Across Delaware County, Ohio, most homeowners spend somewhere between $8,000 and $25,000 on a new deck. The honest truth is that the per-square-foot rate barely changes from town to town — you're pulling from the same crews, the same Trex and TimberTech suppliers, and the same building department. What does change the total is what people tend to build in each community and the local approval hoops. This guide gives the countywide market ranges, then breaks down the real cost drivers town by town.
The figures below are typical general market ranges for the Columbus/Delaware County area, not a quote. Every yard is different — we give free written design estimates with the permit and frost-depth footings included so there are no surprises.
Countywide market ranges (installed)
| Material | Typical installed cost | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (Trex, TimberTech) | ~$30–$32 / sq ft | Wash only; no staining |
| Pressure-treated wood | Lower material cost | Stain/seal every 2–3 yrs |
| Cedar | Mid-range | Stain/seal regularly |
As a rule of thumb, a 300-square-foot composite deck often falls in the $9,000–$12,000 range; add height, stairs, premium railings, or a multi-level design and it climbs from there. For a deeper breakdown of the material and feature costs, see our Sunbury deck cost guide and, if you're weighing a hard surface, our paver patio cost guide.
What's the same everywhere in Delaware County
- Frost-depth footings. Ohio code puts deck footings below the frost line — roughly 32–36 inches in central Ohio — which adds concrete and labor versus warm-climate builds. See how deep footings go here.
- The county building permit. A base building-permit fee plus a per-100-sq-ft charge, plan review, and a small state assessment. Our Delaware County permit guide lays out the fees and inspections.
- The township zoning step. Setbacks are set by your township, not the county — which is why the same deck can be legal on one lot and need a variance on another. See deck permits by township.
Cost drivers by town
Sunbury
Sunbury is split between new-construction backyards (Eagle Creek and the newer Big Walnut-school subdivisions) that start as a flat, bare slab of grass, and established neighborhoods like Sunbury Meadows where 15-to-20-year-old builder-grade wood decks are due for redecking or replacement. New builds skew toward a full ground-up composite deck; established homes skew toward redeck-or-rebuild decisions. Full local breakdown: deck cost in Sunbury.
Galena
Galena's cost story is driven by big lots and HOA architectural review. The premium new-build communities here — Vinmar Farms, Cheshire Woods, and Harbor Pointe — have room for larger, multi-level decks (which raises the total simply because there's more square footage and often stairs), and nearly all of them require ARC approval that can steer material, color, and railing choices. The HOA doesn't set the price, but it shapes the build. See our HOA deck-approval guide and decks in Galena.
Powell
Powell (in Liberty Township) is a mature, established market — many homes are 20-plus years into their original wood or early-composite decks. That tilts Powell projects toward redecking and full replacement rather than first-time builds, so the cost conversation is usually "is the frame still good?" Our repair-vs-replace guide is the place to start, and here's more on decks in Powell.
Lewis Center
Lewis Center (in Orange Township) grew fast through the 2000s, so a large share of its decks are now hitting the age where wood boards gray out and railings loosen. Like Powell, that means a lot of redeck-and-upgrade-to-composite work — keeping a sound existing frame and swapping the surface — which can come in well under a full rebuild. More on decks in Lewis Center.
Delaware (city)
The city of Delaware runs its own zoning and building review rather than going through a township, so the permitting path differs from the unincorporated areas. The housing stock is a mix of older in-town homes — smaller lots and tighter site access, which can add labor for hauling materials to the backyard — and newer subdivisions on the edges. See decks in Delaware, OH.
Want a real number for your yard? We give free written design estimates across Delaware County — composite or wood, deck or patio — with the permit, township zoning step, and frost-depth footings all included. Or browse all our decks & patios across the Sunbury area.