Are Decks a Sound Investment? (Hint: Yes!)

About the Author

About the Author

Mike Mitchell

Mike Mitchell is an award-winning deck builder and designer who specializes in urban decking, transforming cityscapes with his creative constructions. He is a second-generation deck builder.

Table of Contents

Nothing says summer like a relaxing afternoon on your backyard deck, and the added living space makes it the perfect place for warm-weather parties. Whether you’re grilling and enjoying a few drinks or quietly sunning yourself, your deck is a versatile space just waiting for your imagination. Some homeowners who are thinking about hiring backyard deck builders may wonder if they will recoup the costs or whether it’s worth spending more when searching for a new home. Let’s take a look.

The Big Picture

Before it can be determined whether a project for backyard deck builders will be a sound investment, we have to look at the total costs associated with the construction, and that will vary depending on size and the materials that are chosen. We’ll go through the different options next. But, to make a long story short, the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals has already done the homework. In their 2016 Remodeling Impact Study, they found that a new wood deck can recover up to 106 percent of its value upon sale of the home!

Of course, not everyone will see the same results, so let’s dig a little deeper into the numbers to see what will impact the return on your investment.

Choosing the Right Materials

There is a wide range of costs when selecting decking materials for your backyard deck builders. Generally speaking, the more expensive the product, the less you may recover in terms of an immediate increase in your home’s value. On the other hand, unless you’re trying to “flip” a home for a quick sale, there’s more to the story than an instant boost in market price.

Consider that pressure-treated wood and cedar are among the cheapest materials to install when compared to composite materials; it may seem like those would be your go-to choices. However, wood decking requires frequent maintenance and repainting or restaining, or you’ll lose that boost in value relatively quickly. Composite decking requires almost no maintenance at all and will look new (and maintain its value!) for years.

Size Matters

It may seem like the more extravagant the deck, the more valuable it will be, but this is not always going to be the case. Instead, the overall design of your deck will determine how valuable it will be in the long run. It’s wise to make sure the deck is proportional to both the home and the yard are rather than building as large as you can afford. It’s also important to make sure it’s not too small, and that there is enough room to have a place for cooking and a separate area for a table and seating arrangements.

The configuration will also affect how much it costs to build the deck, which we already know has an impact on the return on your investment. For example, decks that are tiered or raised will cost more than one that’s low to the ground–even if the materials and sizing are identical. Plus, tiered and raised decks will need more safety components such as railings and supports, which will also add to the cost. Most backyard deck builders are skilled in design and experienced with many homes so they can help ensure you make the best choices for your home and budget.

More than Money

There’s one more factor to consider when deciding whether it’s worth it or not to build a deck, and it has nothing to do with money. The most common reason people choose to make this addition is to add features that will improve the livability of their homes. In other words, decks make people happy, and there’s no price tag for that.

The best way to make sure you get the most from your new deck is to make smart choices from the beginning so the final result is a project that’s a good fit for the layout of your home and yard, suitable for your budget, and most importantly, will add happiness to your family. At Mitchell Construction, every deck is custom made, designed according to your needs and the architecture of your home, and our backyard deck builders stay with the project from start to finish.

To learn more about a new deck installation for your home, contact Mitchell Construction today.