Maximize Your Deck's ROI

​There’s no question that adding a deck to your home is one of the best home remodeling projects in terms of return on investment also affectionately known as ROI! As homeowners, we want to care for and maintain our properties to the best of our ability not only for our own safety and enjoyment but also because we want the best return on our investment as possible. Communities across the USA love the outdoors and what better way to enjoy your family and friends in the great outdoors than entertaining on your deck with a barbeque! History tells us that home decks were originally inspired by boat decking. Thankfully for us homeowners, a brand new wooden deck won’t depreciate in value like a boat will! In fact, adding a new deck or replacing a damaged one on your property can potentially increase your home’s net value by as much as 75% should you decide to sell it.

So far we’ve established that decks can increase your home’s value, however there are some ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ when it comes to deck building that can affect your overall ROI.
 
First Things First
One of the largest variables to cost is the size of deck you want built so it will be important to decide on size first. The next cost variable is the type of material you want to build your deck with. Pressure treated lumber typically sits at the lower end of the price spectrum, composite decking in the middle to upper ranges and exotic hardwoods such as Brazilian hardwood will be at the top end of the spectrum.

One of the best cost savings tips out there is to design your deck size using as much standard length lumber as possible. Standard lumber lengths are 6, 8, 10 or 12-foot boards. Doing this will reduce the number of cuts and help cut down on wood waste. Another way to save money on your deck build is to source wood from other sources such as reclaimed wood from demos or local salvage shops.
 
Protect Your Investment
It is highly recommended that you apply some type of weather and water-proofing treatments to your deck to protect it from all that Mother Nature can dish up – from extreme heat and direct sunlight to rain, snow, ice and sleet. While you sit snuggly inside your home, your deck will be exposed to all the natural elements. Water can be especially damaging because it can become trapped and eventually cause rot. Waterproofing with a high quality water-proof sealant can ensure that your deck remains free from rot and mold damage.
 
Other Decking Materials To Consider
While wood is still the most popular decking material among homeowners there are some other great decking materials out on the market that you may want to consider as alternatives. Wood decks require yearly maintenance – resealing, re-staining or re-painting, to keep it in tip top shape. While that doesn’t sound like a lot for some homeowners, others may want a decking material that requires even less maintenance.

Composite decking materials like TimberTech and Trex offer a great alternative to wood decks and require much less maintenance and up-keep. Initially, composite decking will cost more however in the long run many homeowners see a savings over time in maintenance costs. In addition to lower maintenance, many composite decking materials such as TimberTech offer a 25-year warranty from the manufacturer.
 
Designed For Entertaining
When designing a new deck or building on to an existing deck you will want to keep entertaining as the central focus. This is especially true if you will be selling your home in the near future. Prospective homebuyers can very easily see the value in a well-designed deck that extends their entertaining space.
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One of the most popular deck designs is built-in bench seating. Built-in benches on a deck are both aesthetically pleasing as well as practical, especially when it comes to entertaining guests. Built-in benches add a lot of value to your deck at a budget-friendly cost once again increasing that ROI!
 
Let There Be Light!
Another highly popular deck design feature that adds tons of value but is cost effective to implement is lighting. You can create a beautiful outdoor space with either simple ground lights near your deck, lighting underneath deck benches, solar lights on deck posts or simply stringing fairy lights above the deck. Lighting up your deck will provide ambiance as well as safety for you and your family.