Thread: Can I do it & what will it cost?

Hi,
Just starting thinking of a deck at the back of my place and trying to determine the savings associated with doing it myself vs the risk of stuffing up. The plan is to build a 4400 x 7200 timber deck off the back of the house. The back posts will be 4.5m off the ground with the height at the house slightly less. Current thinking is to have two double french doors leading out onto the deck with 2100 of louvers between them.

This all sounds alright but is complicated by the fact that I already have an original deck that is half inside the house and half outside. The plan is to pull out the walls and floor of the inside part of the deck and make it part of the house and remove the external part before starting. This means laying more t&g floor board to match what is already happening inside and then starting the deck from the wall of the house.

The roof is going to be trussed at 10 degrees to match existing roof line and fairly simple.

Who thinks that I might be biting off more than I can chew? Plan is to go owner builder and utilise tradesman mates (paying them hourly rate) to help with the more complicated sections. Then undertake the more time intensive but easier stuff by myself.

Any feedback on what you think the overall cost is likely to be would be greatly appreciated. I know that the wife isn't all that keen on me undertaking the project and is dreading the weekends of childminding while I work ... but not sure that the bank will cough up the dough any other way.

<!--[if !vml]--> Very interested in any feedback