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Get your best investment in a Deck or Patio part 1 |
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by craigosborne
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 7 suggestions to help ensure 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. When choosing the shape, style and materials, keep in mind the architectural style of your home. Try to keep your selection limited to no more than two building materials. This actually gives you more flexibility in the construction process and in the final finishing stage.
6. Even using just a single material will give you a very good look if combined with the appropriate outdoor furniture and landscaping. Don't use too many different materials because it can lead to the area being too complex and result in a poorly executed construction.
7. Decks and patios are practical and valuable additions, as they typically recoup most of their original construction cost and they have become popular spaces for entertaining, barbecuing, relaxing and for children's play.
Those are some practical, upfront suggestions you can use no matter what type of patio or deck (or even ANY home improvement project) you want to build.
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