One of the best parts of homeownership is the ability to turn your home into the customized space that matches your particular preferences. Every new home improvement project brings your personal space that much closer to the dream home you’ve always wanted.
That matters in the best of times, but as most families now face a new norm of social isolation—at least for the near future—the importance of having a house that meets your needs and preferences is that much more felt. It may seem like a strange time to invest in a big home improvement project like adding a custom deck to your home. But if anything, now’s as good a time as ever to make the change.
1. A custom deck provides an extra space for your family to spend time in.
Your home only has so many rooms and spaces. Adding a custom deck to the equation creates a whole new living space for you to take advantage of. For families currently feeling cooped up, an extra living area gives you more room to spread out in, so members of the household have an easier time catching any needed alone time. And when you’re ready to put in more quality together time, it’s an extra space you can all use to gather together for family dinners or board game nights.
A custom deck essentially extends the square footage of your home, giving you all more room to enjoy.
2. It makes it easier to pleasantly spend time outside when the weather’s nice.
As the weather starts to warm here in North Carolina and we see more gorgeous days, no one wants to feel cooped up inside. A custom deck gives you a comfortable space to enjoy the nicer weather. You can sit outside to read your morning paper, do yoga under the sun, or take in the colorful view of the sky during twilight hours. And you can do all of it without actually leaving your home.
A custom deck finds the happy medium between being inside and outside, so you can keep the comforts of your home while enjoying access to the outdoors.
3. You can tailor it to fit the particulars of your yard and home.
Every home is different. No matter what particular quirks your land may have—whether you live on a big hill, right on the edge of a lake, or have lovely large trees throughout your yard—a custom deck can be designed to accommodate the particulars of your space.
A good contractor will work with you to ensure the deck integrates naturally with the details of your yard. They’ll take into account the type of soil you have. They’ll ensure it gets the best view available for the space, and just the right amount of shade from your trees. And if you have features in your yard like a pool, garden, or water feature, they’ll design it to fit well with what’s already there.
4. You can choose the style and features you prefer.
Building a custom deck means you get to choose all the elements you like best. That includes picking out what materials to make it from based on both aesthetics and durability. And it means getting to choose special features and add-ons that you know will help you get more out of it.
Some examples of common features you could include are:
- Custom deck lighting—whatever fixtures and lighting style you like best
- A fireplace or fire pit to keep the space cozy during the winter
- A fan to keep cool on the hot summer days
- An entertainment center, to extend your movie and game night options to outside
- Comfortable furniture
- A multi-story deck with stairs
- An awning, pergola, or other cover for shade
- Built-in benches for extra seating
- Built-in planters to add some flowers or herbs
- A privacy fence around the deck, to make the space more yours
- A kitchenette, to make family dinner nights and outdoor dinner parties (once social distancing guidelines are loosened) easier to enjoy
When you enlist a contractor to build a custom deck, your options are as broad as your imagination and budget will allow.
5. You can pick the deck project that fits your budget.
One of the hardest parts of any home improvement project is finding the right balance between the features you’d most like to see, and the budget you actually have. As long as you hire a good contractor, one of the first steps of any custom deck project will be helping you figure out a realistic budget for your project. They’ll help you understand what different options cost and which higher costs tend to be most worth it (e.g. which premium materials really do last that much longer or look that much better).
Money can be the most stressful part of any home improvement project, but a good contractor will ensure you understand what you’re getting into and how to match your desires to what you can afford.
6. It will increase the resale value of your home.
When you’re working to make your home the perfect space for your own sensibilities, selling may be the furthest thing from your mind. But even if the day you put your house on the market is years out, when that day comes, having a beautiful custom deck will make the house that much more attractive to potential buyers. People love having the option to enjoy the outdoors while maintaining the comforts of the home. By adding a feature to your house that enables that, you’re giving a gift to the next owners. A gift they’ll likely pay handsomely for.
7. It can be a good space for growing your own food.
One of the easiest ways to minimize trips to the grocery store without feeling any lack is to have a naturally replenishing supply of food at your own home. A custom deck can be a great space for setting up planters and pots you can grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits in. For some types of plants, a deck can even be easier than an outdoor garden, since you have more control over variables like sun exposure and bugs, and easier access for watering and weeding.
Get in Touch to Start your Custom Deck Project
If you live in the Charlotte, NC area, you could have your custom deck built in time to enjoy the summer weather. The first step is setting up a free consultation with a trusted contractor. Fineline Construction has years of experience helping families in the Charlotte area build the custom decks they’ve dreamt of. We can do the same for you.