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SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A DECK?

How to plan a new deck that works with your property, meets your budget, and offers a great return on your investment.

On a warm, breezy summer day when relaxation is the first thing on your mind, there is nothing like hanging out on a deck. It is the ideal location for entertaining, cooking out, or simply catching some z’s. Not only does a deck boost your outdoor living space, but also it can actually become an asset when you sell your home.

Want some good news?

Decks add living space to your home at a fraction of the cost of an enclosed living area. When adding a deck you will pay $25 to $25 per square foot for a professionally build deck rather than $100 to $250 per square foot for a typical enclosed addition. If you are someone that is determined to build your own deck, plan on spending between three to four weekends on creating a deck that is 14-foot-by-18 deck. If building a deck by yourself is a task that you would like to complete then you can either purchase a ready-made deck or use an interactive designing website. Some great websites that will assist you in this process are Lowe’s Deck Designer and Deckorators.

Planning the perfect deck requires a lot of careful consideration of your site, your budget, and the features that you should or shouldn’t include.  To simplify this process, here are some priorities that our team at Executive craftsman believes is important when planning your dream deck.

Finding the perfect size and location

Since your deck is going to the most popular location to entertain, finding the perfect place for it to be is important. The first step is to decide how the deck will be accessed from inside of the house. Many decks are connected from the back door of the kitchen, however that most likely will not be efficient. All this does is force more traffic through the kitchen which slows down cooking and when a big group is at your home this can just cause an awkward traffic jam that is more stressful than anything. We believe a great solution to this is to add a French door or slider that will give you access to your deck from either a dining room, living room, or family room while being still in close proximity to the kitchen for preparing food.

Deck hack 1: Try to position the doorway in a location with an expansive view! This way your guests will immediately feel relaxed from the peace and serenity that your new deck offers.

This next segment is a very important one! Be sure that your deck neither takes over your yard or becomes completely lost in it. Many local codes may set standards for how large your lot can be and these limitations should definitely be checked early in your planning process with either your city or county building department.

Be sure that you take some time to find where you would like to put stairways off of the deck so that they provide access to the backyard without being in the way.

Deck hack 2: Consider the path of the sun and the location of the trees in your backyard when putting in your deck. It is possible for sunlight to be pleasant and warm in the morning while also completely unbearable in the afternoon if your deck is not positioned right. Having a shade tree to the west of your deck will help provide shade and block out the brutal late-day sun. An ideally located deck will also preserve privacy and act as a screen when the weather is a tad windy.

Consider local

Let’s be honest, it is possible for a deck to not be a cheap investment, which is why making up a good portion of this is important. Your deck needs to be something that those in the market will be interested in for years to come. Do not make it too wildly extreme, as this could actually become displeasing for someone that is interested in your home. We believe that your deck should be more than is what is expected in the market without being too over the top. Also, do not overlook local codes. A lot of potential buyers have inspections done on a home before they purchase it, so if the deck is not to code then they might say, “I will purchase this home, but only if you fix this deck too.”

Not only are codes important to preserve the values of a property, but they also promote safety. If railing balusters are spaced too far apart then they can actually become a falling hazard for animals or even small children. Many codes say that a 4-inch gap is the maximum for space between balusters. Also, a deck that is improperly attached to the house can cause a collapse. This can happen during a party for example because the weight of all of the guests is just too much for the deck to handle so the entire structure falls. Not only can this cause injury, but also it is somewhat embarrassing for the homeowner. Get a permit from your building department and always follow their requirements.

Naturally, but taking out a building permit, your tax assessment will rise, but only to the actual extent that the value of your property increased. Decks are actually considered an outdoor improvement like a walkway, driveway, or upgraded landscaping.

Even though it is tough to put a dollar value on improving the aesthetics of your home, looks can go a long way. Consider how the deck will meld with the beautiful architecture of your house. Railings will offer a great opportunity to add color and detail that will look gorgeous when paired with your home.

The perfect deck can definitely be created if you follow these tips from our team! For further help, we will assist you through the entire building process to ensure that no matter what you are left with the deck of your dreams.

  

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