Chicagoland DIY:
Your Deck. Our Help.

Chicagoland DIY Helpline: 331-300-3071

Cut the Costs of Building Your Deck in Half

At UglyDeck, we provide the expertise and experience, and you provide the labor. We work with you to supply the best quality decking material in Chicago at supplier direct pricing, saving our customers money on material and deck accessories. Then, by doing the work yourself, you eliminate the labor costs on the project, easily reducing the cost of a new deck or a deck renovation by 50% or more. Click below to activate our limited-time spring special offer:

Estimate Your Deck Cost

Cut the Costs of Building Your Deck in Half

At UglyDeck, we provide the expertise and experience, and you provide the labor. We work with you to supply the best quality decking material in Chicago at supplier direct pricing, saving our customers money on material and deck accessories. Then, by doing the work yourself, you eliminate the labor costs on the project, easily reducing the cost of a new deck or a deck renovation by 50% or more.

Estimate Your Deck Cost

We Provide the Resources

Many of our customers in Chicago have never built a deck before, and they may be uncertain of how to complete the framing, install the deck, and add the rails and additional deck accessories. Our team is here to help, providing resources on our UglyDeck.com Academy as well as providing you with an experienced coach to walk you through the project.

We Provide the Resources

Many of our customers in Chicago have never built a deck before, and they may be uncertain of how to complete the framing, install the deck, and add the rails and additional deck accessories. Our team is here to help, providing resources on our UglyDeck.com Academy as well as providing you with an experienced coach to walk you through the project.

Customer Spotlight

"UglyDeck helped a ton. They were extremely responsive. They did a fantastic job. Especially with the stairs... We would send photos with our calculations and they gave us the thumbs up so we started cutting!"

Chelsea & Cory

"I had never built a big deck before. They put in the footings and ledger and got me started nice and square. The tutorials were a huge help to me. I liked that I was able to call and ask questions. It's nice to feel confidant before you start cutting things up. Everything was a real quick turn around. I also liked that I didn't have to go shopping for stuff and even went through and priced everything on my own and there wasn't a mark-up."

Josh K.

Providing Partial Ledger and Footing Installation in Chicagoland

One of the most critical aspects of building a deck is to install the ledger and footing correctly. UglyDeck.com has professional crews in Chicagoland to assist with this part of the project.* Ask your DIYDeck Coach if this service is available in your area.

Start Your DIY Project

*Minimum Purchase Required

Providing Partial Ledger and Footing Installation in Chicagoland

One of the most critical aspects of building a deck is to install the ledger and footing correctly. UglyDeck.com has professional crews in Chicagoland to assist with this part of the project.* Ask your DIYDeck Coach if this service is available in your area.

Start Your DIY Project

*Minimum Purchase Required

Best Pricing and Support Throughout the Project

From the best maintenance-free, long-lasting decking materials to the top of the line in Westbury Railing products, we offer it all at supplier direct pricing. This includes customized aluminum deck railing for any deck and stairway. We also offer support for installing cable deck railing, which is a very popular choice for a more open look to your outdoor living space.

Ask us about financing your project today.

Learn More

Better Than Big Box

We offer prices, free delivery, and selection that is better than what Big Box stores can offer. However, it is our resources, support, and coaching that make our company a better option for the do-it-yourself deck builder in the Chicago area.


  • Mitch H.
    "From the moment I chose UglyDeck.com as my supplier for my DIY project my wife and I felt like we had chosen the right people to help. Their showroom allowed us to see and touch the products we could choose from. Giving the dimensions of the project to our DIY coach allowed him to order exactly what we needed. After the project was finished, whatever lumber or decking we hadn't used was easily returned back to the UglyDeck.com shop. Overall, they made it very easy to get what was needed for us to get the project done! Highly recommended for any DIY'ers out there!"
    Mitch H.
    Farmington
  • Collin G
    "I was extremely impressed with Aaron's customer service and follow up. During my DIY project, he continually provided timely quotes and responses to my questions. I'd recommend Aaron and Ugly Deck to any homeowner looking to tackle their own deck project."
    Collin G
    Eden Prairie
  • Brad S.
    "If you are thinking of building or refurbishing a deck and want to perform the work yourself, look no further than UglyDeck's DIY service. From design to construction, they will be your partners throughout the entirety of the project. I had never built a deck before and I had used some of the big box store design tools prior to visiting Dave at UglyDeck. What I learned is that many of those programs will significantly overdesign the deck, leading to increases in both material and construction costs. I drew up a sketch of what I wanted the deck to look like, took some photos of the site and added in some measurements. UglyDeck took that information and designed the layout for me, including footings, beams, span lengths and blocking. I then met with Dave in person to go over the design. He answered all of my questions before, during and after my project, both email and phone. You just won't get that kind of support from many places."
    Brad S.
    Bloomington, MN
  • Brad S.
    "UglyDeck will provide you with everything you need for your project - lumber, hardware, fasteners, concrete, connectors and of course decking. You will get #1 treated lumber at big box store #2 prices. It is absolutely some of the nicest lumber I have ever worked with and the best part is I didn't have to sort through piles of twisted and knotted stock to find the few good ones suitable to use. Straight boards, few, if any defects and minimal crowning. The hardest part will be deciding what decking to use as UglyDeck offers a wide variety of top quality brands at different price points to fit your budget. I decided on a composite solution from TimberTech and couldn't be happier. All of the materials were delivered right to my home and placed where I wanted them to place it. If you have leftover materials like extra screws, nails and other hardware - no problem. You can return those items for a refund. I have recommended UglyDeck to several neighbors who have upcoming deck projects this year. I now have a beautiful outdoor recreation space that will last for decades!"
    Brad S.
    Bloomington, MN
  • Craig O.
    "The experience I had with UglyDeck.com was second to none. They were there to walk me through the process from start to finish on what I was looking for and what I would need. They had competitive pricing which was a jump start right off the bat that opened me to the best experience. The best part was the fact that they were willing to do a partial install (put the ledger board and the footings in for me) to ensure two of the most critical parts were started and were done correctly. So starting off I felt like I was already 10 steps ahead. Dave, from the DIY department, was phenomenal. Was super personable and always willing to answer his phone to help me with my questions. If I ever needed to double check what I was doing or needed something extra, Dave was willing to either FaceTime, Zoom, or stop by to assist as well as get any extra products I needed to me in super quick fashion. Everything UglyDeck.com and Dave did for me was fantastic and I would recommend them 10/10 times! In fact I have already told many of my neighbors who want to build about UglyDeck.com. They definitely make you feel like you’re their number one priority by the way they take care of you! We now have a fantastic deck, just like we had envisioned!"
    Craig O.
    Rosemount, MN
  • Sara S.
    "Everything about our experience with Ugly Deck was smooth and positive! On our first visit to the showroom Dave helped walk us through design ideas and discussed our material options. Within the next 24 hours we had a quote and he made a trip to our house to make sure we were ordering everything we needed for our project. All correspondence was timely and professional. We had some extra materials to return and that whole process was easy too! Overall, Dave and his team were extremely friendly and helpful. Since our experience, we’ve recommended Ugly Deck to our friends and family."
    Sara S.
    Hutchinson, MN
  • Kim A.
    "Working with the team at Ugly Decks made doing our deck project possible. The decks and railings were cedar but rotting. The frame was in good shape. The project was to keep the original frame and replace the deck and railings with maintenance free materials. Having never done this type of project it was rather daunting. What materials to use? Where to get the materials? How much did we need? What kind of surprises or issues will be encountered? The team at Ugly Decks was able to help us with all these questions. They have a beautiful showroom that allowed us to see the possibilities. We were given samples to be able to see the options on location. With the measurements of our deck they were able to quickly determine our materials list. The materials were quality and delivered when we were ready to begin work. As our project progressed, they were available to answer our questions. When we thought we needed some additional materials they worked with us to determine the best materials, saving us money. Thank you, Dave and team for all the help!"
    Kim A.
    Apple Valley, MN
  • Curt K.
    "I rebuilt my deck in 2020. Dave and the team at Ugly Deck were a really great resource from start to finish. They calculated the materials, delivered everything to my home on precisely the agreed day, and provided great advice throughout the process. And the cost was essentially the same as if I had purchased from one of the big box stores."
    Curt K.
    Eagan, MN
  • John H.
    "We replaced our worn out decking, railings, fascia and stair landing as a DIY project in 2020. Dave Kodet and the crew at Ugly Deck were most helpful in all phases of the project - helping us decide which replacement materials were best for our needs, providing materials estimates, providing coaching on installation techniques and guidance on differing structural support requirements in changing from cedar to Timbertech Azek decking. Their pricing was as good as or better than any other we found, and they were always quick to respond when we had questions, needed additional materials or needed a replacement piece for one that had been damaged in shipment from the manufacturer. We would definitely recommend Ugly Deck and their DIY service."
    John H.
    Bloomington, MN
  • Jared S.
    "Great DIY services! Answered any and all my questions through my deck replacement project. Material pricing was in line or better than big box stores but the customer service from DIY Dave was far better than the chain stores. I definitely recommend UglyDeck.com."
    Jared S.
    St. Louis Park, MN
  • Spencer I.
    "I decided to replace my old cedar boards with new composite. Worked with 'DIY Dave' who answered all my questions during the install process. Selection of board brands was huge. Prices were just $1 more per board vs. big box stores, which was worth it considering the available loaner install tools and helpful install advice. And NO delivery charges!!!"
    Spencer I.
    Apple Valley, MN

Get Ideas For Your Next Project!

To get inspiration for your new Chicagoland deck or porch, visit our ideas pages, with examples and tips for how to create your new DIY outdoor space.