3 Reasons to Add That Deck to Your House Now

Have you been sitting in your kitchen, staring out the window and thinking that you should be outside sitting on your deck in a comfortable chair sipping your morning coffee? What about having your friends over in the afternoon for a barbecue? Well, now is the time to stop dreaming and start planning and building. Things get done when you do something, not when you just dream. So, here are three compelling reasons to get started now.

1. Add more living space to your house: Can you ever have too much space? Probably not. A deck extends your living space and gives you the space to hold cookouts or just sit peacefully and enjoy the sounds of nature. I like to see on my deck and just think of nothing; get rid of all of the mind chatter that goes on about my job, the economy, budgets, and on and on and on.

A deck gives you that special place to do that. One thing I like about our deck is that it's easy to clean up after a gathering and there is less risk of something getting broken; it always does you know when you have people in the house.

2. A deck increases the value of your home. By simply adding more square footage to your house, a deck increases its value. Since a deck is outside space, not air-conditioned, it doesn't add the total square foot of the deck; real estate appraisers usually one-half when calculating the value. So, you don't get dollar-for-dollar, but it still adds value. The other advantage is adding beauty to your home. Decks can be built in an endless variety of styles, colors, different woods, finishes, etc. whatever you can imagine, you can build.

3. Do you have an old deck? One thing you have to accept when you have a deck is that it needs constant maintenance. It has to be cleaned regularly, will frequently need something repaired and should be consistently repainted or refinished. This protects your investment and gives it a longer life. Maybe you've reached the point where you would really prefer a totally new deck. Building a new deck will decrease the increased maintenance that your old deck may need. Maybe you just want a new design or more space.

Then build a new one. There a lot of new materials on the market, composites and such, that last longer, come in more grains and colors and have potential for more complex layouts. At some point the repair and maintenance costs on the old deck exceeds the cost of constructing a new one.

The next decision is whether you are going to build it yourself or would prefer to hire a professional to do it for you. This obviously depends on the level of your carpentry skills. Decks can be just a simple rectangular space or more complex with juts, angles and railings. You have to make that decision. I know my own limitations and when I had my deck built, I hired a professional. It was beyond my capabilities.

The other consideration involves local codes. They are different for every municipality, and you have to check with the local authorities to find the requirements for your town.

If you're going to do it yourself, make sure that you have the proper tools. There is nothing worse than trying to tackle a complex deck and not have the right tools. You're going to need circular saws and other power tools to make the job easier. I know, I've tried it and if you don't have the right tools, it can be a torturous endeavor and frustrating, possibly leading to major spats with your wife.

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