decks
Deck additions grow in value
The numbers are in for 2018 and the home renovation market is going through another shift.
Every year I eagerly await the Cost vs. Value report put out by Remodeling Magazine and even though this report is an American study, the national averages are an excellent indicator of what is happening in the Canadian marketplace.
Read more at The Chronicle Herald
Think about the elements when planning your backyard, cottage cleanup
It really doesn’t matter what part of this country you live in, this has been a rough winter on your backyard. Trees have split because of the extreme up and down in the temperatures, often happening overnight. Perennials have been frozen, thawed, windswept and then buried under large snow banks.
Even the usable spaces have taken a hit this year with patios shifting and heaving due to the water freezing underneath them.
Read more at The Chronicle Herald
Making the best eco-smart choices
As homeowners, we all want to make the best choices possible to protect our largest asset, but at the same time, there is a worldwide movement toward making the best choices possible for the planet. Sometimes, these two ideas don’t run parallel. Many decisions we make for the outside of our homes are good for us, good for our home’s value, but not so good for the planet.
As a landscape designer, I am always trying to find new ways to help my clients achieve their end goals for their outdoor renovations. Now more than ever I am also educating them on the best eco-smart choices to meeting those goals.
So if you are thinking about a deck this year, here are a few things you should know.
Read more at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1493834-making-the-best-eco-smart-choices
My Favourite Room… With Carson Arthur
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME? Does it have to be in my house? Truth is… my favourite room is outside of my house! Last summer, I built an outdoor deck with a fire pit. It’s 15 feet in the air and surrounded by trees for privacy. Glass railings and recycled resin Muskoka chairs make it perfect for my guests!
Read more at: https://hossmagazine.com/design/article/my-favourite-room…-with-carson-arthur
Carson Arthur dishes on the value of decks
A good deck can increase a home’s perceived value by up to 10 per cent by increasing the available living space according to several sources including the Gallop Organization. If you can rely on a 10 per cent increase to your home’s value by adding a deck, you now know exactly how much you can spend when creating useable space in your backyard.
Read more at: https://hossmagazine.com/build/article/carson-arthur-dishes-on-the-value-of-decks
Best return-on-investment home projects
Lately I’ve been comparing my favourite box stores to all of the stats and numbers that have been coming out of financial institutions. My theory is that we can predict the types of renovations that will bring the biggest returns by seeing how they are represented on the sales floor.
Ten years ago, I was amazed at the kitchen sections in the box stores — full of new cabinetry, hardware and even appliances. The same was true with the bathroom fixture aisles. It also coincided with all of the ROI (return on investment) numbers that put both kitchens and baths at the top of the Realtors’ ‘must-do’ lists.
In the last few years, we are starting to really see a movement that is including other renovations that are adding big returns to a home’s value. Coincidentally, I’ve noticed these areas getting more floor space at the store:
Read more at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/1346772-best-return-on-investment-home-projects
A deck for mom
Recently I took on the weekend project of transforming the small patio on the back of my in-law suite for my mother-in-law.
We decided that while the patio might be okay in some ways, having a large deck with a pergola all made from a low maintenance material was a significant improvement.
As I was building the space, it occurred to me that most people struggle with this decision for their own homes. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself when planning your outdoor renovation.
Read more at: http://www.torontosun.com/2015/10/13/a-deck-for-mom
Useable space part 1: Wood
Useable space in the backyard is always top priority in every one of my designs.
This may offend a few of the gardeners out there, but if you don’t have a spot to sit outside with family and friends and enjoy the roses, then those blooms are a wasted opportunity!
When it comes to creating useable space, most homeowners go with either wood or stone.
If you’re thinking about adding a wood deck, here are a few points you need to know.
Read more at: http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/23/useable-space-part-1-wood
