DIY Network

Backyard Boost: Final Tally We spruce up a backyard with a maintenance-free deck, paver patio and water feature. Check out more home-value enhancing projects from Sweat Equity. From "Sweat Equity" episode DSEQ-302

	Before: The old deck and railing was worn and unstable.
	After: The new deck is covered in durable, low-maintenance composite decking.
	The finished deck, stone wall and patio transform the whole look of the back yard.

For an equity-building backyard upgrade, we help a homeowner install a maintenance-free deck, paver patio and water feature. The homeowner tops off the makeover with a few new plantings and a fresh coat of paint on the house.

Though the overall project went over budget by about $3000, the owner upped the value of her house by an estimated $25,000.

Here's the dollar breakdown:

Final Tally:

class 5 gravel: $474
extra labor: $1,500
treated lumber: $745
pavers & blocks: $5025
composite decking: $1116
rock bubbler: $342
plants & mulch $773

TOTAL = $9,975

realtor's estimated value increase = $25,000

total cost of material = $9,975

net return on investment = $15,025

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RESOURCES :

patio pavers — Silver Creek Stoneworks
Website: www.silvercreekstoneworks.com

retaining wall — Rockwood Retaining Walls
Website: www.rockwoodwalls.com

composite decking — The Deck Store/GeoDeck
Website: www.bestdeck.com
Website: www.geodeck.com