Elevate Your Outdoor Experience: Deciding Between Decks and Patios

Spring is solidly here and summer is quickly approaching, which leads most of us Midwesterners to look forward to time spent outdoors. Our homes are our sanctuaries and there is no better place to relax outdoors than our backyards, but we can enjoy it more with a deck or patio.

What is the difference you ask? Decks are normally attached to the house where there is an entry to the interior living area built out of wood or a composite material creating an elevated platform. Patios are at ground level and have a surface of concrete, stone, brick, or even gravel. They can be located at an entrance to the interior, but can also be located anywhere in the yard and even at the base of a deck.

How would you choose between the two? There are many things to consider, but here are some of the considerations to choosing a deck:

• If the terrain for the intended area for your outdoor living space is uneven or sloped, a deck may be your best choice. Since a deck is elevated, the unevenness or slope of the ground shouldn’t be an issue and could even play into the design of deck.
• Another advantage to a deck being elevated is the view. There may be something enjoyable to see, like water, the cityscape, or even forests and mountains that can’t be seen clearly from the ground.
• A deck will cost more to build and will require ongoing maintenance. Using a composite material instead of wood will look nicer and significantly reduce the amount of maintenance required, but will also significantly increase the cost of the deck.
• A deck will add more value to your home in a sale, providing a greater ROI (Return on Investment) if it has been properly maintained. Depending on the design of the deck, it could have a value 2 to 4 times that of a comparably sized patio.

Conversely, here are some considerations to having a patio:

• A patio is much less expensive to build, especially if the terrain is already flat.
• A patio doesn’t need to be tied to the house and can be located anywhere in the yard.
• Since the building materials for a patio won’t burn, it is a great choice when using a grill and/or a fire pit.
• Patios require minimal maintenance allowing you more time to sit and enjoy the patio while your neighbors are sanding and staining their decks. A patio will look good for a long time.

I hope this helps in your decision making, but as always, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I am always happy to offer advice and I have names of great contractors who can complete your project for you. Enjoy the spring and summer!Top of Form

Norwalk IA Real Estate – Jon Niemeyer, Broker/Owner/REALTOR® at EXIT Realty North Star. I list and sell real estate in Central Iowa including Norwalk, Des Moines, West Des Moines, Cumming, Indianola, Carlisle, Waukee, Urbandale, Grimes, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill in the Counties of Warren, Polk, Dallas, and Madison. Call Jon Niemeyer at 515-490-4675.