Practical suggestions to plan your deck or patio project
Building a patio or deck is an awesome way to increase the value of your home and gives you an excellent way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
These are my best upfront, Practical Suggestions:
Here are a number of suggestions to help make sure that 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. Develop a practical budget. A reserve of 10 to 20 percent of your budget should cover unexpected costs or changes.
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. if combined with the appropriate landscaping and outdoor furniture even a single material will give you a very effective look. IF you use too many different materials it can lead to the area being too complex and result in a poorly executed construction.
7. Patios and decks have become popular spaces for barbecuing, relaxing, entertaining, and for children’s play. Patios and decks are practical and valuable additions, as they typically recoup most of their original construction cost.
So there you have it — those are some good upfront, practical suggestions you can use no matter what type of deck or patio (or no matter what type of home improvement project) you want to build.
May 22 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »