lakefront homes - Orlando and Clermont Real Estate

What Material Should You Choose for a Lakeside Deck or Dock?

One of the reasons most people move to a lake home is to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Now that you have an amazing place right in your own yard to do that, you want to set up your yard with things that will help you to do so. Building a deck or a dock at your lake home is a great way to enjoy your property.

Whether you need to replace an aging deck or dock or build a whole new one, you may be wondering what the best material is to do it. Here is a list of standard deck/dock building materials and the pros and cons of each to help you with your decision.

Pressure Treated Wood

Pros: This is a very budget-friendly material choice in comparison to others like composites or vinyl. Wood gives more design freedom with the ability to cut in into almost any shape imaginable, you can stain it any color your choose, or paint it. If you get tired of the color you can sand it down and re-do it to make it a completely new color.

Cons: The upkeep. Wood needs to be cared for well. It is the difference between your deck or dock lasting 10 years or 20 years. The best care for a wood deck/dock is refinishing it every two to three years.

Composite Planks

Pros: Probably the most famous or widely known composite product is Trex. Composite planks are made up of a 50/50 mix of plastic (most products use recycled grocery bags) and wood scraps. Maintenance is almost non-existent with composite planks. You don’t have to pressure wash or re-finish and warping is pretty much non-existent.

Cons: Low maintenance does not mean no maintenance. Composite decking does require periodic cleaning by sweeping and washing. Composites are prone to mildew stains if they are not cleaned.

Composite planks are also heavier than other materials so they will require more joist support than a traditional wood.

Once you pick a color, that is the color you get. There is no re-finishing which is a pro on the maintenance side, but could be a con if you don’t want to commit to a certain style for a long time.

Vinyl-Based Boards

Pros: Very low maintenance, even less than composite planks. Vinyl planks are non-porous and as such there is a low chance for mold and mildew. The color is solid all the way through the material so if there is a scratch it will be very hard to notice. Vinyl is lighter than composite so it requires less structure to hold it up.

Cons: The cost is much higher than other materials, but it is an investment all up front rather than paying to periodically maintain it. There is more of a plastic feel to vinyl than a natural wood feel. The adjoining versions are limited to linear designs and come in just a few colors, but there are some vinyl versions that come in regular board form that allow a little more design freedom.

Composite Vinyl Blends

Pros: This is a very new material just on the market. Currently the product available is Transcend by Trex, it is made with a vinyl type shell or outer layer over three sides to help with the mold issue of plain composite boards. Though it has the vinyl shell, it still looks like wood as opposed to the more plastic look of vinyl boards. Currently the product has a 25 year warranty for fading and staining.

Cons: The cost is a big investment. It is also a significantly heavy material and will require more support than other materials, but once it is constructed it won’t be going anywhere.

So the decision of what building material is best for your deck/dock really depends on what you are building and the price you want or can pay. Each material has its benefits and draw backs.

For more information on living on the lake and lake homes in Clermont please browse the website and/or contact me anytime!

If you enjoyed this info you might like these too:

Ways Lakefront Living Can Reduce Stress

If you have always dreamed about living in a home on one of Florida’s amazing lakes, now is the time to purchase one, because we are about to share with you a huge benefit of living on the water. There has been a study conducted and scientists found that living on the water reduces stress and improves overall well-being.

The inspiration for the study came after conducting a similar study about the effects of living in greener areas (around dense trees or near forests) on women’s health. They found that women who reside in greener spaces tend to live longer, so they became curious about the effect living near the water might have.

Let’s Find You The Perfect Lakefront Home

The study was conducted by Health and Place an organization that researches the power of nature as therapy for humans. Using national databases, study conductors found that people who lived near water reported less psychological distress. In particular residents of New Zealand that lived on or in a visible distance of the coastline. To further solidify their findings they tested for other factors such as wealth, crime rates, and a few other key factors and the findings of living near the water held true amongst many different variables in the environment.

The added benefits of stress reduction and living on the water include:

Strengthened Immune System: As you reduce your stress levels and increase your relaxation, you just may experience a stronger immune system. Stress is a major enemy of a healthy immune system, in fact, many people do not realize they have a stress problem until other health issues send them to the doctor and once there they are given tips on how to reduce stress to cure their ailment.
Refreshed Lungs: Breathing in fresh air is very beneficial for the lungs. The atmosphere around bodies of water contains negative ions that increase the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. This increase in oxygen boosts your mood (relieving stress) all while filtering out extra dust, allergens, and germs. This is great news for allergy sufferers and anyone prone to frequent colds.
Better Sleep: The sound of water is so soothing and is a great tool to help the mind to relax and then the body can/will follow. A deeper state of relaxation helps you to unwind after a busy day and also helps you to sleep much deeper, making your waking hours all the more enjoyable because you have been well-rested.

For more reasons why it is so amazing to live amongst Florida’s lakes and specifically about living in Clermont and surrounding areas please browse our website. For help finding the perfect Clermont lake home please contact me anytime.

Let’s Find You The Perfect Lakefront Home

More Great Lakefront Tips:

FAQ About Lake Homes You May Not Have Thought About

4 Steps to Take Before Buying Lakefront Property

The Biggest Red Flags When Buying a House

How a Pre-Approval Letter Can Save You Money

Inspection Information for Waterfront or Lakefront Homes:

The Coveted Lakefront Living in Florida

I would like to think there are two different types of people; the first, those who live a luxurious life on the lake, and the second, those who dream of doing so.

There are many obvious reasons why lakefront living seems like a perfect lifestyle, but just in case you need some of these reasons outlined, we will be highlighting a few of them for you.

The first seems like an obvious reason and is simply the thought of the relaxing nights spent sipping a glass of your favorite wine and looking out over the still glass like lake waters. Even if you’ve had a stressful and exhausting day at the office, coming home to the peaceful views over the water is sure to help you calm down and release and alleviate some of the stress the workday caused.

Who doesn’t love playing at the lake? If lake living weren’t such a fun experience, there wouldn’t be public parks on the lake for people to enjoy. By owning a home lakeside, you don’t have to fight for the perfect spot at the park or line your towels on the beach in hopes your spot will be saved because the park will be your back yard.

To add to the fun, you will have unlimited access to all of the fun sports and events the lake has to offer including but not limited to:

swimming,
sailing,
fishing,
kayaking,
paddle boarding,
boating and much more…

The picturesque views of the lake alone are sure to take your breath away, especially during the sunrise and sunsets, spreading a watercolor of colors across the sky. To add to the beauty of your new lakefront home, imagine all the wildlife that will soon become your neighbors. Birds soaring through the air, occasionally hunting for fish and entrancing you with their dives to the water below, the views of the different animals will be enough to keep your attention for years to come.

While the privacy of a lakefront home is one of the key features, there is also a huge opportunity for entertaining. Summer parties, cookouts, birthday’s and more, your home will be the perfect location for it all. Share your home with friends and family and let everyone get a little taste of lakefront living.

More often than not, the community in lake front homes is nearly unbreakable. Your neighbors must also have a love for the outdoors allowing for an easy conversation starter. Grab a couple of beers and sit out on the dock while chatting about your favorite features of the lake, your homes, your lifestyles and more and before you know it you will have BBQs together, boating excursions and much more.

Take a leap and begin your search for the perfect lakefront property to call home. Soak in everything this laid back lifestyle has to offer with a beautiful home on a picture perfect piece of property. Sip your morning coffee with the sunrise spreading across the lake, and enjoy your dinner on the back deck with nothing but the breeze and lake in view. This lifestyle could be yours, so why wait?

More Great Info on Lakefront Homes:

LANDSCAPING A LAKEFRONT HOME IN FLORIDA

4 STEPS TO TAKE BEFORE BUYING LAKEFRONT PROPERTY

WHAT INSPECTORS LOOK FOR ON LAKEFRONT HOMES

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WHEN BUYING WATERFRONT HOMES

CLERMONT WATERFRONT PROPERTIES: LAKES VS. RIVERS

LAKEFRONT HOME, BOAT AND DOCK CARE

Lakefront Homes Around the Area:

Overlook at Lake Louisa

Crescent Lake Homes

Homes on Lake Louisa

Homes on Lake Minneola

3 Things to Know About Homes with Docks

Three Things to Know About Docks When Buying a Home on a Lake with a Dock

Learn What You can Do Now that You Have a Dock

Find out what you can do with your Orlando lakefront property. If you want to make any changes to your waterfront property, such as adding to your dock or building a seawall, start this process early to ensure that these alterations will be possible. Government agencies can be very strict to deal with, and you don’t want to commit to purchasing a million-dollar home without knowing that you can really do what you want to make it your own. Also find out what kind of activities are allowed on the lake, as some areas have restrictions on jet skis, speedboats and other watercraft.

Winter Care of Your Dock

In winter months, caring for your dock may mean a pipe dock needs to be removed, and a floating dock should either be removed or relocated to a sheltered spot. Lift docks should be winched up so that the legs closest to the shore are at least five feet above the normal summertime water level.

The only dock that remains in its spot is a permanent dock, which, due to its construction, is able to withstand a certain buildup of ice. However, in an area where there may be an extraordinary amount of ice, it might be necessary to install de-icers around the dock legs. These de-icers oscillate the water so that ice doesn’t build up and cause damage.

Dock Safety

Docks can easily break loose and become a hazard if they’re not properly maintained to accommodate stresses created by wind, waves, current, boat wakes and fluctuating lake levels. Furthermore, dock owners are responsible for damage caused by their docks breaking loose, washing away or presenting a hazard to navigation.

You should also know Safety Standards for Residential Docks on Lakes sets out maximum distances docks may be from shores. The standards apply even when lake levels are low. The shoreline is wherever the water meets the land. Boat docks should never be moved so far that they extend into the middle of the river channel or pose a threat to other boaters.

Home Inspection Concerns for Lake Front Homes in Clermont

Buying waterfront property can be complex and you should work with an agent who is familiar with this type of investing. The following are four concerns when it comes to the inspection on a lake front home.

Four Inspection Concerns on Lake Front Homes

1) Have the inspector check the slope and terrain of the property for proper drainage of rain water away from the home. This is even more important when living where the soil is already moist from being near a lake.

If you have a dock, get that inspected too for sagging or any other problems. You might be able to get the seller to finance any repairs or replacements.

2) Purchasing a home with a septic tank? The septic system needs to be inspected to ensure that it’s being properly serviced and that no waste is leaking into the soil or lake. Additionally, once you own the home, make certain to have the tank pumped out every two years to prevent back ups and run offs into the lake.

3) Check for buggy bothers and wood damage. If termite damage is discovered on the inspection, you can have the seller pay for it before the deal goes through. Or you might find wood damage which might be caused by moisture traveling up from the lake to the house through the soil resulting in mold. Mold eats structures and is hazardous to your health as well.

4) Has your house been swimming? An inspector will be able to tell if the house has flooded and if it happens often. Flood waters cause a lot of damage to electrical systems, foundations, wood and can also cause mold. These damages can be quite severe and extremely expensive to fix.

If the home has signs of flooding you should probably just walk away from it. If you’re considering raising the home, and it’s possible and you’re willing to pay the hefty price to do it, talk to surveyors and contractors. Many water front home owners are now raising their homes because they want to remain where they are, but need to prevent future flooding.