Deck vs. Patio: Cost, Pros, Cons and How to Choose
Deck or patio? Compare 2025 Cost vs. Value job costs and resale, permits, guard rules, maintenance and site conditions, with a pick by yard type.
Author
Ryan
Ryan writes Home Remodel Guidance's planning guides: the order of a remodel, permits, contracts, budgets and contingencies, room-by-room renovations, and which jobs a homeowner can do versus which need a licensed trade.
Ryan has written most of Home Remodel Guidance, covering a renovation from first plan to final inspection: the sequence of work, permits and inspections, contracts and change orders, contingency budgets, financing and insurance, and guides for kitchens, bathrooms, additions and home systems. His DIY-versus-professional guides separate the jobs a careful homeowner can take on from those that need a licensed electrician, plumber or engineer. Guides on this site cite their sources and are updated when the facts change.
Articles by Ryan
Home Automation During a Renovation: What to Plan and When
When to plan home automation in a remodel: what to decide before demolition, what to rough in before drywall, and what can wait, including neutral wires.
Closet Organization Systems: Layouts, Types and Safe Installation
Compare wire, laminate and custom closet organization systems, plan reach-in and walk-in layouts, and install them safely with correct rod heights.
Pet-Friendly Home Renovations: Practical Solutions
Pet-friendly renovation guide: scratch-resistant floors, washable finishes, pet-safe plants, pet doors, fencing and the household toxins to lock away.
Bathroom Tile Patterns and Materials: How to Choose
Compare porcelain, ceramic, stone and glass tile and the layouts that work in a bathroom, with slip-rating, flatness and waterproofing rules to check.
Exterior Paint Colors: How to Choose for Curb Appeal
Pick exterior paint colors that suit fixed elements, light and local rules, then get the timing, prep, ladder and lead-paint safety steps right.
HVAC Upgrades: Improving Comfort and Reducing Costs
Which HVAC upgrades cut energy costs: duct sealing, a heat pump, right-sized equipment and a smart thermostat, with DOE, ENERGY STAR and cost data.
Sunroom Additions: Cost, ROI, and Design Considerations
What a sunroom addition costs, why resale return is not published nationally, and the design, glass, heating and permit decisions that set the price.
Home Theater Setup: Equipment, Cables, Power and Calibration
Set up a home theater: speaker layouts, display choice, HDMI and in-wall cabling, power planning and calibration steps, with Dolby and HDMI sources.
Minimalist Home Renovation: Simplifying Your Space
Plan a minimalist home renovation step by step: declutter first, simplify surfaces, add hidden storage and light, and check structure, lead and permits.
