Published by craig osborne on 22 May 2008
Practical suggestions to plan your deck or patio project
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.
Here are some upfront, Practical Suggestions:
Here are seven suggestions to guarantee that your investment into a deck or a patio 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 certified professional who has the time, experience and the tools to handle the complex installation problems. Decks and patios are mostly straightforward projects; but, it is very important to make sure you have good references on the professional that you hire (always ask for references!).
4. Develop a working timeline that allows plenty of leeway to finish the project. In most municipalities, you need a building permit before you begin. Be sure to check building codes to learn about specific standards, restrictions and regulations.
5. To give yourself more flexibility in the construction process and in the final stages you need to keep in mind the architectural style of your home when choosing the shape, style and materials and try to keep your selection limited to no more than two building materials.
6. Even a single material will give you a very effective look if combined with the appropriate landscaping and outdoor furniture. Use of too many different materials can lead to the area being too complex and result in a poorly executed construction.
7. Decks and patios have become popular spaces for entertaining, barbecuing, relaxing and for children’s play. Decks and patios are practical and valuable additions, as they typically recoup most of their original construction cost.
Those are some upfront, practical suggestions you can use no matter what type of deck or patio (or even home improvement project) you want to build.