08/17/2026
Cost breakdown for the average homeowner to make the Adirondack chairs that I build. I hope this helps you to think through as you are trying to decide if you should pay that much money. This applies to any items you are thinking of purchasing from anyone that hand makes anything, which is a rarity in today's time.
First and foremost, I guarantee all of my work against Craftsmanship defects! It breaks because of a Craftsmanship defect, I will repair it or replace it if I can't fix it!
If you run over it, beat it with a hammer to break it, little Timmy jumped on it or threw it down the stairs, yeah I'm not fixing that! You didn't seal/stain/paint it and it rotted, I can't replace that.
Second, I do not stock anything except material. I build everything, with exception to what I have at the shows, when you order!
Third, I deliver large items for free within 30 miles of where I am. From my shop in Loganville. From the craft shows, fairs, and festivals on items that I have stock with me!
Cost breakdown for the Adirondack Chair with built-in table. Material you would buy from your local homestore i.e.- Lowe's or Home Depot
-Hand picked Premium grade lumber, it is what I use. 2-5/4x6x12 deck boards ~$15 each
1 - 5/4x6x10 ~$13
1 - 1lb box 2 inch deck screws, smallest amount, $10 need about 30 screws
1 - 1lb box 3 inch deck screws, smallest amount, $10 but I only need 4 out if that box
4 - 5/16x3inch galvanized bolts, washer, lock washer, nuts. ~$6
Premium wood glue, smallest amount ~$3
Extra 8 ft board because you made a wrong cut and the waste is so tight there isn't any scrap left to make the right cut ~$10
Fuel back to the home store!
This is just the material that goes into the chair.
Now you have your time, what's that worth to you?
Hand drawn design, plain straight easy design, or spend the time making jigs and patterns, extra wood for the patterns and jigs, so it is faster to make?
Tools, do you have what you need, saws (band saw or jig saw, table saw, hand saw, or skill saw, blades for either or all), drills, bits, counter sink, router and bit, sanders and pads? The cat knocked the drill over and bent your bit, back to the store for another, fuel!
Cost of power to make it.
A place to work. Is it set up already or do you spend time setting up?
Insurance if you get hurt?
Time lost if you get hurt bad enough?
Made a wrong cut so you go back to the store for another board, fuel cost.
If it breaks, do you repair it or make a new one, or just buy a new one? Do I order online so it's cheap? Is there a lifetime warranty or 30 days or no warranty because you assembled it and they do not know what you may have done to cause the problem or if it was a true defect? Do you have to put it together when it gets there?
This isn't meant to be condescending. This is meant to help with "why do local-ish quality things cost so much."
Please let me know what you think!
Essentially, it is this chair in the pic with a 10" foldable table.
