Decks are great to have on a house. Whether they are on the front, back, or all around your home they are normally enjoyed by all. Personally, we love to sit on our deck and just look out at the beautiful hill country around us. Or have company over and eat out on the deck is another favorite. Decks come in all sizes and shapes. Some of you have them and others want them. If you have them, you need to make sure they remain safe. If you want one, start thinking about what kind you want, size, and amount of money you want to spend on it.

Let’s start with what you might want to do if you already have a deck. Just like anything else, you need to perform inspections and maintenance. You should be able to do some of the basic inspections yourself. Here are a few things you want to do: 1) All around the deck, Push on railings and banisters to make sure they're secure. 2) At the stairs, Check railings or handrails to make sure they are firmly in place. 3) Check the wood on top, rails, sides, etc. Is it rotting, termites, or nails coming up? 4) Clean all debris off (like leaves). You might need to trim some tree branches away. If you are unsure of any of these items – call someone that can help you.

Safety is always the most important thing. If you have a deck that is deteriorating, it’s probably time to fix it or even replace it. If you wait too long to make repairs, you will need to replace it.

If you are thinking about adding a deck, there are several things to keep in mind. First, how much money do you want to spend on it? What size, what type of material, what type of railings, do you want a roof, ceiling fans, lighting, electrical outlets, built in benches or planter boxes are a few things to consider. The most common type of material to use is wood. Make sure you use pressure treated wood. However, there are so many types of wood and how you want to finish it.

You can leave it natural (but have a protective coat added), or you can stain or paint it. There is another type of material that is becoming popular but a bit more expensive. Composite Decking - Composite decking products are building materials manufactured using a mixture of plastic and wood fiber. Composite decking materials are very popular because they require less maintenance than wood and often use recycled materials. There are several other kinds of materials too. If you want a roof, it can be tied into your house roof. The roof can be a partial or a full. If your deck is large enough, you might want 2 ceiling fans. Do you already have lights or will you want to add lights under the roof or along the railing? Lights can be solar or wired. Benches and planter boxes can be added in certain location or all the way around. You might want a couple electrical plugs put in for something like Christmas lights. I would highly recommend looking at books or online at decks to help you on your designs. And as always get a couple quotes for your new deck and what kind of warranty you get. Have fun on those decks.

For all your real estate and building needs or questions, call Debbie at 830-833-4249 or email debbie@vallone realestate.net.