Reprinted Articles

Creating a deck or patio is a great way to enhance the value of your home and provides an excellent way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

These are my best upfront, Practical Suggestions:

Here are 7 suggestions to help ensure your investment into a patio or a deck is done properly:

1. Study your local real estate market to be sure you’re making improvements that home buyers want and will pay for.

2. A reserve of 10 to 20 percent of your budget should cover unexpected costs or changes… this is developing a practical budget (this makes sure you don’t hit unexpected costs later on!)

3. Work with a competent professional who has the time, the tools and experience to handle the complex installation problems. Decks and patios are fairly straightforward home construction projects; however, it is very important to make sure you have good references on the professional that you hire.

4. Be sure to check building codes to learn about specific restrictions, standards, and regulations and work that into your project time-line so you get plenty of leeway to finish the project. In most municipalities, you need a building permit before you begin. (don’t forget this step!)

5. keep in mind the architectural style of your home when choosing the shape, style and materials. Try to keep your selection limited to no more than two building materials which actually gives you more flexibility in the construction process and in the final stages.

6. Even using just a single material will give you a very good look if combined with the appropriate outdoor furniture and landscaping. Don’t use too many different materials because it can lead to the area being too complex and result in a poorly executed construction.

7. Decks and patios are practical and valuable additions, as they typically recoup most of their original construction cost and they have become popular spaces for entertaining, barbecuing, relaxing and for children’s play.

Those are some practical, upfront suggestions you can use no matter what type of patio or deck (or even ANY home improvement project) you want to build.

Tags: Gardening Tips