If your house is in dire need of some outdoor space, adding a patio or deck can increase your square foot without robbing your children of their college educations. Each option offers an area to gather with friends and family, grill out, and relax under the sun (or stars); the option you choose will likely depend on your budget, space and needs.
What is a deck?
Decks are typically constructed of wood or vinyl. Though they can be built near the ground, they are not placed directly on the ground and feature some type of support system to hold up the addition. Decks may be built off of the lower floor of a home, such as the living room or kitchen, or they might be added to an upper level room or even on a rooftop setting. Decks are typically enclosed with some type of railing and often offer the homeowner excellent views of their surroundings.
Cost of a Deck
As with all renovation projects, your budget will likely impact your choice, and the range for a deck or patio addition project can be large. For instance, Remodeling Magazine’s Cost Value Report in 2013 states the average cost of a midrange deck addition project runs around $15,000 USD for a composite deck and $9,327 USD for wood. The cost of the project will depend upon a variety of factors though. These include:
- Materials used (concrete, vinyl, wood)
- Location of the addition (on the ground without supports, above ground, on the house with a door already leading out or in an area in which a door addition must be made)
- Size of the addition
- Features, such as a built in barbecue, railings, seating, supports
Another consideration to factor into the addition equation is the slope of the yard on which you plan to place the patio or deck. For instance, since a patio is placed directly on the ground, you’ll want to choose a space that is level. Patios may not be the best choice for uneven ground because the cost to create a level foundation can double or triple the cost of the actual addition.
Deck is a good investment
Aside from the initial cost to construct a deck, you should consider your return on investment (ROI) if, in the future, you plan to sell. Renovations done to the outside of the home, such as decks and patios, often offer a good ROI, because most homeowners want to have some type of outdoor living space. The average return on investment for a new deck addition runs around 75%; on a patio, HouseLogic notes the ROI averages somewhere between 30-60%. What does this mean for you? Remodeling Magazine shows that a new wooden deck in the midrange project category will average $9,327 USD; the resale value places that deck at $7,213 USD. In this case, the homeowner would recoup around 77.3% of what was paid.
Overall decks offer a positive ROI and unlimited possibilities for entertaining, socializing, or simply relaxing in an outdoor space. Contact us today for a FREE quote estimate!