Running a property managed community is all about going above and beyond to make your residents satisfied. It also involves making the necessary adjustments to make these properties more attractive for purchase. Buyers are all about attention to detail, so everything counts. Even the type of decks you have a return on investment and value and make the difference in attracting the best buyers.
In this post, we’ll go over some of the most common decks you can have installed for your property and the pros and cons of each one. Building and remodeling a deck doesn’t cost as much as other remodeling projects, but the return on investment is massive depending on the materials used.
1. Pressure Treated Wood Decks
These decks can last for many years, and give your property managed community a more natural look. The warranties on pressure treated wood decks are also long-term depending on the manufacturer. Throughout the year, your residents can walk on these decks comfortably, although with some wood decks, the temperature can reach uncomfortable levels. It all depends on the kind of wood deck you choose.
More synthetic wood decks are going to look less authentic, while ones made from real wood will fare better during the summertime when the sunlight is most intense. Pressure treated wood decks are also easily recyclable and environmentally friendly.
Overall, wood decks are an excellent option to consider, but you have to be careful with which kind you have installed. Keep your wood decks waterproof and pressure treated to keep them from rotting. One big downside with pressure treated wood decks lies in the costly maintenance. These decks can last for decades, but only if you’re willing to have someone apply water sealant annually and handle pressure washing twice a year.
2. Cedar Decking
Not all cedar decks are alike. You have many options to choose from in this case. From basic to high-quality, it’s going to a bit more expensive to have this installed. You’ll pay up to $6.56 per square foot! There’s also all the maintenance you have to perform to keep these decks in good shape (power washing, sanding, etc.). Even with the higher costs, cedar does come with many desirable benefits. Treated cedar decks repel insects and are resistant to moisture and other common problems. Even untreated cedar decks can last a while, though your best bet is to go the treated option to save in the long run.
Compared to other decks where you could pay up to $9.90 per square foot, you’re able to get a quality deck that lasts up to 15 years. It’s biodegradable and doesn’t contribute any greenhouse gases.
3. Teak
Teak also isn’t a bad option to go with if you want a deck that will look great in the outdoors. It’s resistant to scratching and all the other damage coming from residents walking on it regularly. It also lasts several years before you even have to worry about performing much maintenance on it outside of the usual mopping and sweeping. Teak decks retain their look and shine, so you don’t even have to have it treated either.
However, since teak is made from hard and soft wood, you will need to be more cautious with how you clean it. Don’t apply any chemicals onto your teak deck like bleach. Otherwise, the oils from the teak will be removed and will make your deck look older and less appealing. It’s best to clean your teak deck with simple soap and water instead.
4. Composite & Synthetic Decking
Another popular outdoor decking option is composite decking. It offers longer-lasting properties than ordinary wood decks. Compared to other kinds of wood decks, there’s very little maintenance required. You don’t have to paint composite decks either as you can choose from a variety of colors to match your property managed community’s building colors.
The material is even recyclable and more environmentally friendly. Composite decking isn’t without its downsides, however. On average, you’re going to pay 20 percent higher to have this type of deck installed.
It will also be a bit more obvious the deck you installed isn’t made from natural wood. You also need to do a bit more research to know exactly what brand you will pick because the warranties will vary depending on the stain.
5. Aluminum
Aluminum decking can hold up for a long time. It’s able to resist the effects of sunlight and inclement weather, and withstand the wear and tear coming from those walking on it. It also doesn’t expand or contract as much as other types of decks will. You can even have it look a lot like wood to give it a more natural appearance, although it’s impossible to get it to look exactly like one. Other cons of aluminum decking include its slippery nature, especially when ice is involved.
It can be more hazardous in those situations, and even the installation process is a bit more complicated than with other decks. However, it is on the less expensive side and can still add decent curb appeal to your property managed community buildings.
Conclusion
These are the most popular decking options on the market for property managed communities. Choosing what material to make your decks from depends on what your goals are. Do you want to boost the curb appeal of your property managed community or do you want to save as much money as possible? For the former, teak, cedar decking, and pressured treated wood decking will work fine, though might be on the more expensive side. To save a bit more, there’s always synthetic and aluminum decking.
At P3 Painting & Renovations, our experienced team knows how to work with many of these materials to give your property managed community the renovations it needs to stand out. You can get some great discounts on the products & materials used in our deck projects. Please give our team a call at 770-271-6868.
We’re local Atlanta general contractors with many years of experience working with property managed & HOA communities and consistently delivering on time. You’ll receive continual updates on how the project is going, and come away with a fantastic experience.