Deck design templates

The templates

• Ground-level lounge: Low cedar platform that hugs the yard. No railing, no stairs, just deck. Estimated installed cost: $4,200 – $6,700.
• Classic raised deck: The bread-and-butter build: 16×12 composite, aluminum balusters, boxed stairs. Estimated installed cost: $8,600 – $13,400.
• L-shaped wraparound: Picture-frame border on an L footprint with cable railing and open stairs. Estimated installed cost: $12,600 – $19,600.
• Two-level entertainer: Main deck stepping down to a lower lounge with wide platform stairs. Estimated installed cost: $14,000 – $21,800.
• Herringbone showpiece: Premium herringbone field, glass panels, and lit picture-frame stairs at dusk. Estimated installed cost: $11,500 – $17,300.
• Floating island: Freestanding platform set at an angle in the yard, with diagonal coastal boards. Estimated installed cost: $6,300 – $9,800.
• Skirted porch deck: Charcoal diagonal boards with full skirting, access door, and an entry landing. Estimated installed cost: $6,300 – $9,800.
• Poolside platform: Wide, low driftwood platform with breaker boards and string lights for evenings. Estimated installed cost: $9,000 – $14,000.
• Evening glow deck: See the deck after dark: lit post caps, stair risers, and under-rail glow. Estimated installed cost: $8,600 – $13,400.
• Outdoor dining deck: A dinner-party layout with a real table zone, tucked-away grill, and post-cap glow at dusk. Estimated installed cost: $8,600 – $13,400.
• Pergola retreat: Picture-frame boards, a shaded pergola lounge, and string lights for slow evenings. Estimated installed cost: $7,600 – $11,800.
• Private escape deck: Wood privacy rails and a side screen turn a close-neighbors yard into a charcoal retreat. Estimated installed cost: $7,600 – $11,800.
• Garden starter deck: A compact cedar first deck with planters, matched skirting, and an easy garden landing. Estimated installed cost: $2,000 – $3,200.
• Modern mesh platform: A clean charcoal platform with architectural mesh rails and a built-in back-edge bench. Estimated installed cost: $7,200 – $11,200.
• Family gathering deck: Room for Sunday dinner, the grill, extra bench seating, and wide stairs down to the yard. Estimated installed cost: $11,300 – $17,600.

Common questions

Are these real buildable designs or just pictures?

Each template is a complete deck spec (dimensions, height, railing, stairs, materials) produced by the same geometry pipeline the PaperPlan Advanced Designer uses. The page numbers are read from the spec itself.

Can I customize a template?

Yes, that is the point. Open any template in PaperPlan, render it on your own backyard photo, then change the size, material, railing, or layout from a working starting point instead of a blank screen.

What do these decks cost to build?

Each template page shows an installed-cost range computed from its real square footage and material class, using 2026 North American survey rates. Treat it as a starting point, since site conditions move any number ±20%.

Do I need the templates to use PaperPlan?

No. You can upload a photo and design from scratch. Templates exist to skip the configuration and get to a finished-looking deck in one tap.