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This was the case in the children's fable, The Ugly Duckling; the famous story of an unsightly duck who transforms into a gorgeous swan.
Just the same, in July 2010, What's Up? Annapolis' readers were offered the opportunity to enter photographs of their weathered and worn outdoor decks into a contest for a and-new, state-of-the-art deck. It took nearly one year to finalize permits for the contest's lucky winner, but the result is marvelous.
In this month's real estate column, we take a look back on this special contest coordinated by What's Up? Annapolis and reveal the magnificent conclusion. If you're a homeowner, take note—a deck transformation, or addition, could add serious value to your property's appraisal and first impression (a key selling point).
Multiple vendors—including Lundberg Builders, 84 Lumber, and TrexTranscend—pooled their resources to provide the material for and build a 400-square-foot deck for 82-year-old Betsy Cord of Millersville, Maryland. Cord is a former business owner, who partnered with her husband, Ted, managing Camp Parole Liquors—a.k.a. Parole Liquors—in the early-1980s. The couple retired to their Millersville home, where Ted passed away 11 years ago.
Betsy has lived in the same house—a single family home tucked away off rural Dicus Mill Rd. and nestled in the woods—for more than 30 years. She is the proud mother of four and grandmother to seven, and notes that keeping her outdoor property in shape has been a challenge, particularly her old wood deck, which certainly showed its age in the contest photographs our editors received.
Many of the wooden planks were cracked and splintering quite badly, the railings unstable, and the framework hazardous. Her photographs told the tale and won her the new deck. It took much conversation with the county Department of Permits to approve the new deck construction, but in time, all pieces to this well-deserved puzzle came into place.
Lundberg Builders designed and built the new deck, beginning construction this past May. The deck utilized pressure-treated lumber supplied by 84 Lumber for the foundation framework and TrexTranscend for the actual decking and railing. By day seven of construction, Betsy's new deck was complete and she quickly went to task outfitting it with new outdoor furniture and plants (a hobby of hers).
Betsy was more than happy with the result. “I want to thank everyone for all of their efforts. The finished product is so pretty and safe feeling.”
Congratulations to Betsy Cord and special thanks the crew of Lundberg Builders who built the deck and to 84 Lumber and TrexTrascend for their generous contribution of supplies to this project.
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