Is 17k for labor on a custom deck and pavilion too high?

Seventeen thousand for labor on a 25x15 deck with a full-blown pavilion is an absolute steal for the client. When you factor in the CAD design time, those 48-inch deep footings, and the sheer volume of Simpson Outdoor Accents hardware, you’re likely closer to a **friends and family discount** than you are to overcharging. Those decorative Simpson pieces are notorious for eating up hours becasue every single bolt and strap has to be perfectly aligned and pre-drilled to look right.

If you were a licensed contractor with overhead and insurance, a custom structural build of this scale would easily push $25k to $30k for labor alone in most markets. The fact that you handled triple-ply beams and PT LVLs solo means you were doing the work of a two-man crew. Moving and setting those 14-inch LVLs isn't just carpentry; it's heavy rigging. Most guys wouldn't even touch a 18-foot roof structure for less than five figures on its own, regardless of the deck beneath it. Don't let the lack of fascia or railings make you feel like the value isn't there. If anything, skipping those items saved the client money on your time, but the structural core you built—especially with those 2x10 joists and 24-inch diameter footings—is over-engineered in the best way possible. You provided a professional-grade design and execution. Next time you price a job like this, you shold probably bump your rate by at least 20%. Designing in CAD isn't just a perk; it's a professional service that prevents massive headaches during the framing stage. You’re providing a high-end product, and the price should reflect the technical knowledge required to keep that roof from catching flight in a high wind.

Spot on. You’re definitely on the low side for a solo build of this magnitude. One detail people forget is the physical toll of those Simpson Outdoor Accents when you're working overhead alone. Those heavy-duty decorative side plates and 6-inch structural screws require a lot of torque and precision while you're balancing on a ladder. I’ve found those specialized hex-head drivers also wear out fast on a job this big—hopefully you factored in the cost of replacement bits and the extra strain on your impact driver. At 17k, you basially gave him the design work and the heavy rigging for free.

This project sounds incredible! I'm just starting to learn about framing and seeing those triple-ply beams in person must be wild. 17k for all that custom work seems like a total bargain, honestly. I've been looking at some of those Simpson decorative pieces and they look so cool, but now I'm worried about the weight. Does anyone know if you need a specific type of impact driver for those heavy-duty hex screws, or will a standard cordless one handle the torque without burning out the motor?

Kid, you're practically paying him to work. Back in the day, we didn't have fancy CAD or Simpson's pre-made jewelry; we notched our posts and used trough-bolts we'd sink with an old corded Hole Hawg that'd break your wrist if it caught a knot. Setting a triple-ply beam by yourself is a young man's game—my back hurts just thinking about it. For 17k, he's getting a structure that'll outlive both of us. You're doing real timber-style framing for a bargain. Next time, charge for the layout time alone or you'll be broke before you graduate.

I did a similar 20x14 build last summer and the labor for just my helper and me came out to nearly 20k, and that was without a pavilion. People don't realize how much time it takes to keep everythign square when you're working alone. I ended up building a temporary lifting gantry for my beams just so I didn't blow out my shoulder. If you're doing CAD and digging four-foot holes by hand, 17k is a gift. Did you end up using a laser level for those footings or just a string line? Getting a 25-foot span perfectly level solo is the real hidden labor cost.

Update: Thanks for the reassurance. Hearing that 17k is actually on the low side for a solo build makes me feel way better about the bill. However, I’m still feeling the physical toll that old-timer mentioned from driving all those structural screws overhead. Does anyone have a preferred impact driver for these Simpson Accents that won't kill my wrists?