Your old deck,
hauled off.

Often yes for attached decks (those connected to the house via ledger board). Many jurisdictions require an IRC R105 demolition permit ($40-200 typical, $85 national median) plus a final inspection to verify the ledger was removed cleanly and the siding flashing was patched. Detached freestanding decks rarely require a demo permit. The new deck's building permit usually covers demolition of the old structure if both are part of one continuous project — check your local building department.

For decks under 300 sqft, junk-removal flat-fee ($425-950) is usually cheaper than the dumpster route once you factor delivery, tonnage fees, and your time loading. For decks over 400 sqft, dumpster wins — flat-fee scales aggressively beyond 600 sqft. The calculator compares both routes side-by-side at your exact scope so you can pick. Tip: junk-removal includes labor; dumpster route requires you (or your contractor) to load it.

Yes for PT/cedar/composite ground-to-low decks (skill level 2+). Tools needed: reciprocating saw, pry bar, sledgehammer, work gloves, safety glasses, dust mask. Expect 1.7-2.4× pro time depending on substructure (PT 1.8×, IPE 2.2×, steel 2.4×). For 300 sqft PT deck demo: budget 18-30 hrs DIY. Skip DIY if (1) elevated 2-story, (2) IPE hardwood with seized screws, (3) pre-1978 home until you've tested for lead, (4) attached deck with structural ledger interaction.

Not usually. If you're rebuilding a deck on the same footprint, leave the concrete piers in place — verify they meet IRC R403.1.4 frost depth + R507.3 size requirements for your new design (use the Footing Calculator on this site to confirm). Removing concrete piers adds 1.5-2 hrs per footing + jackhammer rental ($145/day) + heavy disposal. Only remove footings if (1) you're not rebuilding, (2) footings are non-compliant, or (3) site is being graded for landscaping.

Sometimes — but always confirm. Most general contractors will price demo as a separate line item ($1,200-2,500 typical) and may sub-contract it. Deck-specialty contractors often include demo in the bid. The advantage of bundling: one permit, one crew, one cleanup. The advantage of separating: you can hire a cheaper demo crew or DIY the demo to save $800-1,500. Get itemized quotes — most contractors will break out demo cost on request.

If your home was built before 1978 AND any of the deck wood was painted (not just stained), the EPA RRP rule requires testing before demolition. A simple lab swab test costs $165. If positive, you must hire an EPA-certified renovator (RRP contractor) for the demo — adds ~$500-1,200 to the project cost. Do NOT DIY a lead-paint deck demo. Penalties for non-compliance can hit $37,500/day. The hazard test fee is added to the project total when the pre-1978 flag is checked.

Yes — and the calculator credits salvage value as a deduction from the total. Substructure salvage: PT joists/posts $0.35/sqft, cedar $0.55, composite $0.65, steel scrap $0.95, IPE $1.80. Railing salvage: aluminum $0.85/lf, cable $1.25/lf, glass $1.55/lf. IPE boards have the strongest secondary market — list on Craigslist / FB Marketplace before demo for $4-7/lf to recoup hundreds. Discount applied 40-50% in the calculator to reflect realistic yield (most decks have some rotted or worn pieces).

300 sqft PT deck, low height, no footing removal: 18-24 pro hours (2-3 person crew × 1 day). DIY: 32-50 hrs (one person, 4-7 weekends). 400 sqft elevated 2-story IPE deck with footing removal: 50-80 pro hours (full week with crew). Glass railing adds 3-5 hrs alone (must remove intact). Cable railing adds 2-4 hrs (tensioning release per cable). The calculator returns separate frame hours and footing hours so you can see the time breakdown.

Only if you choose the dumpster disposal route. Junk-removal services bring their own truck. For DIY decks under 200 sqft, you may be able to make 3-5 pickup-truck trips to the landfill ($30-60 per dump) instead of renting a dumpster — but only if you have a pickup. Otherwise: 10-yd dumpster for 200-300 sqft decks, 20-yd for 300-500 sqft, 30-yd for 500-800 sqft, 40-yd for larger or multi-level. Dumpster sits 7 days standard; longer rentals add $25-45/week.