Custom Deck or Patio: Which is Right for You?

If you enjoy spending time in the garden when the weather is fine, a well-built deck or patio is a great investment that is sure to bring you many hours of pleasure. Furthermore, either one will also increase the value of your home, should you wish to sell it in the future. In our opinion, deciding to build one or the other in your garden is a no brainer, given the benefits. The only decision you really need to make is whether to have a patio or deck: a decision we hope to help you make with our short guide below.

Should You Have a Custom Deck or Patio in Your Garden?

There are a number of factors you should consider when deciding which one is the best choice for you and your home:

1. Aesthetics – Certain properties, such as brick-built period cottages in remote areas outside Toronto, may have an exterior appearance that is more compatible with patios than wooden decks. Others, such as timber-clad, detached residences closer to the city centre, may be more suited to decking. If you want to make sure that your new addition complements your property, this is something you should definitely consider when making your decision.
2. Maintenance – Traditional wooden decking requires a fair amount of maintenance whereas concrete patios are almost maintenance free. However, if you are leaning toward a custom deck but are not keen on the idea of having to oil and waterproof it on a regular basis, you can have yours built using composite or uPVC components that require little to nothing in the way of regular maintenance.
3. Return on Investment – If you want to maximise the amount of money you get back from your investment should you decide to sell your home, a deck is probably your best option. Although it is difficult to put an exact number on what you can expect to make in terms of return on investment for a custom deck or patio, homeowners who have installed high quality decking in the past have made as much as 75% of their money back when they came to sell the property in question. With a patio, it could be considerably lower: 50% or less in many cases.
4. Timescale – Generally speaking, a wooden, composite or uPVC deck can be assembled and installed considerably faster than a patio, owing to the preparation work necessary when laying concrete slabs in your garden. As the work will be carried out in your garden rather than inside your home, disruption is not a major consideration. However, for those who wish to have the work completed in the shortest time possible for whatever reasons, a custom deck is the obvious solution.
5. Ecological Concerns – For homeowners who are concerned about the effect their actions have on the environment, a deck will probably be the best choice. The manufacture of concrete slabs is known to impact the environment to a significant degree whereas wood obtained from sustainable sources can be considered to be carbon neutral. The effect of uPVC or composite materials is harder to quantify as it depends to a large extent on the manufacturing process employed.

Once you have thought about all the above factors, you will be left with one important consideration: cost. Because of the many variables involved, the best way to find out which is the most economical option is to request a quote for both a custom deck and comparable patio from a local Toronto firm. As a reputable company with years of experience building both, we will of course be delighted to help.