Homeowner Answers
Straight answers for owning, repairing and improving your home.
Plain-language answers to the questions homeowners actually ask, written and reviewed by Owners & Homes.
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Decks and Exteriors
Is a deck worth the investment?
A deck is usually worth it if you will actually use it, and marginal if you are building it purely for resale. A pressure-treated wood deck typically costs $25 to $45 per square foot installed and recovers around 50 to 65 percent at sale; composite runs $40 to $70 per square foot with similar recovery but far less maintenance. The stronger argument for a deck is lifestyle: it adds usable living space at a fraction of the cost of interior square footage.
Reviewed September 2026
Decks and Exteriors
Are replacement windows worth the cost?
Replacement windows are worth it when the existing units are failing — rotted frames, broken seals, sashes that will not operate or lock — and less compelling when the goal is purely energy savings. Installed costs commonly run $650 to $1,400 per window, and energy savings alone typically take fifteen years or more to repay that. The stronger arguments are comfort, noise, security, maintenance and resale presentation, where windows do measurably well.
Reviewed September 2026
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