You want to know when you get your backyard back. It's more than a fair question, and most builders answer with some version of "it depends." It does depend. But you deserve to know on what.

Your timeline comes down to two things: how big your deck is, and how many upgrades you add to it.

Plan on Five Working Days for an Average Deck

A deck in the 12x20 or 16x20 range usually takes about five working days. That covers the full build: footings, framing, decking, railing, and stairs.

Here's the real example. On a recent project in Farmington, we tore down an old deck and built a new 16x20 PVC deck about seven or eight feet off the ground. It included post skirts and an electric louvered pergola. We estimated five to six working days from demo to done.

Notice the word "working," here. Rain days, inspection days, and weekends won't count. When a builder gives you a number, ask whether it means working days or calendar days. The difference can be a week or more.

Expect Eight to Ten Days for a Large Deck

Size changes everything. One of our recent builds in New Richmond, Wisconsin, comes out 20 feet from the house and runs about 33 feet across. A deck that size takes closer to eight to ten working days.

By day eight on that project, the homeowner had a finished frame, decking down, railings installed, stairs in, and every riser light working. What was left was the under-deck system, gutters, and a little dirt work. That's what day eight on a big deck looks like.

Every Upgrade Adds Time

This is the part most people don't budget for. Upgrades make your deck better, but each one takes hours. These add-ons typically stretch a build by a couple of days:

• Under-deck drainage systems that keep the space below dry
• Beam wraps and post wraps for a finished look
• Picture framing on the stairs
• Riser lights and post cap lighting

None of these are reasons to skip an upgrade. They're reasons to plan for it. If you want a finished, polished deck, you're trading a few more days of build time for decades of a better space.

Doing Some Work Yourself Can Shift the Schedule

Some homeowners want to handle part of the project. On the New Richmond build, the homeowner ran their own electrical and poured a small section of concrete. That's fine. It just means the crew moves to another project while that work gets done, then comes back.

If you plan to do part of the work, say so early. Your builder can plan the job around you instead of waiting on you.

What to Ask Your Builder Before You Sign

A good timeline answer should include:

1. The number of working days for your specific size and upgrades
2. Which parts depend on other crews, like helical piers, concrete, or electrical
3. How weather and inspections affect the schedule
4. What happens if materials arrive short or wrong

That last one matters more than people think. Missing parts are one of the most common causes of mid-project delays, and a good builder checks every piece before the crew needs it.

Get a Real Timeline for Your Deck

If you're planning a deck in the Twin Cities east metro or western Wisconsin, we'll walk your yard, talk through the upgrades you want, and give you an honest working-day estimate before anything starts.

Call Cole at (651) 661-4407 or request a consultation.

Want to know what drives cost too? Read our guide to how much it really costs to build a deck.