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Before you spend $15,000 on a backyard project, you want one answer: will you get that money back? For decks, the honest answer is mostly yes. A well-built deck is one of the few outdoor upgrades that pays you back at resale while you actually enjoy it in the meantime. Below, we break down the real 2026 numbers — wood versus composite, what swings the return, and why Knoxville homeowners tend to land near the top of the range.
Key Takeaways
- A new deck recoups roughly 88–95% of its cost at resale — wood 94.9%, composite 88.5% (Remodeling/Zonda Cost vs. Value).
- Wood decks show a slightly higher percentage return than composite because they cost less upfront — but composite lasts 25+ years versus 10–15 for wood.
- A deck adds visible curb appeal and usable outdoor living space, and warm Southern markets like Knoxville sit on the high end of deck ROI.
Does a deck add value to your home?
Yes. In 2026, the Cost vs. Value report ranks decks among the top 10 projects nationally for cost recouped, with a wood deck recovering 94.9% and a composite deck 88.5% of its cost (Remodeling/Zonda, Cost vs. Value report, 2025). That’s better than most interior remodels, which often return far less.
But “adds value” actually means three different things, and it helps to separate them. There’s resale recoupment (the percentage of your build cost you recover when you sell), appraised value (what an appraiser adds for a permitted, comparable feature), and buyer appeal (how much faster and easier the home sells). A deck moves all three.
According to the 2025 Remodeling Cost vs. Value report, exterior improvements consistently beat large interior remodels on return, and both wood and composite deck additions land in the top 10 projects nationally — wood at #8, composite at #10 (Remodeling/Zonda Cost vs. Value, 2025). For a homeowner deciding whether the project is “worth it,” that’s the headline: a deck is closer to an investment than an expense.
For a full look at local pricing first, see our guide to how much a deck costs in Knoxville.
How much value does a deck actually add?
In 2026, the Remodeling/Zonda Cost vs. Value report puts a wood deck’s resale recoupment at 94.9% and a composite deck’s at 88.5% (Zonda, 2025). More conservative analyses land lower — one estimate puts the typical deck at 65–75% across all materials (iBuyer, 2025) — so treat the high-80s-to-90s as the industry benchmark and the 60s–70s as a cautious floor.
So why does wood “win” on paper? It comes down to upfront cost. Wood is cheaper to install, so you recover a bigger slice of a smaller number. Composite costs more to build, which mathematically lowers the recoup percentage even though buyers value both materials similarly at sale.
A quick honesty note: these numbers move around a lot by year and region. Treat the percentages as a realistic range, not a promise. Want the material-cost side of this decision in detail? Read our breakdown of wood vs. composite deck cost.
Wood vs. composite: which one adds more value?
On paper, wood returns a higher percentage — but composite often wins the long game. In 2026, a wood deck lasts roughly 10–15 years with regular upkeep, while composite commonly lasts 25 to 30+ years (TimberTech, 2025). That longevity changes how a buyer values the deck the day they tour your home.
Here’s the distinction that matters. Resale percentage measures the project the year you sell. Ownership value measures everything in between — the staining, sealing, board replacement, and weekend maintenance you avoid with composite. A five-year-old wood deck may need work before listing; a five-year-old composite deck usually shows like new.
Our take after building both across East Tennessee: if you’re selling within a couple of years, wood’s lower cost can make sense. If this is your long-term home, composite’s durability usually earns its keep. See why we often recommend composite decking for Knoxville homes.
What affects your deck’s ROI in Knoxville?
Location is one of the biggest levers, and Knoxville sits on the favorable side. Deck ROI tends to run higher in warm climates where outdoor living happens most of the year. East Tennessee’s long, mild seasons mean a deck gets used spring through fall — and buyers know it.
Beyond climate, a handful of factors decide where you land in the ROI range:
- Size relative to the home. An oversized deck on a modest house returns less than a deck scaled to the home and yard.
- Material and condition. A clean, well-built deck reads as an asset; a gray, splintering one reads as a repair bill.
- Quality and permitting. A professionally built, permitted deck appraises and inspects more cleanly than a DIY add-on.
- How it connects to the yard. Decks that flow into the landscape and living space feel like real square footage.
There’s no single national number that captures every market, but the pattern in the Cost vs. Value data is consistent: warmer, outdoor-living climates tend to sit toward the upper end of the deck-ROI range — exactly where East Tennessee falls.
Beyond resale: the “use value” of a deck
Here’s what the recoup percentage misses entirely: the years of use you get before you ever sell. A deck adds functional living space — an outdoor room for dinners, morning coffee, and weekend gatherings — and that value doesn’t show up in a single resale statistic.
It also helps when you do list. A deck is one of the most visible exterior upgrades a buyer sees from the yard, and strong curb appeal helps a home stand out and sell faster — especially in a competitive market.
So the full picture is two returns stacked together: the resale recoupment plus years of daily use and faster time-on-market. Most homeowners we work with care more about the second one. A deck you’ll actually live on every weekend isn’t really an expense waiting for a sale — it’s space you bought back.
How to maximize your deck’s return
Want the high end of the ROI range instead of the low end? A few choices make the difference. Build to scale with the home rather than overbuilding. Choose materials buyers in your area actually want. Use a professional, permitted build so the work holds up at inspection and appraisal. And keep it maintained so it shows like an asset, not a chore.
That last point is where wood and composite diverge most. With wood, plan on regular sealing and the occasional board swap. With composite, a wash now and then keeps it sale-ready for decades.
Thinking about adding a deck — or replacing a tired one? Tennessee Deckworks designs and builds permitted, custom decks across the Knoxville metro, and we’ll walk you through the ROI for your specific home. Get a free quote or try our cost estimator to see real numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a deck increase appraisal value?
Yes. A permitted, professionally built deck is treated as a comparable home improvement and factors into appraised value. In 2026, decks recoup roughly 88–95% of cost at resale — wood 94.9%, composite 88.5% (Remodeling/Zonda Cost vs. Value, 2025) — and appraisers weigh a deck’s size, condition, and quality of construction.
Do wood or composite decks add more value?
Wood usually shows a higher resale percentage because it costs less upfront — 94.9% versus 88.5% for composite (Remodeling/Zonda Cost vs. Value, 2025). But composite lasts 25 to 30+ years versus 10–15 for wood (TimberTech, 2025), so it often delivers more long-term ownership value.
How much does a deck cost in Knoxville?
Costs vary by size, material, and design. Wood runs cheaper upfront while composite costs more but lasts longer. For local figures, see our Knoxville deck cost guide and deck replacement cost breakdown.
Is a deck worth it if I’m not selling soon?
Often, yes. Beyond resale recoupment of roughly 88–95% (Cost vs. Value, 2025), a deck adds usable outdoor living space you enjoy every season. In a warm market like Knoxville, that day-to-day use value is frequently the bigger payoff than the eventual resale number.
What size deck gives the best ROI?
A deck scaled proportionally to your home and yard returns the most. Oversized decks on smaller homes recoup a lower percentage, while a right-sized deck reads as natural living space to buyers and appraisers alike.
Conclusion
So — does a deck add value to your home? For most Knoxville homeowners, yes, on two fronts at once:
- Resale: a deck recoups roughly 88–95% of its cost — wood 94.9%, composite 88.5% — landing in the top 10 projects nationally (Cost vs. Value, 2025).
- Ownership: years of usable outdoor living plus a curb-appeal edge that helps the home sell.
- Material choice: wood returns more on paper; composite wins on lifespan and low maintenance.
The smartest move is a deck scaled to your home, built to last, and matched to how you’ll actually use it. Talk to Tennessee Deckworks about a custom design built for East Tennessee — and the return that comes with it.
Sources
- Zonda / Remodeling, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Wood Deck Addition 94.9%, Composite Deck Addition 88.5% cost recouped, national), retrieved 2026-06-22, https://zondahome.com/2025-cost-vs-value-report/
- iBuyer, Does a Deck Add Value to a Home? ROI & Cost Breakdown (65–75% across deck types), retrieved 2026-06-22, https://ibuyer.com/blog/does-a-deck-add-value-to-a-home/
- TimberTech, How Long Does Decking Last? (wood 10–15 yr lifespan; composite 25–30+ yr), retrieved 2026-06-22, https://www.timbertech.com/ideas/how-long-does-decking-last/
