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!

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Is It Important to Use an Experienced Lakefront Realtor?

Purchasing a lakefront home is much different from purchasing another type of property. In a lakefront home purchase you are not just purchasing a home you are purchasing part ownership in the lake as well as a whole new lifestyle. There are many questions and things to consider when buying a lakefront property and no two lakes are exactly alike. When you are considering purchasing a lakefront home or land it is a good idea to hire a local real estate agent experienced with lakefront properties and one that has knowledge about the specific lakes you are interested in living on.

Here are some advantages to hiring a buyers’ agent that is experienced with lake properties.

Knowledge: An agent specializing in lakefront properties makes sure that they know the local lakes in the area that they work and serve. Each lake has its own set of characteristics and special things to note about living next to it, as does each home and the property that surrounds it. An experienced lakefront property buyers’ agent is going to know the right questions to ask not only the seller of the home but also you the buyer as well to ensure that the home you are about to buy is the best fit for what you are hoping and dreaming of.
Saving Time: After your first initial meeting with your lakefront buyers’ agent where you ask the agent questions about their experience and they ask what you are looking for in lakefront property in detail, they will begin all the work of searching for a property that meets your criteria. You don’t have to go through the lengthy search and research process. Hiring a buyers’ agent is like hiring your own personal assistant for your buying process. You can save hours and hours of time by handing of this time-consuming task to someone who already knows the area and will have an expert idea of where to start searching for homes you are looking for.

Free Help: When you hire a buyers’ agent it comes at no cost to you. Traditionally the buyers’ agent earns their commission as a percentage of the total amount of the home selling price and this is paid out of the profit from the sale. So it is sort of like the seller is paying the buyers’ agent as they did help the seller get the home sold.
Guidance: With a buyers’ agent you can be sure that you have a skilled professional in the process that is solely looking out for you to ensure you are protected and aware of every step in the buying process. You can trust that when you ask them questions about the property and purchase that they will be completely honest with your best interests in mind.

Let me help you find your dream Clermont lake home. Contact me any time!

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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

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Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont

There are so many things to love about living in Clermont, and having Lake Louisa State Park in your backyard is one of them. Lake Louisa State Park is a nature lovers playground with 5 larger lakes and many smaller ones. People come from all over to enjoy the park.

Park Activities

Biking

Biking is one of the most popular activities at Lake Louisa State Park. There are seven miles of paved roads that wind through the park and over the rolling hills along with over 20 miles of un-paved multi-use trails. There are also bike available for rent in the park.

Hiking

For a quick walk/day hike many Clermont locals enjoy the half mile nature trail just off of the Lake Louisa Parking lot. There are vast family-friendly hikes throughout that park that wind through the many lakes and rivers. The area does not lake in beauty to take in with 11 different natural ecosystems. With the different many different areas brings a large amount of wildlife that like to call the park home, you may see some of them as you are out adventuring. Keep an eye out for gopher tortoises, osprey, bald eagles, white-tail deer, bobcat, opossum, many different types of squirrels, and a large variety of birds.

Guided hikes are also available for anyone wanting a more educational experience with an opportunity to learn about cultural, historical, and environmental attributes of the park.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is a popular past time around the park because there are so, so many different species of birds in Lake Louisa State Park. It has become such a popular activity that the ranger station offers bird and butterfly watching checklists so you can record just how many different birds you come across.

Horseback Riding

If you would rather travers the trails of Lake Louisa State Park that is also an option. Guided horse tours are offered by P3 Lake Louisa. Two experienced horse wranglers lead the way on gentle trail horses at a relaxing walking pace. This is a awesome experience for horse lovers of all experience levels, ages 8 and up.

P3 Lake Louisa also hosts a trail ride to benefit Howey Horse Haven once a year where horse lovers are encouraged to ride one of the trail horses or bring their horse and ride along on a separate trail. All horses must stay at a walking pace and all proceeds go to benefit the rescue of horses at Howey Horse Haven.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Rent a kayak or canoe and head out on the lake(s) for a day of water fun. Of course, you can also bring your own or you can even sign up for a guided kayak tour. The tour leaves from the shores of the Lake Louisa beach area and journeys out to the mouth of Big Creek. The tour lasts about an hour and forty-five minutes. It includes a guide that will share about points of interest in the park along the journey, and all equipment needed.

Camping

Camping of all types is available in the park from tent glamping to cabin rentals, to primitive group/equestrian/traditional tent camping.

Fishing and Boating

Fishing and boating are permitted on the lakes in the park as long as boats can be hand-carried into the water. There is no public boat launch in the park and gas motorized boats are not permitted, however, electric trolling motors are.

Beach and Playground

Lake Louisa is the only lake with a swimming area for everyone to enjoy and there is a playground nearby as well.

Looking for a home around Lake Louisa? Start Your Online Search Here or simply call me to set up a consultation or showing at any time.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Living on Florida Lakes

How do water level fluctuations affect the value of a lakefront property?

Florida lakes are very dependent upon rainfall for their water levels. While it does rain quite a bit in Florida, rain cycles run in 5 to 10 year cycles of heavy and light rains. Each body of water or chain of lakes has its own fluctuation rate and canals between lakes on a chain have their own unique rate of fluctuation. It is good to know the full depth of a canal before purchasing a home as some canals can leave boats hanging from docks or boathouses for over a year at a time.

Heavy construction areas in Central Florida have also caused some lakes to recede by almost 10 feet. It is good to look into future development plans of surrounding land before purchasing a lake property as well.

It is harder to sell a lake or canal property at times of low water levels. The best way to find out a body of waters fluctuation rates and expectations is to work with a local realtor that is knowledgeable in waterfront properties.

What tests/considerations should be discussed before buying a lakefront Florida

There are more factors to consider when purchasing a lakefront property than if you were to purchase a traditional home. One is the environmental and HOA regulations of what can be going on in your yard on the shore of the lake. Some lakefront properties in large communities have strict HOA rules about whether you can have a dock, what the dock can look like, what you can display in your yard that is visible from the lake, and so on. If there is protected land around the lake that you are looking to purchase on, there may be restrictions on building structures and the amount of allowed clear-cutting as well. This could affect your ability to have a water view if you have to leave certain plants as they are.

It is very important to determine the elevation and location of the flood zone, this involves a survey performed by a specialist. Some other tests that are important for lakefront properties include penetration tests to determine the stability of the soil and percolation tests to determine drainage rates. These tests will need to be performed with plenty of time to back out of the contract if something is found to be a major issue.

What activities are allowed on the lake?

When most people think of a lake they get a picture of boats, water skiing, laying out on floats, jet skis, and other popular high energy activities. Not all Florida lakes are ideal for major water sports. Many Florida lakes are shallow and weedy and have dark or stained water. It is only the larger clearwater lakes that are ideal for these activities.

You want to make sure what type of lake a property sits on before you fall in love with it. If you are hoping for a large lake brimming with activity you may be disappointed to find out the lake a home is on does not allow for motorized watercraft.

What is the water quality of Florida lakes?

Water quality and clarity differ greatly among Florida lakes. There are small spring-fed lakes in Central Florida that can contain clear water visibility up to 6 feet or more. Some lakes are in Cypress marshes and have a black color from the tannin of the cypress trees. Though these lakes look like they might not be swimmable they can be better for swimming as the darker water is not toxic and is a cooler temperature than lighter color waters. It is always smart to ask about the water quality of a lake a home sits on before purchasing as some lakes can be a host to harmful bacteria though, but this is not true of all lakes.

Are you looking for a lakefront home in Clermont, or would like more information about lakefront living? Please contact me anytime. I am an experienced local agent knowledgeable in Clermont lakefront properties.