Deck Upgrades That Add Value to Your Home

If you’re looking to improve your outdoor living space while increasing your home’s resale value, deck upgrades are a smart investment. Whether you’re planning to sell soon or simply want to enjoy a more stylish and functional deck, certain improvements can make a big difference. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best deck remodeling ideas that not only improve aesthetics but also offer a great return on investment.

Why Upgrade Your Deck?

Atlanta’s warm climate makes outdoor living spaces a key selling point for homeowners. A well-maintained and thoughtfully upgraded deck enhances curb appeal, improves functionality, and adds to the overall value of your home.

Best Deck Upgrades to Boost Home Value

Deluxe Decking Materials

Choosing the right materials for your deck is key to making it last and keeping it looking good. Wood decks occasionally need a lot of care, but composite and PVC decks are built to withstand the elements. Made-up decking is resistant to rot, fading, and bugs, requiring less upkeep. Pressure-treated wood is a budget-friendly choice, but it needs regular maintenance. Cedar and redwood have a natural look, but you’ll need to seal and stain them to protect them.

Stylish Railings and Balusters

Giving your constructed deck railing a makeover can make a huge difference in its look. Glass panels create an open, modern feel, while cable railings are stylish and minimalist. If you prefer a classic look, metal or composite railings are strong, easy to maintain, and go well with many different deck styles.

Built-In Seating for Functionality

Adding built-in seating makes your constructed deck more inviting and functional. Bench seating with storage is ideal for small spaces, providing additional space for cushions, gardening tools, or outdoor essentials. A curved seating arrangement can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your deck, while an outdoor sectional creates a cozy lounge area perfect for entertaining.

Outdoor Lighting for Safety and Ambiance

The right lighting can make your deck a safe and enjoyable place to be after dark. LED lights on the posts can highlight the railings, while lights built into the deck can provide a soft glow. String lights can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making your deck the perfect spot to relax in the evenings.

Pergolas and Shade Structures

A pergola or shade structure can add style and give you some relief from the sun. Retractable roofs are flexible, letting you control how much shade you get throughout the day. Fixed pergolas are a more permanent solution and can blend nicely with your deck’s design. Gazebos offer complete shade and extra protection from the weather, so you can enjoy your outdoor space all year round.

Outdoor Kitchens and Bars

If you enjoy entertaining guests, an outdoor kitchen or bar area is a great addition. A built-in grill, stone or concrete countertops, and a small refrigerator make outdoor cooking easy. Adding storage space means you’ll have everything you need right there, making it simple to host gatherings.

Weather-Resistant Finishes and Paint

Protecting your deck with high-quality paint or stain enhances its durability and appearance. A weather-resistant finish prevents wood from rotting and extends the deck’s lifespan. Solid stains provide a uniform, modern look, while transparent stains highlight the natural beauty of the wood. Deck sealants add an extra layer of protection, keeping your deck in excellent condition for years to come.

Multi-Level Decks for Extra Spacef

Choosing the Right Professionals for Your Deck Upgrades

While some deck upgrades can be DIY projects, hiring a professional deck remodeling company like D&R Painting and Construction in Marietta, GA, ensures expert craftsmanship and long-lasting results. Our team specializes in custom deck designs, high-quality staining and weatherproofing, and seamless repairs and maintenance services. We take pride in transforming outdoor spaces with precision and attention to detail.

Final Thoughts

Investing in deck upgrades enhances your home’s value, functionality, and curb appeal. Whether you choose to upgrade railings, install composite materials, or add stylish lighting, these improvements create an inviting outdoor space for years to come. If you’re ready to enhance your deck, contact D&R Painting and Construction today for expert guidance and top-quality service.

Best color for every room

 Best Color for Every Room: Kitchens, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and Beyond

Transforming your home starts with choosing the best color for every room. Whether you’re looking to refresh your kitchen, create a sanctuary in your bedroom, or add personality to your dining room, the right paint color can elevate any space. At D&R Painting and Construction in Metro Atlanta, we specialize in bringing your vision to life with expertly chosen hues. Let’s explore unique color options to make each room in your home shine.

The Power of Color: Setting the Tone for Every Space

Did you know colors can influence your mood and energy levels? Here’s how:

  • Blue: Calm and tranquil, ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms.
  • Yellow: Bright and cheerful, perfect for kitchens.
  • Earthy tones: Warm and grounding, great for living rooms and dining areas. 

Remember to consider lighting, as it can dramatically alter the way a color appears in your space.

Warm and Welcoming: Kitchen Color Ideas

Your kitchen is a hub of activity, so the colors should feel fresh and energizing. Here are some top picks:

Cozy Whites and Creams

Soft neutrals like creamy white create a clean and inviting atmosphere. Pair with colorful backsplashes or bold cabinets for added flair.

Sage and Olive Greens

Earthy green shades bring a natural and serene vibe to your kitchen, blending beautifully with wood finishes and stone countertops.

Vibrant Yellows

A touch of sunny yellow on your walls or accents can energize the space and pair well with modern appliances.

Pro Tip: Semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens.

Serene Escapes: Bedroom Color Options

Create a relaxing retreat with these calming hues:

Tranquil Blues

Soft blue tones, like sky blue or muted teal, promote relaxation and are perfect for restful sleep.

Elegant Lavenders

Light purples add sophistication and a dreamy touch, especially when paired with neutral bedding and curtains.

Warm Neutrals

Beige and taupe provide a cozy backdrop that’s easy to pair with any decor.

Inviting Comfort: Living Room Palettes

Your living room is where style meets comfort. These colors strike the perfect balance:

Timeless Neutrals

Colors like greige (a blend of gray and beige) and taupe offer versatility and timeless appeal.

Deep Jewel Tones

Shades like emerald green or sapphire blue make a bold statement and work well as accent walls.

Warm Terracotta

Earthy reds and oranges add a cozy, rustic charm to any living space.

Pro Tip: Use accent pieces, such as throw pillows or rugs, to introduce pops of color without committing to bold walls.

Elevating Mealtime: Dining Room Paint Colors

Dining rooms are perfect for experimenting with color. These ideas can set the right mood for gatherings:

Rich Burgundy or Deep Reds

These shades create an intimate and elegant ambiance, perfect for dinner parties.

Sophisticated Grays

Charcoal or slate gray pairs beautifully with modern decor and metallic accents.

Warm Golden Yellows

These hues add cheerfulness and pair well with natural wood furniture.

Spa-Like Serenity: Bathroom Colors

Bathrooms benefit from calming and refreshing tones. Consider these:

Crisp Whites

Classic and clean, white walls create a spa-like atmosphere.

Seafoam Green or Aqua Blue

These watery tones bring a refreshing and relaxing vibe to smaller spaces.

Soft Grays

Light gray shades work well in bathrooms with marble or chrome fixtures.

Pro Tip: Use mildew-resistant paint in bathrooms to prevent issues caused by humidity.

How to Choose the Best Paint Colors for Your Home

  1. Test Before You Commit: Paint swatches on your wall and observe them in different lighting.
  2. Stick to a Cohesive Palette: Use complementary colors to ensure a seamless flow from room to room.
  3. Consider Finishes: Matte for a modern look, satin for durability, and semi-gloss for easy cleaning.

Avoid These Painting Mistakes

Skipping Prep Work: Clean and prime your walls for the best results.

Overlooking Natural Light: Always evaluate how sunlight interacts with your chosen color.

Ignoring Trim: A crisp white trim can highlight your wall colors beautifully.

Why D&R is Your Perfect Partner For Your Renovation

At D&R Painting and Construction, we bring years of experience in helping Atlanta homeowners choose the best color for every room. From expert advice to flawless application, we’re here to make your home transformation seamless and stunning.

Ready to Revamp Your Home?

Choosing the right paint colors can feel daunting, but with this guide, you’re one step closer to creating your dream home. The possibilities are endless, whether you’re leaning toward serene blues, energizing yellows, or bold jewel tones.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and bring your vision to life.

Interior Work

The key to a long lasting interior paint job is all in the preparation. At D&R Painting & construction we always start by covering any and everything that won’t be painted, we the remove any nails in the wall, fill holes, and seal any cracks. We check for mold and mildew, as well as any other signs of water damage. We then apply primer, followed by two coats of paint to the walls and ceiling. We leave your home looking like new and we won’t leave until each of our clients is 100% satisfied with our work!

A Nice Deck Is Essential

A nice stained deck is the essential finishing touch to any beautiful home. With decks being an outside addition to the home, they experience the most wear and tear and are always exposed to the elements. The prep work is the most important part to a long lasting beautiful deck. Pressure washing and striping is important depending on the stain. Since there is moderate traffic in this area, reinforcing certain loose areas is key to keeping good maintenance, and last is applying the stain. It is important to only stain when the wood has had time to dry completely. To avoid premature peeling, we like to leave our customers decks healthy. Therefore, no staining underneath the deck is done as this is how the wood “breathes”. Everyone loves a good cookout and we can give you a beautiful deck to grill on!

Tom Sawyer Used Whitewash and Unskilled Labor

Happy child with painted handsIf you’re considering painting an interior in Vinings or an exterior in Smyrna or any painting project in the greater Atlanta area, it might be a good idea to take a moment and reflect on Mark Twain’s classic tale of white picket fence painting.

As punishment Tom Sawyer is tasked by Aunt Polly to whitewash the fence around her home, a job Tom abhors. But Tom being Tom cons a number of friends to actually pay him for the privilege of painting a section of fence. Tom’s only concerns were having enough lime based paint and unskilled labor to slap it on so he wouldn’t have to lift a brush.

That was good enough for Tom…is it good enough for you? Read more

What Does A Good Painting Job Look Like?

good house paintingWhat’s Your Definition of a Good Paint Job?

When it comes to interior or exterior house painting the term “good” is going to be defined by the homeowner’s objective.  If the house is an upscale home in Smyrna or Vinings that the owner intends to live in long term, then most likely the owner will want a quality job performed that will last 8 to 10 years. Another homeowner may have a house that needs to be painted but doesn’t have the budget to afford top notch job and would settle for getting 4 to 5 years of service out of a house painting.

Then there is the person looking to sell their home. Often times this homeowner just wants a fresh coat of paint as a marketing ploy. So long as it looks good this homeowner could care less how long it will last.

Not surprisingly the cost difference between these three types of “good” can be dramatic. Ironically, in many cases the most expensive price can be the best value when the project is amortized over the life of the paint’s life.

Start at the Top and Work Your Way Down

So why is there such a big difference in cost? It’s not the materials. Granted there can be a $30+ difference per gallon between the lowest quality and best exterior paint but the real cost comes from how the paint is put on the house. Just like paint, painters come in different levels of quality except they aren’t as easy to identify.

Let’s take a look at the top-of-the-line painter who uses best practices regardless of the quality of paint involved. How does he go about performing the task?

Preparation

Preparing the surface to be painted is the biggest part of the project and there is only good preparation or bad. Either the paint sticks to the surface or it blisters, peels or flakes off well before its time. The preparation process is also one of the favorite labor saving shortcuts of less than professional painters.

Here’s what should happen.

Read more

How to Choose an Atlanta Area Painting Contractor

painterFor our first blog post for 2015, we’ve decided to touch on a topic that most people struggle with: how to choose a painting contractor. Since you only paint your home once every few years, most people don’t have a go-to painting contractor that they know they can trust, and it is difficult to sift out the reputable companies that will offer you the best quality for your money from the countless fly-by-night painters that will leave you with paint that is peeling and cracking within a matter of months. So, here are some helpful tips for when you go about your search for your next painting contractor.

In the greater Atlanta area homeowners and businesses can pick and choose from hundreds of painting contractors for their interior or exterior painting projects. While having a large selection of contractors sounds like a good idea, actually choosing one can become an involved process but one that is well worth the time and effort.

The first thing you need to do is whittle the choices down to four or five and the fastest way to do that is to ask your neighbors and network of friends if they have any recommendations. Satisfied customers are eager to pass on a name of a quality painting company. Conversely, they are quick to warn you of a painter they had a bad experience with.

If your list is still short you can visit online directories to flesh it out. Review their services but don’t discount a painter strictly on location. At Douglasville based D&R we have customers from ranging from Villa Rica to Marietta and Smyrna.

With list in hand call each contractor and ask:

  1. How long have you been in business?
  2. Do you have a Georgia business license?
  3. Are you insured?
  4. Can you provide references?
  5. Do you offer a warranty on your work?
  6. When can you see the house and provide a quote?

You can tell a lot just from the phone call. Was the contractor courteous and professional? Did it sound like they were busy (that can be a good thing)? If you left them a message how fast did Read more