One common home improvement many homeowners consider is adding a deck to their home. If this is something you’re considering, exploring the benefits of a deck can help you make up your mind. There are many ways a deck can improve the quality and value of your home and exploring how it will make your home more enjoyable may just convince you to go ahead with your plans.
Create an Outdoor Entertaining Area
A deck is a great place to host get-togethers for family, friends, or co-workers. Even for larger gatherings, a deck can be the focal point, where food and refreshments can be made available. For special events, such as an Easter picnic or birthday party, your deck can be decorated to emphasize the special day or the theme. This provides a great way to host parties and enjoy the fresh air and warm weather. This also limits traffic through your home, which may be a concern with larger gatherings.
Add Beauty to Your Home
Adding a deck to your home can make your home appear larger and more beautiful. One way to use a deck to improve the appearance of the home is to stain the deck the same color as shutters or the house’s trim. Matching colors in this way creates an aesthetically pleasing look and it can actually make the home seem larger. It can also alter the dimensions of your yard, which may be helpful with smaller or oddly shaped yards. A new deck can add appeal to any home, serving as both a functional and decorative addition.
Get It Done Fast
Another benefit of adding decking to your home is that it can be completed within a short time frame. Having the deck built from scratch can take just a few weeks to complete, which means construction won’t create long-term noise disturbances that may annoy your neighbors. Some people use other materials or reclaimed wood to build a uniquely styled deck. In these cases, constructing the deck may be completed within an even shorter time frame. Once you design your deck and hire the professionals you need, getting your deck built and ready to use may be simpler than any other home improvement project you’re considering.
Adding Value to Your Home
Adding a deck can also help you add value to your home, which means you may be able to raise the asking price when you do decide to sell the home. You’re not alone in finding an outdoor entertaining area desirable. Home buyers often look at the outdoor features of a home in deciding which properties to consider. This is what real estate professionals call curb appeal and it can be boosted by adding a deck. In addition to providing a place to host parties, a deck can also provide a safe place for children to play. For these reasons, adding a deck to your home can boost its market value by several thousand.
Extra Storage Space
Another benefit of adding decking to your home is that it provides extra storage space, which may be helpful if your property lacks a garage or shed. Even if you have patio furniture and a grill set up for entertaining, you will still have room to store a few items along the sides of the deck. Bicycles and other outdoor recreational items can be stored on the deck, beside it, or underneath the deck. This provides a higher sense of security by keeping these items under closer observation. How you choose to use your deck is up to you, but it will be nice to know you have that extra storage space.
Costs Less to Construct
Compared to other large-scale home improvement projects, building a deck is relatively inexpensive. This is partly because there are only a few materials needed to build even the most extravagant decks. Unless you’re planning to build it up into an enclosed patio, the costs of constructing it will be limited. Generally, it can cost between $25 and $40 per square foot to build your deck. This makes it one of the most cost-effective home improvements you can make, especially when you consider the value it adds to your home.
Adding a deck to your home is something that your entire family can enjoy, and it won’t cost you much to complete. Some families use their own savings to cover these costs rather than take out a loan to pay for the addition. In the end, this will improve the property’s value on the market, but, more importantly, it will help you and your family enjoy the home that much more.