Decks. Porches. Patios. Stoops.
These simple structures have played a vital role in Southern culture for as long as there has been a Southern culture in the United States. The favorable climate, the mild winters and harsh summers, certainly contributes to Southerners ongoing fascinations with these simple structures. But there’s another, simpler reason that so many Americans are obsessed with decks and porches — they’re completely, undeniably awesome.
Is there anything better than sitting in a rocking chair or swinging bench on a summer’s day, preferably sipping a cold Arnold Palmer? Or hanging out with friends and family while you barbecue on the back deck, watching the kids play in the yard or jump into the pool? But that’s not the only reason so many Americans invest so much in designing the ultimate outdoor living space. These wooden structures and concrete patios can significantly boost not only your quality of life, but the value of your home.
Experts say that wood decks can recoup more than 80% of their cost in the short term. And in the long term, they can make your home more attractive to potential buyers, therby increasinging the eventual sale price. The same goes with stone or concrete porches. These structures can also complement your landscaping features, and solid landscaping can add up to 28% of your home’s overall value.
So if you have the money saved up and ready to spend, adding a deck to your house can be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. After you add a deck to your home, you’ll have extra space to gather with friends, cook out on summer days, and make it easier to sell your living space when the time comes.
Best of all, you can build wooden decks with relatively small investments. While adding on new rooms to your home can quickly become hugely expensive, such additions also require working with architects, electricians, contractors, plumbers, and more. On the other hand, simple wooden decks allow you to do much more for much less.
