Deck vs Paver Patio in Brentwood and Franklin, TN: Cost, Lifespan and Which Fits Your Yard

Is a deck or a patio cheaper?

A patio is cheaper in nearly every national guide. Bob Vila puts the average deck at about $7,900 and the average patio at about $3,800 ^[4]. Per square foot, decks run $25 to $43 and patios run $5 to $15 ^[3].

Fixr gives a wider deck range, $21 to $71 per square foot with an average near $33 ^[2]. The spread comes from the material. A pressure-treated pine deck sits at the low end. Hardwood and modified wood sit at the high end.

Patios vary too. Poured concrete runs $4 to $9 per square foot. Stamped concrete runs $8 to $16. Concrete pavers run $8.70 to $16.70 ^[7].

Local quotes tell a different story from per-square-foot math. A real patio quote prices the whole project, including base work, borders, steps and features. That is why half of Pineda’s 2025 to 2026 patio quotes landed between about $8,000 and $23,000, with a middle quote near $13,500 ^[1].

Deck vs patio cost by size: 200, 320 and 600 square feet

At national prices, a 320 square foot deck (16×20 feet) costs about $8,000 to $13,750. The same-size concrete paver patio costs about $2,800 to $5,350.

We worked out the table by multiplying each size by the national per-square-foot ranges. It covers the surface only. Railings, stairs, steps, drainage and extra base work are not in it.

National ranges: size × Decks.com deck price ^[3] and size × LawnStarter paver price ^[7]. Not a Pineda price. Rounded to the nearest $50.

Another guide shows the same pattern. Lawn Love says a deck averages $7,320, and most homeowners pay $3,920 to $10,540 ^[8]. Fixr prices a 16×20 deck at $6,720 to $22,720, with an average of $10,560 ^[2].

What $30,000 gets you in Williamson County

In Williamson County, about $30,000 covers a complete backyard project: full design and install, plant beds, pavers that match the house, and a hardscape feature such as a grill station or a fire pit ^[10].

In this 22-second video, Michael Pineda stands on a finished patio and walks you through what that budget buys.

The budget covers the space around the surface too. Plant beds, matching pavers and a feature are what make a patio feel like an outdoor room. Compare that with a deck quote, and check what each one includes.

Which lasts longer, a deck or a patio?

A patio lasts longer. Decks.com lists a wood deck at 10 to 20 years, a composite deck at 25 to 30 years or more, and a patio at 25 to 30 years or more ^[3].

Fixr is more cautious about wood. It says a standard deck lasts 10 to 15 years and a well-installed patio lasts at least 25 ^[2]. Bob Vila says a wood deck can reach 20 years or more with proper care, and composite up to 50 ^[4].

Weather matters here. The Nashville area averages 50.51 inches of precipitation a year ^[9]. Water is what rots wood, so a wood deck faces more wear in our climate than a patio does.

A deck is something you maintain. A patio is something you sweep.

Which takes more upkeep, a deck or a patio?

A deck takes more. Wood decks need regular care to prevent warping, cracking, fading and rot ^[4]. A patio needs sweeping and an occasional wash.

What staining adds over ten years

Bob Vila puts deck staining at $540 to $1,250, with a national average of $775 ^[4]. Staining every two years means five jobs in ten years. That adds about $2,700 to $6,250, and the math is ours.

Add that to a 16×20 wood deck at $8,000 to $13,750 and the ten-year cost reaches roughly $10,700 to $20,000. A paver patio of the same size starts at $2,800 to $5,350 and needs little upkeep. The stain price is a national average, so your own deck may differ.

Does a deck add more home value than a patio?

Most guides say a deck returns more of its cost at resale than a patio does. Trex cites 66% for a composite deck and 55% for a patio ^[5]. Fixr and Bob Vila cite about 70% for a deck and 50% for a patio ^{[2] [4]}.

The newest numbers are higher for decks. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report shows a wood deck addition costing $18,263 with a resale value of $17,323, or 95% recouped. A composite deck costs $25,096 and recoups 89% ^[6].

Bob Vila adds that this may not hold in every situation ^[4]. Resale value also depends on your neighborhood and on how well the project is built and finished.

A deck returns more per dollar spent. A patio costs far less to build. The right pick depends on your house and how you plan to use the space.

Which fits a sloped Brentwood or Franklin yard: a deck or a patio?

A raised or sloped yard often points to a deck. Decks.com says raised decks work well on sloping or uneven ground, and patios suit flat areas ^[3]. Many yards in Brentwood and Franklin slope.

Trex notes that building a patio on uneven terrain can raise the price a great deal ^[5]. A patio can still work on a slope. The slope then needs grading or a retaining wall.

Our deck builder installation in Franklin and paver patios in Franklin pages show both kinds of work. For a deck rebuild, read the deck replacement cost guide.

How to choose between a deck and a patio in five steps

Start with your yard and your use. Cost comes next. These five steps keep the choice simple.

1. Check your door height. A door well above the lawn points to a deck. A door at ground level points to a patio.
2. Look at the slope. Walk the yard after a rain. Note where water runs and where it stays.
3. Decide how you will use it. Dining, lounging, a grill or a fire pit. Use sets the size.
4. Compare ten-year cost. Add the build price to staining, sealing and repairs.
5. Check your HOA and your city. Bob Vila says homeowners typically pay permit and inspection fees to build a deck ^[4]. Ask the City of Brentwood Planning and Codes Department or Franklin Building and Neighborhood Services what applies to your lot. Your HOA reviews separately.

Call 811 before anyone digs (dial 811). Want a number for your own yard? Try our landscape cost estimator, then bring it to your estimate visit. See projects near you in Brentwood and Franklin.