Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 Wood pergolas cost $25 to $55 per square foot installed in 2026, while aluminum pergolas cost $30 to $60 per square foot -- making them nearly equal in upfront cost. The real cost difference emerges over time: a $5,000 wood pergola requiring $300/year in maintenance costs $11,000 over 20 years, while a comparable $7,000 aluminum pergola costs $7,300 total. Aluminum wins the long-term value contest. I tracked 5 pergola projects last year -- 3 cedar, 2 aluminum -- and the maintenance reality is what changes most homeowners' minds after year 3. A beautiful cedar pergola in Virginia looked stunning at installation. By year 2, the UV had grayed the wood and the homeowner spent a weekend and $400 on power washing and staining. The aluminum pergola next door? A 30-minute hose-down twice a year. Same look, zero weekends lost. Use our Pergola Calculator(/construction/pergola-calculator)...
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost in 2026? (Materials, Labor & Size)
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost in 2026? A paver patio costs $12 to $28 per square foot installed in 2026, with total projects ranging from $1,200 for a small 100 sq ft pad to $16,000+ for a large 500 sq ft patio with premium materials. Concrete pavers run $12-$20/sq ft installed, brick pavers cost $14-$25/sq ft, natural stone reaches $20-$50/sq ft, and porcelain pavers fall in the $18-$30/sq ft range. Labor and base preparation account for roughly 60-70% of total project cost. I have laid pavers on everything from sandy Florida lots to clay-heavy Pennsylvania yards, and the number one thing that separates a patio that lasts 25 years from one that buckles in three is the base work nobody wants to pay for. I quoted a 300 sq ft brick paver patio in Bucks County last fall at $7,800 installed. The homeowner said the guy down the...
How Much Does a Pergola Cost in 2026? (National Averages & Real Pricing)
How Much Does a Pergola Cost in 2026? A pergola costs $25 to $85 per square foot installed in 2026, with most projects ranging from $3,000 to $8,500 for a standard 100-200 sq ft structure. Pressure-treated wood pergolas run $25-$40/sq ft installed, cedar costs $35-$55/sq ft, aluminum runs $30-$60/sq ft, and motorized louvered pergolas reach $60-$200/sq ft. Materials account for 60-80% of total cost. I priced 5 pergola projects in the mid-Atlantic last year, and the item that surprises everyone is the post footings. A 12x14 cedar pergola in Virginia came to $7,200 installed. The cedar itself was $2,800. The 4 concrete footings (36 inches deep for frost line), post brackets, and structural hardware added $1,600. Labor for a 2-man crew over 2 days was the remaining $2,800. Homeowners who think "it's just 4 posts and some beams" consistently underestimate the foundation work. Use our Pergola Calculator(/construction/pergola-calculator) to get a...
How Much Does an Outdoor Pizza Oven Cost in 2026? (DIY, Kit & Custom)
How Much Does an Outdoor Pizza Oven Cost in 2026? An outdoor pizza oven costs $1,500 to $8,000 installed in 2026, with high-end custom brick ovens reaching $12,000 to $20,000+. Portable countertop units start at $300-$1,000, pre-assembled kit ovens run $1,500-$5,000 installed, and fully custom masonry ovens with stone surrounds cost $8,000-$20,000. The oven itself is often less than half the total cost -- the concrete pad, stone surround, chimney, and gas line add up fast. I built a custom brick pizza oven for a client in Doylestown last spring -- a 36-inch interior dome with a stone and stucco surround on a poured concrete base. The fire bricks and refractory cement for the dome cost $1,800. The concrete foundation, stone veneer, stainless chimney, and four days of mason labor brought the total to $11,200. The oven alone is affordable. Everything around it is where the budget goes. Use our...
How to Build a Deck: Complete Materials & Cost Calculator Guide
How to Build a Deck: Complete Materials & Cost Calculator Guide Building a deck costs between $15 and $75 per square foot for materials, depending on whether you choose pressure-treated lumber, composite, or cedar. A typical 16x20 deck requires 50-60 deck boards, 20-25 joists, 8-12 posts, and roughly 15 pounds of structural screws and hardware. Getting the material quantities right before you order saves hundreds of dollars in waste and emergency trips to the lumber yard. Last year I built a 16x24 composite deck for a client in suburban Maryland. The material bill came to $8,200 -- and that was after negotiating a bulk discount on the composite boards. I ordered 15% extra decking and used every single piece, because cuts around the stair landing and the angled corner ate through boards faster than the calculator predicted. That project reinforced what I tell every homeowner: always round up, never down....