While the terms deck and porch are often used interchangeably, they are two distinct home features. Porches offer a roof that protects from the elements when coming and going from the house. Generally, porches are on the front of your home. On the other hand, decks are generally built in the backyard of a home and offer no roof or protection from the elements, like rain or snow. Porches typically require less maintenance and upkeep thanks to the roof, but both features require regular cleaning and repairs to maintain good condition.

There are a few ways to make your deck look new without professional power washing. First, you can use either store-bought cleaners or dish soap and water to mop your deck regularly to clean off accumulated dirt. To clean your deck and remove mold, mix two gallons of warm water with a ½ cup of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, rinse the area, and then scrub with a stiff-bristled broom.

The cost to professionally pressure wash your deck is $150 on average. This cost can range from $100 to $600, depending on the size of your deck and its condition. 

For an average deck of about 300 square feet, you can expect to pay around $100. However, if you have a spacious 1,000-square-foot deck or more, expect that cost to be closer to $300 to $400. Likewise, if it’s been a long time since you deep cleaned your deck, the deck professional might need extra time and to use deck-specific detergent, which will increase the overall cost.

You should have your deck professionally cleaned twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall. A springtime cleaning wipes away grime and mold that accumulated during the wet winter months, making it sparkly clean for summer use. Likewise, cleaning your deck in the fall allows you to wash away grease and leftover mess from the fun summer months rather than letting them soak into your deck over the winter.

The cost to build a deck is $8,025 on average. However, this cost can range anywhere from $1,500 to $22,000, depending on multiple factors, such as size, materials, and deck type. You can expect to pay $30 to $60 per square foot when building a new deck.

Cedar decks are often the most cost-effective option, ranging from $4 to $9 per square foot for materials. However, pressure-treated decking, which is resistant to rot, is more expensive, ranging from $15 to $25 per square foot for materials.