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Written by Brian Cook, Cook and Zook Team
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Friday, 11 June 2010 08:52 |
 Adding a wood deck is the upgrade that brings homeowners the best return on their investment. Nationwide, homeowners recoup on average 81 percent of the cost of adding a wood deck to their home, but that number drops to 71 percent when they go with a composite deck, according to the 2009-2010 REALTOR® Magazine/Remodeling Magazine annual Cost vs. Value survey. That’s just the beginning of what homeowners need to know about decks. Their return on investment varies depending on where they live, and upgrades like planters and shade sails can also make their deck—and home—more valuable. Here are a few things to consider before building a deck:
1. Know your deck options. Not too long ago, redwood and cedar were just about the only options. Synthetics, such as composite (trex) and PVC decking, and tropical hardwoods, such as ipe and mahogany, offer ease of maintenance and longevity that put the traditional favorites in the shade.
2. Understand pricing and maintenance. New decking materials are pricier initially, but don’t have the annual maintenance costs of softwood decks. In some cases, the overall cost (initial costs plus annual maintenance) of a wood deck can exceed those of a composite or PVC deck after only a few years.
For example, the cost of cedar decking is approximately $1,700 for a 16x20-foot deck. The same deck covered with composite decking would cost $3,200—a hefty $1,500 more. However, to keep the cedar looking good, it should be cleaned and resealed every year, at a cost of $90 to $100 if you do the job yourself.
** This article was taken from www.realtor.org
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