There’s nothing quite like a deck in the spring and summer for cooking out, entertaining, or simply relaxing. In addition to boosting outdoor living space, a deck can add resale value to your home.
According to the 2014 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, adding a deck will give you about 87% return on your investment in most cases, depending on where you live and the size of your deck.

Planning a successful deck requires careful consideration of your site, your budget, and the features you should – or shouldn’t – include. For today’s post, we wanted to highlight the planning priorities homeowners should keep in mind if they are thinking about adding a deck.

Deciding on the site and size
Your deck will be a popular place to entertain and relax, so give careful thought to where it should be located on your property and in relation to your home. Begin by working out how to access it from the house. A standard door off the kitchen may not be the most ideal situation – it will force traffic toward the cooking area, making for an interruption to workflow in small kitchens. A better solution is a French or sliding-glass door that offers primary access from a living room, dining room, or family room while being handy to the kitchen. These types of doors also offer an expanded view in addition to existing windows.

Next, make sure the deck neither overtakes your yard, nor becomes lost in it. Local zoning codes may set standards for how much of your lot can be occupied by a deck, and how close a deck can be to your lot line. Check these limitations early in your planning with your city or county building department.

If your local zoning allows for stairs, decide where to locate them off the deck so that they provide unobtrusive access to the backyard. Also consider the path of the sun and the location of shade trees; although sunlight may be pleasant in the morning, it may unbearable later in the day. Finally, consider how best to preserve your privacy and how to screen your deck from prevailing winds.

Set your budget
When beginning to think about the budget you want to set for your deck addition, the return on your investment should be among your top concerns. According to the 2014 Cost vs. Value Report, a medium-sized (16’ x 20’) deck made of pressure-treated wood provides the best return—averaging about 87% nationally.

Composite decking, such as Trex, EverGrain, and TimberTech, makes great sense from a maintenance standpoint but will be more expensive. From an ROI perspective, composite decking usually costs about 45% more than pressure-treated wood and will only recoup an average of 74.3% of your cost. If you live in an upscale neighborhood, a more elaborate deck may be needed to fit in with the other decks in the neighborhood. However, don’t expect a premium pay-back, because the 2014 Cost vs. Value Report asserts that a two-level, 400-sq. ft. deck with upscale features such as composite decking, decorative railings, and built-in lighting offers only an average of 65.1% ROI.

Think locally before you build
To ensure that you recoup a good portion of your investment, your deck needs to be right for your neighborhood housing market. To start, simply check out other decks in your area. Making your deck addition too extreme compared to those in the same area can lead to your home actually losing resale value—so this is a situation you want to avoid.

In addition, make sure that the deck addition meets all local zoning and national building codes, especially if you are adding on with the thought of resale. When selling your home in the future, a scenario that you’ll want to avoid completely is having a home inspector find that your deck addition isn’t built to code—and having to rebuild it within code in order for your buyer to secure appropriate financing. A scenario such as this is more often than not a deal-breaker.

Building codes for decks and deck additions exist not just to preserve property values, but to promote safety. For example, railing balusters spaced too far apart can constitute a falling hazard for small children. In addition, a deck inadequately attached to the house can collapse, often during a party when the structure is loaded with the extra weight of many people, creating a disaster and liability. So the best way to approach your deck addition is to secure a permit from your building department and follow the requirements to the letter.

Also, keep in mind that by taking out a building permit, since your property value will increase, your tax assessment will follow suit—but only to the extent that the value of your property has increased. The effect should be minimal in most areas because decks are considered an outdoor improvement, much like a new driveway or upgraded landscaping, rather than additional living space.

Finishing touches
Although it’s hard to put a dollar value on aesthetics, looks count. Give thought as to how the deck will be incorporated with the architecture of your house. Railings offer a good opportunity to pull in color and detail that complements your home. Consider how the deck fits in with your backyard; there should be a smooth transition from the house to the landscape. The deck and any additions should complement the existing yard, rather than detract from it.

If you’re considering adding a deck or deck addition to your home, be sure to contact the professionals at MDV Remodeling. Our experts can help you to set your budget, get zoning information, and can help you design the perfect deck to suit your needs with our TruYouDesign™ process! Click here to schedule your free estimate!

*header image courtesy of Todd Petit/Flickr.com