The Three Big Reasons for an Outdoor Deck

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Deck additions are one of the most popular trends in home improvement today. Homeowners are expanding their living spaces by building new living spaces outdoors. Featuring everything from a quiet place to read and think, to an amazing outdoor entertainment space with kitchens and dining areas. Whether your ambitions for your outdoor deck addition is simple or more complex, adding a deck addition is a great way to enhance the value of your home while also expanding your living space. In fact, a deck addition can create a larger return on investment than most other home renovation projects. Below are some key points on deck additions, and why your house may need one!

  • Decks work exceptionally well on uneven terrain. Virtually installable on any type of land, a deck isn’t restricted to flat surfaces. Multilevel decks can help create even more space for hosting events and having fun. Speaking of which. . .
  • A Room with a View. A wooden deck addition is extremely easy to customize as it can be painted (or stained) to the color or shade you like most. You can even make the stain color of your deck addition match the exterior design color of your house! On top of that, since a deck can be built off of the ground, you can get a much more beautiful, panoramic view of your backyard.
  • A deck creates party time! For the extroverts (or introverts) of the world, a deck makes hosting parties much more enjoyable. A deck addition is the perfect way to add functional space that allows for more people to freely gather and move around. The openness of a deck addition eliminates claustrophobia associated with crowded rooms, and clean is really simple.

Now, there are some points to remember with a deck addition. As with everything, there are some things to consider before jumping in head first. Below are some things to think about before beginning a deck addition:

  • You may need a permit. As always, you want to make sure that you check with your local authorities and municipalities and see if they have any restrictions or codes you need to follow for you deck addition. Always be sure to get a permit if you are required to have one, and make sure you always follow applicable laws.
  • Decks require more maintenance. Due to the materials used, a deck addition will require a lot of TLC to maintain a pristine look and feel. A deck might need to be pressure washed, stained and sealed every couple of years. Plus, since most decks are made of wood, that opens them up to the elements. Without proper weather treatments, the wood on your deck addition could rot over time, as well as fade. Be sure to keep up with the maintenance of your deck addition to keep it looking great.
  • Be sure to consider the weight amount on the deck. Always be sure to keep these weight measurements in mind when you’re doing a deck addition project. If you want to eventually put a hot tub, or an outdoor kitchen on your deck, be sure that it is built to withstand the weight that will be added to it. Also, consider the amount of guests you plan to entertain on your deck addition.

A deck project can be a wonderful addition to your home, and will increase your homes value. In our opinion, it’s one of the best ways to spruce up your home living, and really stand out.

As always, Inch By Inch Construction is here to help you with your deck addition project. We help take the hassle off of you, and make your deck addition project simple and easy. Call to get your free quote today, and get more value out of your house by having a deck addition.

Basement Remodelling

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One of the best ways to increase the livable square footage of your home is to finish out your basement. A finished basement not only increases the livable space, but it can help increase the resale value of your home. Before you start a basement finishing project, be sure to read through these tips to help you get the greatest value possible:

  1. DRY IT UP:

    If your basement is damp, or gets wet easily, that has to be fixed before you start any basement finishing work. There is great news: most water problems should be easily fixed with two different measures. First, you could regrade the soil to slope away from the house and the foundation. The second measure is to repair your gutters or your downspouts. More extreme measures can be taken, such as adding exterior drain tile, installing an interior drain tile that leads to a sump basket attached to a pump, or waterproofing your basement walls. These measures can become time-consuming and costly, but they are part of the most important step to ensure your work finishing your basement isn’t ruined by leaking water.

  2. KNOW THE CODE:

    If only it was simply as easy as doing the work and living with the results then life would be smooth! In all seriousness, check with your local municipality to see if you’ll need to purchase any building permits, or if there are any restrictions to what you can do for your basement finishing project. This is of upmost importance if you are planning on installing plumbing, or having electrical work done in your basement finishing project as they need to be inspected and approved. This may seem like a waste of time, but trust us, you don’t want to be the one to break any rules and have your basement finishing project delayed or cancelled because you didn’t check with the proper agencies before beginning.

    If you are planning on adding a separate bathroom for your basement finishing project, then you might as well check on the current pluming and wiring systems. See what expansions or upgrades you’ll need to do. Remember, check with your local municipality for permits that you’ll need, and have the proper inspections done. Remember – Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

  3. KNOW YOUR SPACE:

    You may think that your basement finishing project will be an easy-todo process, thinking you could just work away. However, you need to know your space and how much you are working with. Height is of particular importance because a number of local regulations on turning a basement into a livable area require the basement to be a certain number of feet tall. These numbers vary so, again, CHECK YOUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY TO BE SURE!

  4. SEAL CRACKS AROUND PIPES AND WIRES:

    You’ll want to fill larger openings with a flameresistant expanding foam to help protect your basement. Close off any other larger openings by nailing some sheet metal over them, and seal off the edges with caulk. This will help prevent any fire spreading from the basement to the upstair, and will also help you save a lot of energy from leakage and transfers. Plus, doing this will help keep sound transfer at a minimum!

    Another area to consider sealing are the rim joists. Uninsulated rim joists are huge energy drainers on a basement finishing project, and during your project is the best time to seal the rim joists. Check with your municipality on coding to see if there are any particular restrictions on what type of insulation you should use. Once that’s done, be sure to fill in small gaps with caulk, and for the larger holes be sure to use some expanding spray foam.

  5. ONE FINAL TIP:

    The utility room is not for finishing! This is an important key to remember when you are doing a basement finishing project. Keep the space housing HVAC units and water heaters clear and open. You don’t want these to be finished because these spaces have specific codes requirements for framing and spacing. Also, keeping it unfinished allows for an easier access to do inspections and/or repairs. Remember, always check with your municipality and their codes!

    Inch By Inch Construction can help you with your basement finishing project. We help take the hassle off of you, and make your basement finishing project simple and easy. Call to get your free quote today, and get more value out of your house by finishing your basement.

Finding New Buildings in the Dust of the Old

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With the continued and growing emphasis on sustainability in construction we could be on the verge of a radical shift in how we think about the current stock of buildings. The time may be coming when we stop planning for building replacement, and instead plan for building reuse. That in turn would significantly change the roles of designers and builders.

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How To Build A Construction Plan

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Learn how to market your contractor business professionally. In depth knowledge of attracting clients with online marketing strategies and deep thinking about who you want your clients to be.

The housing industry has proceeded at a red-hot pace for several years running. An all-time record was set in 1998, when 886,000 new-site single family homes were sold. That represented a 10% gain from the robust total of 804,000 homes sold in 1997, and an 8.1% rise from the prior record of 819,000 units in 1977. Single-family housing construction accounted for $48 million of the total $125 million generated in the industry.

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Bathroom Remodel

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Last night, Construction was honored to accept a Best Builders Award from the Associated General Contractors of Vermont for the construction of the $31.3 million Vermont Public Health Laboratory. There is so much to celebrate about this project – from both a construction and community perspective – and it was so gratifying to have that impact formally recognized in the contracting community.

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