Your home is your biggest asset, and the decision to renovate or build can be complicated. Higley Construction is here to answer to your home improvement questions.

Question: What’s the best kind of deck for my house?

Answer: You can greatly improve your home by upgrading the outdoor living space, and a deck is a great way to do that. Your two main options are pressure-treated wood or composite. Before we get into the pros and cons, here are some options for what to do next.

  1. Enhance outdoor entertainment/enjoyment with adding a deck, a covered deck or a cover to an existing deck/patio. Lots of home owners choose to add recessed lighting and ceiling fans. If you enjoy just sitting and relaxing on your deck, adding a screen system can help keep bugs out.
  2. Update your existing deck by replacing warped or loose boards. General maintenance done in each season will help to preserve your deck for many seasons to come.
  3. Upgrade your existing deck boards with composite boards. If the bones of your existing deck are good and you still like its layout, you can choose to replace your old boards and handrailing with composite boards and railing.
An outdoor deck by Higley Construction. (Contributed)

Wood decks

Pressure-treated wood decks are a beautiful addition to any outdoor space. Staining and sealing them helps greatly to preserve the longevity of the material. The pros to having a pressure-treated deck are that they look great and they are a cost-effective material. The cons to having a pressure-treated deck are continual maintenance and natural time effects of wood. Good, consistent maintenance is key with a pressure-treated deck; without it, you will likely have to replace parts of your deck after a few years, especially if its not covered.

If you already have a deck, but you don’t have a cover, you may consider adding one not only for the enjoyment, but also for a preventative maintenance measure. However even with the best maintenance, wood deck boards will shrink because that is their natural response as they will continue to dry out over time. The effect of this is wood deck boards will space out even if they are initially installed tightly together.

Composite decks

Composite decks are absolutely gorgeous, and there are so many design and color options. The pros to this material are easy maintenance and color longevity. These decks are not maintenance-free, but if you’re willing to pressure wash it once a year, then that’s about all the maintenance you will need. Composite materials generally will never need to be replaced, and another big plus is you will never have to stain this material to preserve its color. Unlike pressure-treated material, composite deck boards will not shrink and space out over time. However, if this material is not installed correctly, then it can bow and space out, and that is why you want to be careful about who you hire to install it.

The con to composite material is the up-front cost. However, the cost per composite deck can also vary greatly depending on the type and brand of composite chosen, the railing system chosen and the fastening application chosen. For example, if you choose to have hidden fasteners, then the cost would be greater for both material and labor as opposed to choosing face fasteners. Although composite decks may cost more up-front, they may equal out in cost or in some cases cost less over time than the pressure-treated option after replacement and preventative maintenance is factored in.

An outdoor deck by Higley Construction. (Contributed)

Added value

Whether you are thinking of adding a cover to an existing deck, replacing or upgrading an existing deck or adding a new deck altogether, it will definitely add value to your home. Most home buyers desire having an outdoor space, and for some buyers it is a deal breaker if there is no deck or patio. The type of material and design you choose will determine how much value it can add to your home, but there is no question that whatever you choose to go with, it will make your home more cozy and desirable.

For more on your best options for home renovation or construction, contact Higley Construction by phone at 931-320-6558, or email at joe@higleyconstruction.com.