By Alicia Garceau
June 15, 2006—The great outdoors is quickly becoming the "room" homeowners want to renovate, as they eschew the simple deck of decades past in favor of one that functions every bit like an interior space.
"The outdoors can also be a living space and certainly an extension of [a] home," says Kip Creel, president of nQuery Research, an Atlanta-based firm that recently conducted a study on outdoor living.
Why the increased interest in outdoor spaces? In recent years, entertaining at home has become much more important, Creel says. Because people primarily spend their time at home and work, they want a third place to relax, unwind and socialize. Increasingly, the backyard is becoming that third place.
The good news for homeowners is that the return on investment for a mid-sized deck is nearly 90 percent, according to Remodeling magazine's 2005 Cost vs. Value study. That translates to more sales and more complex projects for professionals involved in deck building.
"The industry is just booming," says Mike Beaudry, executive vice president for the North American Deck and Railing Association . Along with that explosion has come exciting trends in decks:
Trend #1: Larger Decks
The biggest trend in decks right now is the increase in square footage. It used to be that homeowners were satisfied with a 20 X 10-foot deck for a grill and some patio furniture; now it's not unusual to have deck design that rivals a home's indoor square footage and includes multiple levels for different functions, pergolas and walls that define "rooms" and provide privacy, built-ins that offer additional seating, and storage and planters that beautify the space. "People are thinking of the [function of] space a lot more than ever before," Beaudry says.
Trend #2 More Time Outdoors
No longer do outdoor enthusiasts have to abide by Mother Nature's seasons. "Now with lighting and fire pits, they're using their decks 30 percent more than they ever did," Beaudry says.
In temperate and tropical climates, it's not unusual for people to use their decks year round. These days, even in colder areas of the United States such as the East Coast, Midwest and Mountain regions, homeowners can begin using their decks earlier in the year–often as early as February and March–and continue through October or November, thanks to the warmth provided by outdoor fireplaces, which are safer and easier to use than freestanding fire pits.
Lighting has lengthened the amount of time people spend using their decks on a daily basis. Forget kitschy tiki torches; they're a relic of the past. Today's lighting is much more sophisticated: Low-voltage lighting wired into the deck's steps and posts provides illumination enough for conversation and safe walking. Add a dimmer–one of the most indispensable tools for creating ambience indoors–and "you literally can create a mood outdoors," Beaudry says.
Trend #3. Fully Functional Kitchens
After baseball, grilling might be considered the next Great American Pastime. The outdoor kitchen trend is taking grilling to a whole new level. Beaudry just completed a $42,000 deck; almost half of the budget went to an outdoor kitchen. The research conducted by nQuery revealed that 1 million U.S. households have outdoor kitchens. (They defined an outdoor kitchen as a space that contains a grill or cooktop surface, cabinets/storage, countertop, refrigerator and sink.) "That's predicted to double within the next 12 months," Creel says, adding that the trend toward totally customized outdoor spaces will continue to be strong over the next five years.
Trend #4. Add Water
Many homeowners feel it's important to include a water feature in a deck's design, says Beaudry. The soothing sounds of a fountain, for example, can add to the relaxing atmosphere of a deck, while a hot tub or a pool provides a bit of a backyard escape. The sound of running water also helps mask any noise from nearby streets, adding to the illusion of a getaway destination.
With all the deck options available to builders today, they may feel like they're creating a house outside the house. In fact, that's not too far from the truth. The deck as outdoor room—kitchen, dining room, living room and even media room with the new outdoor televisions—has come a long way from a platform with some patio furniture. There's no indication it's going back inside any time soon.
Alicia Garceau is a freelance writer based in Indianapolis. The former managing editor of Professional Remodeler magazine, she specializes in building and construction topics.
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