How much does it cost to build a deck yourself?
The labor from a deck installation contractor will account for about two-thirds of your total cost, Thumbtack reports. You could save a significant amount of money by doing it yourself. All you’ll pay for are materials and any insurance or fees.
Homeowners have reported installing a deck for less than $900. But what you save on cost, you’ll spend on time. Expect building your own deck to take twice as long as hiring a contractor. Larger decks will take even longer.
Also, a DIY approach is not for the inexperienced; it’s only worth it if you know what you’re doing. If not, you could have a safety hazard or a slanted porch that will cost more to fix.
Recap of deck financing options
If you’ve decided to finance your new deck or patio, here is a recap of the lenders mentioned above:
| Lender | Loan Type | Rates (APR) |
| Spring EQ | Home equity loan | 5.205%+ |
| Figure | HELOC | 3.49% – 13.25% |
| LightStream | Personal loan | 4.99% – 16.99% |
| Upgrade | Personal loan | 7.99% – 35.97% |