For just about any home you can imagine, one of the greatest home improvements you can make before you sell is repairing or making a new deck. The material choices are basically two, natural wood or synthetic materials.

Depending upon how much time you have for the sale, and considering the value of the property, start by deciding how much money and effort you want to invest in this home improvement project.

Building A Deck With Wood In general, if your budget is not too tight, you will find that a natural wood deck will be a greater asset overall. From a quality standpoint it is the first choice for purposes of increasing the attractiveness and value of the property.Patio Fencing.

The advantages of using wood as your material for this home improvement task:

1. Beauty. There is nothing than can compare with the beauty of a wooden deck. Today you find great variety to choose from: cypress, redwood, pine wood and cedar. The grain of good wood and the overall impact it gives to the house cannot be comparable with any other material. There is a distinctly customized, quiet elegance in any deck made out of wood.

2. Natural insulator. Wood does not absorb the heat of the sun as much as other materials. Hence, with a design that incorporates shading, the home would stay cooler even after a relatively hot day. You could also always walk barefoot on your wooden deck as it would not heat up enough to hurt your feet.

Building A Deck With Synthetics Since there are so many varieties available on the market, one would tend to consider these for building the deck. We can use the term "synthetic" in a general sense, although there are are a number of varieties -- probably more than with choosing types of wood. These are different combinations of fiber (wood or other fiber, in processed or recycled form) and bonding agents or polymers.

Some are made of recycled materials. Some of the advantages of synthetic materials are:

1. Resistance to decay. Wood decks are susceptible to rot and decay. With synthetic material this is not something you need to worry about. It will never rot.Backyard Fencing.

2. Cost efficient. Compared to a wood deck, a synthetic deck would definitely cost more. Depending on which part of the country you live in, wood decks usually are less expensive that synthetics.

3. Durability. Synthetic materials are very durable and will maintain structural integrity indefinitely, although in ten years or so the surface may start to pick up a dull, pale gray appearance. Of course you could paint it, but once you start that you give up the recurring cost advantage that is inherent with the choice in the first place.

In summary, a wood deck looks nicer and cost less but requires more maintenance than a synthetic deck. The deck made of synthetic materials would cost more and will last longer -- but it would look less impressive than wood and may reflect heat to the house. Your decision on which type of material would make the best home improvement should give you a deck you can be happy with, for different reasons, whichever way you go.Garden Fencing.

Deck/Porch Factors to Consider Repair or Replace Because a porch or deck is more exposed to the elements than the indoor sections of your home, they will need more frequent upkeep and repair. You should expect periodic painting, re-staining, or resealing. Wood boards and other materials may need to be replaced in spots. If you do not make regular repairs to your porch or deck, it may become structurally unsound and need to be completely replaced. On a relate point, decks that are on the second floor or above can cause injury or death if they become unsound or unstable. If you have any reason to suspect your deck has deteriorated, have it inspected by a professional.

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