Summer’s here and that means it’s time for outdoor living. There’s no better place for gathering with family and friends than on a gracious, inviting family deck. This is especially true if you’re entertaining people who still need to be cautious due to COVID concerns – after all, true hospitality is making sure your guests feel both comfortable and safe.
So what are the essential elements of a great family deck? As deck builders in Massachusetts, we’ve found that the following three items are what make homeowners happiest:
Great Family Deck Essential #1: Enough Space for Everyone
While the average deck comes in just around 400 square feet, here in Massachusetts, we’ve found that upscale homeowners prefer larger decks with enough space for everyone. Begin your design process by identifying everything you’d like to have happen on your deck. Include activities like dining, sunbathing, playing with the kids and pets, relaxing with your friends and family, gaming and watching movies, gardening and so on on your list. It is easier to size your deck appropriately when you know how you’ll be using the space.
Great Family Deck Essential #2: Low Maintenance Requirements
Free time is so precious. You may not want to spend your weekends scraping, staining, and sealing your deck. As Massachusetts deck builders, we’ve found a strong preference for easy care, planet friendly materials like composite decking amongst homeowners. Choosing composite decking means there’s no maintenance aside from a periodic spray down with the hose every so often. Even better, composite decking is resistant to insect, pest, mold and mildew. Finally, given the price of building materials in the market right now, composite decking can be much more affordable than lumber.
Great Family Deck Essential #3: Color and Comfort
Just like jewelry is a way to accent and ornament your outfit, a great family deck makes your home look even better. During the deck design process, your builder should help you choose color and materials that complement your home. The trend right now is for bold color, most especially black, navy blue, and even red. Of course, traditional wood color decks are still extremely popular. Don’t forget about comfort. A great deck builder can do things like build a screen room on your deck or incorporate shade features into the design.