(BPT) - As temperatures increase, your thoughts may wander to spending time outside sharing conversation, drinks and meals with friends and family.

For many homeowners, that can mean renovating an existing gathering spot or replacing it with a new deck. A well-planned deck can increase a home’s value and usable space.

“We see an awful lot of homebuilders building smaller, more cost-effective homes, especially in the last few years,” says Seattle-based deck builder Ron Spillers, owner of West Coast Decks. “A lot of them don’t have as much space, so people want to capture more outdoor living space, and they do that with a deck.”