Another brutal winter is over. Flowers are blooming, and birds are singing. If you are ready to break ground on a new deck or are just curious about what goes into building one, then Howell Contracting is prepared, willing, and able to help you create the deck you’ve always dreamed of having. Outdoor living is one of the most popular trends in home development today. It seems everyone is expanding their living spaces that feature everything from a quiet place to relax to a fully functioning outdoor space to entertain. Many people wonder when considering the initial investment if a deck adds value to their home. There are several reasons a deck adds value to a home.
Will a Deck Add Value to My Home? Yes!
- Enhances a Home’s Value—Realtors agree that adding a deck to your home offers a 100% return on value. They believe that you’ll get back every cent you spend when you sell your home. Plus, the additional appeal can help you sell it faster.
- Makes it Party Time – Your home’s deck is a perfect place to host a party. Decks are less claustrophobic and a place where your guests can breathe freely. The addition of an outdoor grill or portable bar makes your deck a real outdoor entertaining space.
- Adds to Outdoor Enjoyment – Under an open sky with perfectly placed plants and greenery around the edges, your deck provides a peaceful haven helping you escape life’s stresses.
- Offers a New Look – New Decking materials allow you to be creative, and with our help, your Pittsburgh, PA deck will be aesthetically pleasing. A deck will give your home a new look, from exotic hardwoods to rustic pine, from stone flooring to a brick fireplace, or from a traditional diagonal design to a complex geometric design.
- Adds more Functional Possibilities – Because outdoor living is such a popular trend, the market has responded with various products designed specifically for outdoor living. From fire pits and fireplaces to comfortable seating arrangements, your deck can be as beautiful and versatile as the inside of your home.
- Increases Your Living Space – Many homeowners use decks as places to plant herbs or container gardens adding natural beauty to their outdoor décor.
Our deck-building process far exceeds demanding national codes. We use quality materials and unique building techniques to ensure your deck is beautiful and lasts for many years. Choosing the best material for building a deck in Pittsburgh PA will be a breeze with our help. There are many types of decking to choose from, so let’s examine a few.
Pressure-Treated Southern Pine Decking
Today’s number one decking material is the ever-familiar, green-tinted pressure-treated wood. The affordable, readily available, relatively durable PT wood is easy to stain in virtually any color. Most pressure-treated decking comes from southern yellow pine that is chemically treated to prevent rot, fungus, and wood-boring bugs. One downside of pressure-treated lumber is that it tends to swell, shrink, crack, cup, split, and warp when exposed to the elements. In fact, you may need to replace one or more deck boards after just one or two years due to warping. In addition, even though the pressure-treated decking is treated, it will need an annual power washing and a new coat of exterior-grade stain or clear wood preservative every two to three years.
Naturally Superior Redwood and Cedar
The next most popular wood decking is redwood and Western red cedar. These western softwoods are prized for their rich color, and natural beauty. Plus, they are not full of chemicals or preservatives. Both wood species contain natural tannins and oils, making them naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insects. While there are many grades of both redwood and cedar, our decking professionals can guide you to the best-suited decking if you choose either one. Both redwood and cedar decking requires annual power washing and a coat of finish every three to four years. You’ll have to apply a stain to maintain the wood’s natural color since it will eventually turn to a weathering silvery, gray color.
Tropical Hardwood
These rich-grained woods began trickling to market a couple of decades ago and include several species. They are extremely hard, very durable, and naturally resistant to rot and insects. They are slightly more expensive than fine-grade redwood, and cedar tropical wood decking is so dense that it doesn’t accept stains very well. Therefore, if you don’t plan to use a stain, be sure to apply UV-blocking clear wood preservative every two to three years to enhance water resistance and limit weathering.
Composite and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Decking
Currently, the fastest-growing decking material sold today, composite decking, is made from a mixture of recycled plastic and wood dust, while PVC decking is made of 100 percent plastic. Both of these decking’s are popular because they’re virtually maintenance-free. Please keep in mind that both the wood-composite and PVC decking are significantly more expensive than pressure-treated decking.
We Are Deck Builders In Pittsburgh PA – Howell Contracting
It can seem costly which may lead you to question if a deck will add value to your home, but the answer is a resounding yes! Not only will a deck add value to your home in the financial sense, but it will also provide an excellent foundation for all sorts of fun activities and leisure time.
Howell Contracting has the experience and knowledge to help you create the deck of your dreams. To get started with our deck builders in Pittsburgh PA, contact us today to finalize the process, or give us a call at 724-816-8224
