Extending a home’s outdoor living potential is quickly gaining popularity. In fact, a recent survey by the AIA reports a 64% increase in this trend. Deck builders find that adding a deck to your home is the perfect building block to begin creating a personalized outdoor area.
Read on for:
- Other in-demand amenities to transcend your living space to the outdoors
- Popular decking materials for the job
- Important questions to ask before building a deck
OUTDOOR LIVING ESSENTIALS
DECKS Entertainment and Relaxation
ROI: 85%
Advantages:
- Less expensive than a room addition
- Entertain guests
- Host a BBQ
- Option for even the tiniest yards
- A quick escape to connect with nature
FENCES Privacy and Decoration
ROI: 50-75%
Advantages:
- Creates privacy from neighbors •Esthetic enhancement
- Security
- Noise Abatement
- Deters unwanted pests and people
PATIO COVERS Beauty and Protection
ROI: 80+%
Advantages:
- Adds beauty to your home
- Reduces heat that enters home by 50-75%
- Increases functionality of your backyard
- Adds a sense of privacy
- Provides protection from rain and snow
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING Illuminate and Secure
ROI: 50%
Advantages:
- Creates a warm comforting ambience
- Crime deterrence
- Adds up to 20% to the perceived value of a home
- Illuminates landscaping
- Increases safety
OUTDOOR KITCHENS Cook and Entertain
ROI: 100-200%
Advantages:
- The cook can mingle with guests
- Creates a second kitchen Guests and family are more involved with cooking
- Makes entertaining easier
- Reduces heat in the house
POPULAR DECKING MATERIALS
PORT ORFORD CEDAR
Native to a narrow strip of the Pacific Coast from SW Oregon to NW California
Characteristics:
- Moderately light in weight
- Stiff, strong, hard
- Minimal tendency to warp
- Holds paint and stains well
- Lighter color than red cedar or redwood
Benefits:
- Ideal in rainy climates
- Naturally UV-ray resistant
- Comes in a variety of tones
- Natural oils resist decay and insects
- Rated for 20 years of wear
TIGERWOOD
Beautiful and exotic Brazilian hardwood
Characteristics:
- A tropical hardwood
- Wide range of color and striping
- Lustrous surface, almost oily
- Entirely natural and biodegradable
- Incredibly strong
Benefits:
- Naturally resists mold and warping
- No regular staining or sealing required
- Slip resistant
- Holds up well to wear and weathering
- Resists insects due to its density
PVC DECKING
Offered as a wood alternative
Characteristics:
- Made from synthetic materials
- Available in various surface textures
- Can be produced to resemble wood
- Available in a variety of natural colors
- Durable and long lasting
Benefits:
- Stain, scratch and slip resistant
- Very low maintenance
- Will not warp, twist, or create splinters
- Stays cool, even in the hottest weather
- Mold and mildew resistant
OTHER DECKING MATERIALS:
- PINE
- DOUGLAS FIR
- CYPRESS
- MAHOGANY
- REDWOOD
- IPE
- PRESSURE TREATED
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE BUILDING YOUR DECK
Ask Yourself these Questions
- How big do you want the deck?
- What is your budget?
- What materials and finishes do you prefer?
- Will part of the deck be covered?
- How important is low maintenance to you?
Ask Your Deck Builder these Questions
- How long have you been in business?
- Are you bonded and insured?
- Who will handle any required permits?
- Is there a warranty for my fence?
- What type of maintenance will be needed after installation?
