Key Trends in the 2017 Cost vs. Value Report

If your clients are hoping to recoup some of the value on their new deck project, a wood deck is still a better investment than a composite deck, according to the latest edition of Remodeling magazine's annual Cost vs. Value report.

Nationally, a wood deck that costs $10,700 to build in 2017 will return an average of $7,652 if the house is sold later that same year, or 72% of the deck's initial cost. A similarly sized composite deck would cost about $17,250 and return an average of about $11,252, or 65% of the deck's initial cost.

New to the CvV report is a backyard stone patio project with a pergola, outdoor kitchen, firepit, and new sliding glass door. As an investment, that project doesn't fare very well, at least nationally. Homeowners can expect to pay about $52,000 for this type of project, which will add only about $28,500 to the value of the property, or 55% of the project's initial cost.