Equipment for Building a Deck
What You'll Learn
- Building a deck requires four categories of equipment — hand tools (own), power tools (own or rent), digging machines (rent), and material movers (rent for anything over 200 sq ft)
- Power auger rentals start at $60/day for a one-man unit, $80–$150/day for two-man, and $125/day for a GIANT SK252 walk-behind skid steer with the auger attachment included free
- Utah deck footings must reach 30 inches minimum below grade per IRC R403.1.4.1 and local amendments — handheld augers struggle below 36 inches in Wasatch clay
- A track skid steer ($175–$375/day) shortens material handling on a 600 sq ft deck from two days of wheelbarrow trips to about two hours
- Decks over 200 sq ft or 30 inches above grade require a building permit — call your city before you dig: American Fork (801) 763-3060, Lehi (385) 201-1035, Highland (801) 772-4516
- Alpine Equipment Repair delivers throughout Salt Lake and Utah County and includes the auger attachment free with every skid steer rental — call (801) 701-7394
Building a deck takes more equipment than most homeowners own — usually six categories of tools spanning $50 hand tools to $375/day machines. The trick is knowing which to buy, which to rent, and what order to use them in. This guide walks through every piece of equipment by build phase, with published Utah rental rates and the local code requirements that change the answer.
Alpine Equipment Repair has rented heavy equipment out of American Fork since 2003. Most of the rental machines below are in our yard right now, and the pricing in this guide is what we actually charge.
Deck-Building Equipment by Construction Phase
Decks come together in a predictable order: layout, dig, deliver, frame, finish. Different phases need different machines. The matrix below maps every phase to the equipment you'll need, whether the average homeowner can handle it solo, and the Alpine rental rate where applicable.
| Build Phase | Primary Equipment | Secondary / Optional | DIY Feasibility | Alpine Rental Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Site layout | Tape, chalk line, stakes, string, marking paint | Laser level for large decks | HIGH | Own (under $50 hardware-store) |
| 2. Footing dig (Utah, 30″ min) | Post hole digger OR power auger OR skid steer + auger | Mini excavator (rocky / hard soil) | MODERATE | $60–$375/day (auger options) |
| 3. Material delivery & moving | Pickup truck OR utility trailer OR skid steer w/ forks | Telehandler (commercial scale) | MODERATE | $50/day trailer · $175–$375/day skid steer |
| 4. Gravel base & compaction | Plate compactor, shovel, wheelbarrow | Skid steer w/ grading bucket | MODERATE | Plate compactor: call for pricing |
| 5. Framing (cuts + fasten) | Circular saw, miter saw, drill/driver, impact driver, joist hangers | Table saw, jigsaw | MODERATE | Own / hardware store ($30–$80/day) |
| 6. Multi-level / beam lift | Scissor lift (covered decks) | Telehandler for heavy beams | LOW (lift work) | Scissor lift: $175–$425/day |
| 7. Decking install | Drill, impact driver, hidden-fastener tool (composite), chop saw | Pneumatic nailer + compressor | HIGH | Own / hardware store |
| 8. Cleanup & haul-off | Trailer + skid steer w/ grapple OR dumpster | Pickup + tarps (small decks) | HIGH | $50/day trailer · $175+/day skid steer |
The "DIY feasibility" column is the most important. A 12×16 ground-level deck does not need a skid steer. A 600 sq ft multi-level deck attached to a foothill home in Highland absolutely does. The rest of this article works through each phase in detail.
Hand Tools You'll Need (Buy, Don't Rent)
These are the small tools that come out on every project. Renting hand tools costs more over two weekends than buying them outright. Budget $150–$300 if you're starting from scratch.
Layout and measuring: 25-foot tape, 100-foot tape (for decks over 300 sq ft), chalk line or chalk box, 2-foot level, 4-foot level, framing square, speed square, plumb bob or laser, string lines for post spacing, marking paint.
Carpentry hand tools: 16 oz framing hammer, claw hammer, flat pry bar, nail puller, adjustable wrench, 3/8″ socket set, locking pliers, utility knife with extra blades, carpenter pencil, permanent marker.
A joist-hanger nailer or palm nailer is a worthwhile upgrade if you're driving more than 50 hangers — your wrists will thank you on day two.
Power Tools for Cutting and Fastening
Four power tools handle 95% of deck framing. A drill/driver and impact driver combo is non-negotiable. The saws depend on your project size and how many decks you plan to build.
- Cordless drill/driver (18V or 20V minimum). For predrilling lag bolts, driving structural screws, mixing concrete in a small batch with a paddle.
- Impact driver. For deck screws into composite, cedar, or pressure-treated. An impact driver sinks fasteners without stripping heads — a regular drill cannot match the torque.
- Circular saw. Sizes joists, beams, posts. A 7-1/4″ blade with 40 teeth handles framing lumber cleanly.
- Sliding compound miter saw (10″ or 12″). Repetitive cuts on decking, fascia, and railing. Cleaner cuts than a circular saw and faster for high-volume work.
| Tool | Best for | Buy or rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Drill + impact combo | Every phase | Buy ($200 kit) |
| Circular saw | Framing rough cuts | Buy ($60–$100) or hardware-store rental ($30/day) |
| Sliding miter saw | Decking, fascia, repetitive cuts | Rent first deck ($50/day), buy second ($300–$500) |
| Jigsaw | Notches around posts, curved cuts | Buy ($50) or borrow |
Alpine does not rent carpentry power tools — see your local hardware store for those. The equipment Alpine specializes in is what comes next: the machines that dig the holes and move the material.
Digging Footings — Augers and the Utah Frost Line
Deck footings carry the entire load of the structure. Get this phase wrong and the deck heaves, twists, or settles. In Utah, the dominant factor is the frost line — and it is deep enough to defeat handheld diggers.
Utah Frost-Line Footing Depth
Across most of the Wasatch Front — Utah County, Salt Lake County, Herriman, Millard, and surrounding municipalities — deck footings must extend at least 30 inches below finished grade. The requirement traces to IRC R403.1.4.1, adopted with local amendments by every Utah jurisdiction we work with. Some bench-side and mountain communities require 36 inches; verify with your city before you dig.
Footing depth is not optional. Wasatch soils experience 150+ freeze-thaw cycles per year. A footing that stops short of the frost line will heave during winter, then settle in spring. Twenty-four months later, the deck is no longer level and the ledger is pulling away from the house.
Authoritative references worth bookmarking: the Decks.com frost-depth map and the Utah amendments to IRC R403 published in the Utah Residential Code on UpCodes.
Choosing Your Auger
| Post Type | Hole Diameter | Recommended Auger |
|---|---|---|
| 4×4 (small ground-level deck only) | 8″ | One-man auger |
| 6×6 (code-typical for most Utah decks) | 10″–12″ | Two-man auger or skid-steer auger |
| 6×6 with footings 36″+ deep or rocky soil | 12″ | Skid steer + hydraulic auger |
For a deeper breakdown of auger sizing by soil type and project size, see Alpine's post hole digger rental guide.
Alpine Auger Rental Rates
| Equipment | Daily | Weekly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-man auger | $60–$100 | Discounted | 4–10 footings in soft soil |
| Two-man auger | $80–$150 | Discounted | 10–20 footings in mixed soil |
| GIANT SK252 walk-behind + auger | $125 | $400 | Tight-access yards, 10–30 footings |
| GIANT G950T mini skid + auger | $175 | $550 | Most residential decks, all-day digging |
| 2,300 lb track skid steer + auger | $300 | $1,000 | Hard or rocky soil, commercial work |
The auger attachment is included free with every skid steer rental. Minimum rental: 4 hours. Delivery billed at $165/hour with a two-hour minimum ($330 in-county). Call (801) 701-7394 for current availability.
A handheld two-man auger can bury itself in Wasatch clay or stall on river rock. If your test hole reveals more than soft loam, step up to the skid-steer auger — the hydraulic downforce solves problems that brute strength cannot.
Call 811 Before You Dig
Utah Code 54-8a requires you to call Utah 811 (Blue Stakes) at least 48 hours before any excavation, including deck footings. The service is free. They mark every underground utility on your property — gas, electric, water, fiber. Hitting a gas line with a 12-inch auger is dangerous, expensive, and entirely avoidable. Homeowner liability for a strike can exceed $5,000 plus repair time on someone else's property.
Submit a locate request at bluestakes.org or call 811. We walk through the full procedure in Alpine's French drain trencher vs. mini excavator post — the same rules apply to deck footings.
Material Moving — Skid Steers and Trailers
Lumber for a 200 sq ft deck weighs about 1,500 pounds. A 600 sq ft composite deck weighs closer to 6,000 pounds when you add the framing, the decking, and the gravel base. Carrying that material from the driveway to a backyard build site is where most weekend deck projects stall.
When You Actually Need a Skid Steer
A simple threshold:
- Under 200 sq ft, ground level → wheelbarrow and a helper are fine
- 200–500 sq ft, single level → rent a trailer for delivery; hand-carry on site (skid steer optional)
- 500+ sq ft, long carry, or composite material loads → rent a skid steer
For any work on grass or a graded yard, choose a tracked skid steer over a wheeled one. Track machines exert 3–5 PSI of ground pressure; wheeled machines run 25–35 PSI. The difference between those numbers is the difference between a deck-build that respects your sod and a $200–$500 rut-repair job after the project wraps.
Skid Steer Pricing for Deck Builds
| Machine | Operating Capacity | Daily | Weekly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIANT G950T (tracked mini) | 2,000 lb | $175 | $550 | 200–600 sq ft decks, tight gates |
| 2,300 lb track skid steer | 2,300 lb | $300 | $1,000 | Standard residential decks |
| 2,500 lb track skid steer | 2,500 lb | $350 | $1,300 | Multi-level decks, composite loads |
| 3,100 lb track skid steer | 3,100 lb | $375 | $1,500 | Large commercial decks, beam carry |
Pallet fork attachment available — call to confirm. Delivery billed at $165/hour with a two-hour minimum ($330 in-county). Minimum rental: 4 hours.
The GIANT G950T is Alpine's most-rented machine for residential deck builds. It fits through a standard 36-inch gate, handles 2,000 pounds of material per lift, and runs all day on a tank of fuel.
Trailer Rentals for Lumber Delivery
Alpine rents a 14-foot utility trailer for $50/day. It carries standard 8′, 12′, and 16′ lumber loads, including most full pallets of composite decking. Most lumberyards charge $50–$150 for delivery — if your project needs more than one trip, the trailer rental pays for itself.
Tow rating matters. A half-ton pickup is fine for empty trailer pickups and short hauls, but for a full pallet of composite decking, plan on a 3/4-ton truck or larger.
Plate Compactor for the Gravel Base
If your design calls for a gravel base under each footing or under the entire footprint of a ground-level deck, a plate compactor is the only way to do it right. An uncompacted base settles unevenly within 24 months and pulls the deck out of level.
A plate compactor weighs 150–250 pounds and runs over the gravel in overlapping passes. Two or three passes is usually enough on a 4–6 inch base. Alpine rents plate compactors — call (801) 701-7394 for current pricing and availability.
Lift Equipment for Multi-Level and Covered Decks
A ground-level single-story deck does not need a lift. A 10-foot-high upper deck with a covered roof structure is a different project — and one where a scissor lift cuts framing time roughly in half, with two-person beam carries replaced by safer one-person lifts at working height.
When to consider a lift:
- Skip: ground-level decks, deck height under 6 feet
- Consider: decks over 10 feet above grade, multi-level builds, any deck with a covered roof or pavilion
- Required (effectively): commercial pool decks and HOA structures, where OSHA fall protection rules govern
| Machine | Working Height | Daily | Weekly | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19′ electric scissor lift | 19 ft | $175 | $550 | Covered deck framing |
| 26′ electric scissor lift | 26 ft | $225 | $700 | Tall multi-level decks |
| 32′–40′ rough-terrain scissor | 32–40 ft | $325–$425 | Varies | Commercial decks, outdoor terrain |
Electric scissor lifts work for finished sites — gravel driveways, concrete, or completed paving. For mid-build sites with active grading underway, the rough-terrain scissor lift handles uneven ground without sinking.
Local Delivery and Weekend Pricing
Alpine delivers throughout Salt Lake and Utah County. Delivery is billed at $165/hour with a two-hour minimum from our American Fork yard, so most jobs bill at the $330 minimum — unless the address is within five miles of the yard or the order clears $1,000, either of which waives the fee.
| Where the machine is going | What delivery costs | What governs it |
|---|---|---|
| Within five miles of the American Fork yard | No delivery fee | Published free-delivery zone, measured from the yard |
| Any order over $1,000 | Delivery fee waived | Published on the rentals page |
| Utah County and Salt Lake County | $330 | The two-hour minimum, which covers every in-county run |
| Summit, Davis, Tooele, Juab, Carbon, Morgan, Weber, Sanpete | $165/hour plus a flat $150 | The hourly clock, plus the out-of-county surcharge |
Weekend pricing math. Pick up a skid steer Saturday morning and return it Monday morning — you get charged for one day. A GIANT G950T Saturday + Sunday is $175 total. Book a week ahead during spring and summer; Alpine's fleet is finite, and decks book the same skid steers as landscaping projects.
Questions to Ask Any Equipment Rental Company
Whether you call Alpine or someone else, ask these eight questions before you sign a rental agreement. A few of them will tell you more about a rental yard than a marketing page ever will.
- Is the auger attachment included with the skid steer rental, or billed separately? Some companies charge for the machine and the attachment. Alpine includes the auger free with every skid steer rental.
- What's the delivery fee, and is it the same for weekday and weekend drop-offs? Weekend surcharges are common at national chains.
- Can I extend the rental on-site if the project runs long, and what does that cost? Honest companies have a published extension rate; less honest ones invent one when you call.
- Do you offer a half-day or 4-hour minimum rate for small jobs? Alpine's minimum is 4 hours.
- What size auger bits do you stock? For code-typical 6×6 deck posts, you need 10″ or 12″.
- Is the skid steer tracked or wheeled? Tracked machines protect lawns; wheeled machines do not.
- Is fuel included, or do I refill on return? Industry standard is "return full" — confirm in writing.
- If the soil is harder than expected, can I swap up to a larger machine the same day? Flexibility matters when a one-man auger meets Wasatch river rock.
A fair acknowledgment of the national chains: Sunbelt and United Rentals have larger fleets that rarely book out at peak, and they handle multi-state billing if you're a traveling contractor managing crews across the Mountain West. For most Utah deck projects, those advantages don't matter — but they're real, and a good rental relationship starts with knowing where each option fits.
One honest note about Alpine: our fleet is finite. During peak deck season — April through September — the most popular skid steers book out a week ahead. Call early.
Project Scenarios
Scenario 1 — Homeowner, 12×16 Ground-Level Deck in Lehi (192 sq ft)
Nine footings, 6×6 posts, 30 inches deep. Standard residential build.
- One-man auger: $75 for a half-day (or two-man, $120 half-day, if the soil is uncooperative)
- Utility trailer for two lumberyard trips: $50/day
- Hand tools and power tools: owned
Total rental cost: $125–$170. Skip the skid steer — a wheelbarrow and a helper handle 192 sq ft of material across a flat backyard. Confirm permit exemption with Lehi Building Department at (385) 201-1035 before you dig. Under 200 sq ft and under 30 inches off the ground is generally exempt, but the setback rules still apply.
Scenario 2 — Contractor, 600 sq ft Multi-Level Deck in Highland
Fourteen footings, 6×6 posts, 36 inches deep into rocky foothills soil. Covered upper level.
- GIANT G950T mini skid + auger, Day 1: $175 (footings drilled in a half-day, then material moving)
- GIANT G950T extended to Day 2: $175 (more material handling, gravel base)
- 19-foot electric scissor lift, Day 3: $175 (upper-level framing)
- Utility trailer for lumber pickup: $50
- Plate compactor: call for pricing
- Delivery: $330 — the two-hour minimum
Total rental: ~$905 + compactor. Permit required — over 200 sq ft and attached to the dwelling.
Scenario 3 — HOA, 800 sq ft Pool Deck Rebuild in Alpine
Eighteen footings. Demolish existing deck first, frame new structure, install composite decking.
- 2,500 lb track skid steer × 2 days: $700 (demo + footings + material moves + cleanup, all on one machine)
- Auger attachment: included free
- 26-foot scissor lift, Day 3: $225 (pavilion framing)
- Utility trailer × 2 days for haul-off: $100
- Plate compactor: call for pricing
- Delivery: $330 — the two-hour minimum, waived if the order clears $1,000
Total rental: ~$1,355 + compactor, or ~$1,025 if the $1,000 waiver applies. Commercial permit required. Schedule the demo phase against the HOA's pool-closure calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to rent a power auger for deck footings?
A power auger pays for itself once you exceed about six holes or if your soil is rocky or clay-heavy. A handheld two-man auger drills a 30-inch hole in 2–4 minutes in soft soil; a manual clamshell digger takes 15–30 minutes per hole. For Utah's typical Wasatch clay, a power auger or skid-steer auger is the practical choice for any deck with 8 or more footings.
How deep do deck footings need to be in Utah?
Deck footings in Utah must extend at least 30 inches below finished grade across most of the Wasatch Front, per IRC R403.1.4.1 and local amendments. Some foothill communities and higher-elevation cities require 36 inches. Verify your specific city before you dig — building departments will confirm the depth over the phone in less than 5 minutes.
Can you build a deck without renting equipment?
Yes, if the deck is small. A 12×16 ground-level deck (192 sq ft) can be built with owned hand tools, owned power tools, and a clamshell post-hole digger or one-man auger. Anything larger than 300 sq ft, more than 30 inches above grade, or built on rocky or sloped ground benefits from at least one piece of rental equipment — usually an auger or a skid steer.
How much does it cost to rent tools to build a deck?
Most generic guides quote $50–$100 in tool rentals for a deck. That figure assumes a small ground-level project with one auger rental. For a code-typical Utah deck with 30-inch footings, plan on $125–$300 for the digging phase and another $175–$350 if you need a skid steer for material moving. Alpine publishes daily, weekly, and monthly rates — call (801) 701-7394 for current pricing on your specific project.
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Utah?
Yes for any deck attached to your house, taller than 30 inches above grade, or larger than 200 square feet. Ground-level freestanding decks under 200 sq ft are generally exempt, though setback rules still apply. Call your city: American Fork (801) 763-3060, Lehi (385) 201-1035, Highland (801) 772-4516, or your local building department for jurisdictions outside Utah County.
What size auger do I need for deck footings?
For code-typical 6×6 posts, use a 10-inch or 12-inch diameter auger. The hole must be wide enough to surround the post with at least 2 inches of concrete on every side. A 4×4 post (rare for code-compliant decks) takes an 8-inch bit; a 6×6 post takes 10–12 inches. Alpine stocks 8″, 10″, and 12″ bits — confirm bit availability when you reserve.
Do I need a skid steer to build a deck?
Not for small decks. For builds over 500 square feet, decks with long carry distances from the driveway to the build site, or composite decking projects (where material weight roughly doubles), a skid steer with pallet forks turns a two-day material move into a two-hour job. A GIANT G950T tracked mini skid rents for $175/day and fits through a standard 36-inch gate.
Should I use a circular saw or a miter saw to build a deck?
Use both. A circular saw handles rough cuts on framing lumber — joists, beams, posts. A sliding compound miter saw handles repetitive accurate cuts on decking, fascia, and railing. If you only own one, the circular saw is more versatile, but a rented miter saw ($50/day) on the decking-install day pays back its rental in time saved.
What's the difference between a one-man and a two-man auger?
A one-man auger weighs about 50 pounds, accepts bits up to 8 inches, and digs to about 3 feet deep. It's fine for small fence projects and 4×4 posts but struggles with deck-footing depth and width. A two-man auger doubles the power, accepts bits up to 18 inches, and reaches 5+ feet — the right tool for 10–20 deck footings in moderate soil. In rocky or hard-clay soil, neither handheld is the right choice; step up to a skid-steer auger.
Renting Deck-Building Equipment in Utah County
Match the equipment to the phase, rent only what you actually need, and lean on weekend pricing to compress costs. A weekend-only rental on a GIANT G950T with the auger attachment included pays for the digging and the material moving on a 200–400 sq ft deck — about $175 total before delivery.
Pick up your deck-build package from Alpine's American Fork yard, or have it delivered anywhere across Salt Lake and Utah County:
Call Alpine Equipment Repair at (801) 701-7394. We deliver throughout Salt Lake and Utah County and include the auger attachment free with every skid steer rental. Tell us the deck dimensions and footing depth when you call — we'll match the right machine and have the right bit ready when it arrives at your site.
