Is it time to update your old deck?

Is your deck beginning to show it’s age? Is it now looking faded and worn after years of use?  Maybe now is the time to take your old deck and give it a new lease on life.  If your original deck structure was built with sound building methods and materials, you could replace the worn wood decking and railing with new wood or with one of the many new low-maintenance composite products.  You can simply renovate the old structure with new decking, stairs and handrails with considerable savings in expenses needed to completely rebuild the deck.

As an upgrade to pressure treated lumber, the current building industry offers numerous low-maintenance materials to update your deck.  Solid composites (a combination of wood fibers and plastic) are the most popular alternative to wood and look most like real lumber.  Besides looking like wood, the composite is durable and tough and is impervious to rot and insects.  An additional benefit is the fact the composite material will not require future sealing, staining or painting. Some of the most popular products are TREX, TimberTech, Fiberon, and Azek.

 

According to the US News and World Report, adding to and/or updating your deck is one of the top 5 home improvement projects for your money.  According to Celia Lehrmar, Deputy Home Editor at Consumer Reports, “,,, the deck appeal is linked to today’s more thrifty conscious consumers, who are looking to save money by spending more time at home…. , they want to enjoy their exterior, they want to enjoy their outdoors:.

 

As you plan ahead, you will need to consider cost factors.  Deck projects have 3 key factors:  Cost, square footage and the quality/type of materials.  You can control two of these factors to your choosing, but not all 3 at the same time.  According to Decks.com, “most deck material cost ranges from $15 to $30 per square foot”.  That means a no-frills 350 square foot cedar deck would run about $5,259 for materials or about $10,500 if you plan on using composite material.  Material costs typically make up about 50% of the project budget when you use a professional contractor for the project.

 

As you look ahead to the warm spring weather for next year, now may be the best time to plan for your deck expansion and remodel, so that your new deck is ready for your outdoor enjoyment.  Take the time now to contact J.L. Tippett Construction for a free consultation and evaluation of your deck.  Our design staff will work with you to help get the most out of your outdoor space and design a deck that compliments your home.