Deck Addition: Return on your investment

Adding a deck to your home is one of the most worthwhile of all home improvement projects. In fact, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value survey, a wood deck addition project returns an average of about 73% of the original investment—one of the highest values in the survey.

One of the reasons that a deck is such a good investment is because it increases living area at a minimal cost per square foot. The national average for new construction costs of a two-story, 2,000 sq. ft. home is about $85 per sq. ft, according to the National Association of Home Builders, However, the construction costs for a wood deck are less than $35 per sq. ft.

The return on your deck investment will vary according to the region in which you live. In the Pacific West, where construction costs are generally higher than other parts of the country, decks are more expensive to build. However, the return on investment is also higher than other regions. Part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that in many areas of the temperate Pacific West, the outdoor living season is virtually year-round, making a deck a solid investment.

National average cost, 16x20 ft. deck, pressure-treated wood decking: