Ostentation may be out, but expansion is in. People who can`t afford or don`t want to move up to bigger homes are enlarging the ones they own, and expanding the outdoor living area in the process.
Major home improvements used to include remodeling the bathroom and re-doing the kitchen, but now building a deck belongs on that list, too.
Americans spend an estimated $6 billion a year to build backyard decks, according to Ellen Foreman, a spokesperson for Black & Decker U.S. Power Tools. ”A deck is now becoming a significant way of improving the investment in your home. When you get an evaluation from a Realtor or marketplace resource, you find out that a deck can add significant value to your home, in fact more value than you actually put into building it.”
Sandy Brown, co-partner of Lakeshore Partners realty company in Evanston, says, ”Generally speaking, a deck is definitely worth the investment. Decks update a house to the `90s and give a current feeling and buyers are willing to pay for them.” In fact, a 1991 survey conducted by Remodeling Magazine found that in the Chicago area the resale value of an average deck costing $7,100 would be $8,800 a year later.
While a deck can be viewed as a financial investment, it might also be seen as a commitment to traditional values. Families today are ”spending their leisure time at home,” says Raymond Bergman, West Coast regional manager for Teco/Lumberlock, which manufactures timber connectors, ”and the deck has become the adult and children`s playground.”
A backyard deck may also free up a little extra leisure time. ”It cuts down on lawn maintenance because it takes up part of the yard,” says Foreman. ”You don`t have to mow it.”
Whereas updating a kitchen or a bathroom can cause major havoc in a household, building a deck often can been done with a minimum of upheaval. Many new products are being designed to make the project easier for do-it-yourselfers.
The prices for the products featured below are suggested retail prices. You can contact the manufacturers listed for help in finding a retailer in your area who carries a specific product.
Solid footings
Creating footings for a deck can be a hassle if you use cement that needs to be mixed and poured and requires hours if not days to cure. The new P`Foot eliminates the work and wait. This footing system for wooden decks is a lightweight, super strong composite plastic disc. The plastic is impervious to ground water and the disc is designed with built-in cutting teeth to eliminate settling. Tests show that P`Foots can support up to 6,000 pounds, according to the manufacturer.
Price: $15 each. P`Foot, Glatt & Strobl Inc., 2627 N. Kildare Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60639 (phone: 312-489-1504).
Clip it together
Dec-Klip is a specially designed connector that can simplify the job of building a deck. Dec-Klips replace the screws or nails that can be seen in a traditionally installed deck. Dec-Klips are fastened under the boards attaching them to the joist and because there is no direct wood-to-wood contact, moisture won`t accumulate and cause rot.
Price: 30 cents each. Teco/Lumberlock, Colliers Way, Colliers, W.Va. 26035 (phone: 800-GET-TECO).
Hang it up
P.A. Stratton & Co. has created Handy Hook, a hanger bracket that simplifies the job of attaching the deck to the house. Usually, building a deck entails cutting away a portion of the siding of the house to install the deck and then adding flashing and trim on the cutup siding.
With the Handy Hook, do-it-yourselfers can just drill a hole into the siding, dab a little caulking around it and bolt the bracket to the house. The deck is thus spaced a short distance from the house, so air can circulate between the deck and the house, preventing wood rot and water seepage. The brackets can be used on any type of siding, including wood, aluminum, vinyl and masonry.
Price: $19.49 for the 20-piece Deck Starter Kit, which includes four brackets, bolts and washers and instructions. P.A. Stratton & Co., P.O. Box 436, Milan, Ohio 44846 (phone: 419-499-4449).
Install like a pro
Professionals prefer to use screws rather than nails to build decks because they hold better and won`t pop up the way nails do. Now do-it-yourselfers can build decks just like professionals, thanks to Black & Decker`s DeckWorks drill/driver. This tool is specially designed to deliver high torque for driving screws and the speed necessary for drilling pilot holes. It is equipped with a side handle for added control and a variable speed, which is reversible for removing screws. A set of accessories is included.
Price: $39.99. Black & Decker, Communications Department, 10 North Park Dr., Box 798, Hunt Valley, Md. 21030 (phone: 800-762-6672).
Computerized design
Another new ”tool” for building decks is DECK, a deck design program for home computers that`s part of Autodesk`s Home Series. This software allows do-it-yourselfers to create detailed structural plans for decks of any size and shape, with a variety of options, and then to see the completed design on their computer screen.
DECK, which works on any IBM or compatible personal computer, will also create a shopping list of materials needed to turn the plans into reality.
Price: $59.95. Autodesk Retail Products, 11911 North Creek Parkway South, Bothell, Wash. 98011 (phone: 800-228-3601).
Aluminum plank system
EnduraSystem`s aluminum extruded planks make a high-tech deck surface that`s designed to eliminate the worries about warp and rot that you can have with wood. Available in a variety of decorator colors, the planks are practically maintenance-free and the surface temperature remains cooler than treated wood, the manufacturer says. Mini-gutters in the system carry water around the deck`s perimeter, so the surface under the deck remains dry and the sheltered area can be used for living or storage space.
EnduraSystem can be installed by the skilled do-it-yourselfer and is sold custom-cut to individual specifications in a kit that includes planks, the guttering system and hardware.
Price: $15 per square foot. MidAmerica Extrusions, 4925 Aluminum Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46218 (phone: 317-545-1221).
Tile it
If you want to camouflage a weary-looking deck, patio or balcony or add flair to a new surface, tec-deck provides an attractive solution. Tec-deck 12- inch-square modular floor tiles, designed for indoor and outdoor use, are made of a resilient, rubber-based material that is resistant to sunlight, salt, chemicals and fungus growth.
An open diamond design provides skid resistance and allows the tiles to expand and contract with very cold or hot temperatures. Tec-deck tiles, which snap together for easy installation, are available in neutral tones as well as blue and green.
Price: $3.29 per square foot. Tec-deck, 11426 S. Perry Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628 (phone: 312-264-2703).
Tot spot
Children will have a place of their own for romping and relaxing with the Sky Fort Kit from Swing-N-Slide. The kit features a brightly colored, striped roof that turns a platform into a a clubhouse in the sky, complete with a pirate`s ladder of wood slates and rope and a climbing rope. The kit also includes hardwood dowels, a hardware kit and a step-by-step illustrated assembly plan. Lumber is not included, so do-it-yourselfers can shop around and buy it at the best price available.
Price: $170. Swing-N-Slide, Newco Inc., 1212 Barberry Dr., Janesville, Wis. 53545 (no phone inquiries accepted).
