Decks Can Offer Style And Value To A Home (NAPSA)—The right deck can offer hours of enjoyment to you and your family—and add value to your property. In fact, some say adding a deck is a proven way to add value to a home in an uncer- tain market. According to the recent Cost Vs. Value Report completed by the collaboration of Remodeling magazine and Realtor Magazine, homeown- ers can expect to recoup a national average of more than 70 percent of the value of adding a new deck whentheygoto resell the house. In some areas of the country, that recoup value is more than 82 percent of the originalcost. However, great decks don’t just happen. They require imagination, planning andthe right materials. If you are thinking of adding a deck to your property, here are sometips: Start by checking with your homeowners’ association or local authorities to determine specific rules, zoning or building codes. These may affect the size, height andsafety features of your deck. How you plan to use the deck can play a big part in the design. Entertaining, dining, family activities and relaxing can all place different demands on the design. When you'll be using your deck is also a factor to consider. You'll want to position the deck in an area that will receive the appropriate amount of sun and/or shade. Do you want your deck to adjoin the kitchen, living room, family room or your master bedroom? Accessibility will influence both design and location. * Decide what size deck you want. Many builders suggest the wi WINNINGS Some say adding a deck is a proven way to add value toa home in an uncertain housing market. deck be the same size as the largest room in your home. Be sure you have enough room to comfortably fit your deck furniture. Keep the physical features of your yard in mind, including trees, gardens and hilly areas. Some items may need to be moved or removed before you start building. Be sure to consider your privacy, traffic noise and thelocalclimate. Often, you can add screens and landscaping to solve problems in these areas. When it comes to selecting materials, your lifestyle, as well as your budget, can havea lot to do with deciding which materials work best for your deck. For example, many homeowners are turning to composite deck materials made from plastic and wood fiber—such as EverGrain from TAMKOBuilding Products— because the decking is low maintenance in that it requires no staining or painting, just periodic cleaning. Plus, this compression-molded decking features true-to-life lasting grains with no rotting or termites. It also offers coordinating railing systems. To learn more, visit www. tamko.com orcall (800) 641-4691.
