Spring in Colorado hits and suddenly everybody wants to be outside. Then you look at your backyard and wonder: do I need a deck, a pergola, or both? They solve different problems, so let's break it down.
What a deck does
A deck gives you a floor. It's a raised, built surface for furniture, the grill and people. If your back door opens onto a drop, a slope, or a patch of yard you never use, a deck turns that into usable space.
We build decks in cedar and composite. Cedar gives you that warm wood look. Composite is the pick if you want close to zero maintenance. Railings can go from hog wire to iron depending on the style of your house. We also do stairs, rebuilds, refinishing and structural repair on decks that have seen better days.
Deck cost: $60 to $100 per square foot depending on materials, rails, stairs and details. Composite with metal railing lands higher in that range than basic cedar.
What a pergola does
A pergola gives you shade. That's a big deal along the Front Range, where the sun is strong and a slab patio in the middle of July can be pretty much unusable in the afternoon.
We build custom pergolas, both freestanding and attached to the house, plus covered patios and built-in planters and benches. A pergola can turn a plain slab into the room you use most from May to October.
Pergola cost: $80 per square foot as a starting rate.
How to decide
Ask yourself what's actually wrong with your backyard right now.
Pick a deck if:
- Your door opens to a drop or uneven ground.
- You don't have a flat surface to put furniture on.
- Your old deck is worn out and needs replacing or repair.
Pick a pergola if:
- You already have a patio or slab but it's too hot to sit on.
- You want a space that feels like an outdoor room.
- You'd like a spot for planters, lights or a bench.
Do both if:
- You want the deck and want to actually sit on it on a sunny afternoon.
- You're doing a full backyard project anyway.
Building for Colorado weather
Whatever you build has to handle freeze, thaw, sun and hail. That's why material choice matters. Composite holds up with very little upkeep. Cedar looks great but will want refinishing over time, which we also do.
If there's concrete involved, like a new patio under a pergola, the ground matters too. Colorado's clay soil and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on flatwork. Done right means proper base prep, the right mix and control joints where they belong. Concrete flatwork starts at $20 per square foot.
One crew, whole backyard
A lot of our outdoor jobs end up bigger than one item: deck, fence, patio and yard together. Doing it as one project means one schedule and one crew, and nobody's waiting on another contractor to show up.
One of our favorite backyards is a Westminster project: a horizontal cedar fence, turf and a pergola, all done in one pass. If you've been eyeing a new fence too, fences start at $40 per linear foot, with options from classic cedar privacy to modern horizontal. Sod and turf are quoted per project based on your yard.
Quick price recap
- Decks: $60 to $100 per square foot
- Pergolas: $80 per square foot
- Fences: $40 per linear foot
- Concrete flatwork: $20 per square foot
- Landscaping: quoted per project
These are starting rates. Gates, custom details and site conditions get itemized in your free written estimate.
Want it ready before summer?
Saw Dog Construction is an insured general contractor based in Westminster, CO, serving the whole Denver metro. Every job comes with a free written, itemized estimate and a 2-year workmanship warranty. Call or text (720) 290-4077, or send the form on SawDog.net, and tell us what your backyard needs.
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