Deck Replacement in Denver, CO
Tear out a tired deck and build a new one. Get free quotes on deck replacement, including demolition, from independent local deck builders in Denver and the suburbs. We connect Denver-area homeowners with independent local deck builders for free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor you choose quotes, permits, contracts and builds directly with you.
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Replacement demand in an older housing market
Denver’s housing stock is older than many metro areas’. The median home in the city was built in 1975 (ACS 2024 5-year estimates). Several suburbs are close behind: Lakewood’s median year built is 1977, Arvada’s 1979, Littleton’s 1982, Centennial’s 1983 and Aurora’s 1985. Many homes from the 1970s and 1980s carry decks that have been patched, extended or rebuilt along the way.
On older decks, the problem is often not the boards you can see but the structure beneath them: footings that are too shallow for Denver’s 36-inch frost line, a ledger fastened in a way current guides do not allow, or framing undersized for the 43 psf ground snow load in the 2025 Denver Building Code.
Deck replacement and demolition costs
A replacement quote has two parts: taking the old deck out and building the new one. These ranges come from published cost guides; the Denver deck cost guide has a calculator that combines demolition, materials and add-ons.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Deck removal / demolition | $1,000–$7,000+ ($3–$10 per sq ft) |
| New deck in Denver, installed | about $34–$69 per sq ft; average project about $9,640 |
| Pressure-treated wood | $25–$50 per sq ft installed |
| Composite | $40–$80 per sq ft installed |
| Deck stairs | $1,400–$2,600 installed |
| Permit | Denver fees are based on project value (no flat deck fee); national guides show about $230–$500 |
Typical ranges from published cost guides (2025–2026) — estimates, not quotes.
Ask each contractor whether removal, disposal and any footing removal are included, or priced separately.
Repair or replace: how to decide
The average Denver deck repair costs about $1,891 (typically $746–$3,060), well below the cost of a new deck, so repair makes sense when the structure is sound. Replacement is worth pricing when:
- Rot has spread from the boards into joists, beams or posts
- The ledger shows water damage, or is attached to brick or stone veneer, hollow masonry, a cantilevered floor overhang or a bay window, which the American Wood Council’s DCA 6 guide does not allow
- Footings have heaved or settled, which can point to footings above the frost line
- Railings, stairs and boards all need work at once
- You want a different size, height, layout or material anyway
A deck repair quote and a replacement quote side by side often make the choice clear.
Choosing the new material
Replacement is the natural time to reconsider material. Pressure-treated and cedar decks cost less up front but need periodic cleaning and re-staining. Composite and PVC decks cost more up front. The Cost vs Value 2025 report, a regional estimate for the Mountain region, shows a wood deck addition recouping about 97% at resale and composite about 82%. The deck resale value guide explains the figures.
Permits for a replacement deck
A replacement is built to current rules, not the rules in place when the old deck went up. Denver deck plans show footing size and depth, ledger and uplift connections, stairs, guards and handrails. Under the 2025 Denver Building Code, footings go below the 36-inch frost line, the deck must carry the greater of the live load or the 43 psf ground snow load, and guards must be at least 36 inches high where required.
Permits in Denver and the suburbs
In Denver, most decks over 12 inches off the ground need a zoning permit; decks 30 inches or more above grade, decks over 200 sq ft, and all covered decks, porches and pergolas also need a building permit. Rules change; confirm with Denver Community Planning and Development. In most of the metro, an attached deck or any deck 30 inches or more above grade needs a permit; Denver adds a zoning permit above 12 inches, and Parker requires a permit for every deck.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Fees in Denver are valuation-based, and they double (minimum $100) for work started without a permit. In Denver historic districts and on landmarks, exterior work that needs a permit goes through Landmark Preservation design review for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Denver deck permit guide covers more.
If your home is in a mapped wildland-urban interface area, your city or county may require ignition-resistant decking. Your contractor and building department can confirm. The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code applies to new construction and significant additions.
Before you hire a deck contractor
The same checks apply as for any new deck.
- License and permit. In Denver, the contractor holds a current City and County of Denver contractor license (residential work is normally Class C) and will pull the permit. In Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Arvada, Thornton, Douglas County (Highlands Ranch) and other suburbs, the contractor is licensed or registered with that city or county.
- Insurance. Ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
- Written contract. Get a written contract with scope, materials and payment schedule.
- Approvals. Get HOA approval, and in Denver historic districts a Certificate of Appropriateness, before work starts.
Deck quotes near Denver
Each area page covers that city’s permit rules.
Get free deck quotes
Tell us the size and height of the current deck, what is wrong with it, and what you would like instead. We usually reply the same day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a deck in Denver?
Budget for two parts: removal and the new deck. Published cost guides (2025–2026) put deck removal at about $1,000–$7,000 or more ($3–$10 per sq ft) and a new Denver deck at about $34–$69 per sq ft, with an average project near $9,640. These are estimates, not quotes; ask whether demolition and haul-away are included.
When should a deck be replaced instead of repaired?
Replacement is worth pricing when rot reaches the joists, beams or ledger, when footings have heaved or settled, when the ledger is fastened to brick or stone veneer or a floor overhang, or when several parts need work at once. If the framing is sound and only boards or railings are worn, a repair is usually the lower-cost route.
Does replacing a deck need a permit in Denver?
A replacement deck is generally treated like a new one. Most Denver decks over 12 inches off the ground need a zoning permit; decks 30 inches or more above grade, over 200 sq ft, or covered also need a building permit. Confirm with Denver Community Planning and Development. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why do older Denver homes often need a new deck?
The median Denver home was built in 1975, and nearby suburbs such as Lakewood, Arvada, Littleton and Centennial have median build years from 1977 to 1983 (ACS 2024 5-year). Decks on homes that age may have been rebuilt or extended before, and older attachment methods or shallow footings may not match today’s 36-inch frost line rule.
Can I keep the old deck frame and just replace the boards?
Sometimes. If the joists, beams, posts, footings and ledger are sound and sized correctly, a contractor may quote resurfacing only. Many contractors check framing closely before adding new boards, because new decking on tired framing can mean paying twice. Ask each contractor to explain what they found underneath and why they recommend it.
Plan your deck before the spring building rush.
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