It's tough to pinpoint the most popular renovation customers prefer on the interior of their homes. Finished basements obviously offer a great return on investment that a homeowner can enjoy now and when it comes time to list and kitchens are known as the focal point of the home so any budget invested into them is worthwhile.

When it comes to the exterior of the home though, the consensus most popular type of project is decking. There's no better way to expand your living square footage than by having a deck built so you can enjoy the outdoors.

This project in Mundelein shows that you don't need a huge, sprawling, multi-level feature to benefit from a new deck. This has enough space for a barbecue grill or seating and still adds to curb appeal on the overall aesthetics of the property. The wood deck even brings life back to this siding and trim which isn't particularly flashy on its own.

Another way that this particular size of a deck is beneficial is that it requires less maintenance. This could easily be restained in an hour compared to a whole weekend project of a 400+ square foot deck. In an era when many homeowners are making the shift to composite decking due to its longevity and almost zero maintenance, this Mundelein project shows that there is still a lot of value to be had when building with wood. If the customers do decide to change their siding down the line, the deck can be stained darker to match as well.

This project also included building a balcony off of the side door. It does't have access to the ground via stairs, but sometimes that is preferable either for safety or to just let the dogs enjoy some fresh air without having to worry about them running off after a squirrel.