Deck
Deck
The Deck – especially in Colorado, your outdoor living space is as valued as your indoor living space. I am in love with the composite products, because they are less yearly maintenance. I know myself well enough to know that I will not get out there and re-stain the deck every year. I might not ever get around to it.
For many, the time/energy savings over time is worth more than the additional cost of materials when the deck is being built. When designing your deck, think about entertaining as well as your family’s day to day use. I was all set on having my grill installed permanently, then realized that most of the grilling I do will be the 350 days a year that we don’t have friends over, therefore I want my grill with easy access to the kitchen. If I had plumbed it in, it would have been pretty inconvenient, except for when a large group was over, so we stayed with the propane tank, also saving quite a bit of money.
If you have space, create separate areas on your deck for sitting, or a hammock. Get a hot tub only if you think you’ll use it a lot. Many people now see them as just one more thing to maintain – they are not necessarily a big selling point for a home. Don’t forget deck lighting – there are all kinds of great products at all different price points to keep your deck functioning after dark. And light those stairs.