The Single Best Strategy To Use For Decks of America



Most sundecks beyond the simple BBQ deck included with many homes will be custom additions to an existing structure. And like most custom building projects, the more thought you put in, the better the result. This means your new sundeck doesn't begin with the first nail, but instead, with the first pencil line made in your sketchbook.

A great place to start is by determining the deck's shape using a bird's eye or "plan view" sketch. Simply draw a line representing your house wall, adding to it the shape you envision for your deck. When you consider that most decks are about playtime, it makes sense somehow that the sticking to right angles at the design stage may not make for the best sun deck design.

While you are outside walking the shape or "footprint" of your favourite sketches, think about levels, or "elevations." Raising or lowering a deck level in places by even a single step can add greatly to a deck's look and feel. Once an approximate idea of the deck's footprint seems to work, consider points of access to the deck if any, and whether stairs are needed.

Thinking about elevations in decks is important for a couple of other reasons, the first being that most deck surfaces have joists supporting them. The bottom of these should be about eight inches (20 cm) above the ground in wetter areas to protect woodwork. An even more pressing consideration is railings. In general, if a deck surface is more than two feet above ground, a railing is required. A higher railing is needed if over six feet. In my view, any elevation change on a deck should be obvious. Some mark elevation changes with planters or other obstructions for safety.

Roofed areas increase the amount of time a deck can be used in a year in many regions. Naturally, any deck roof should not conflict with the existing building, but this is true of your deck on the whole.

Probably the biggest question in deck design is how it will be surfaced. Whichever is chosen, an important feature of any deck board will be rot resistance. Most people will stain their slatted deck surface, which will help to decrease the threat of wood rot and keep wood looking fresh.

The main alternative to wood is a vinyl membrane. This membrane style comes in many colours and textures, and unlike a slat surface, will not require re-staining, but only a good cleaning from time to time. Another advantage with a membrane surface is that it will help to keep areas underneath dry. As these finishes are getting better all the time, some building authorities will accept a vinyl membrane over an enclosed living area.

Whether using wood or vinyl to surface a deck, if the area underneath is open to the elements, it is a good idea to take measures that will inhibit weed growth. If the deck is only slightly above ground level or "grade," this should be done as soon as the deck's footing supports are in place, as it will be difficult to do once other support framing is installed.

With these main elements of deck design considered, now is a good time to consider other details. The wood lovers will likely gravitate to wood railings, but as is the case with wood deck surfaces, these will likely need to be stained, too. Thinking about minimising time spent maintaining a deck is a good idea, this because sundecks are all about leisure, and spending leisure time working on a deck doesn't make a lot of sense.

If not, review the work of carpenters and deck builders in your area. Chances are they've built a few decks and their know-how should prove a valuable resource. At this stage, determine if your deck will need to be permitted by your local building authority.

If there is one main structural consideration in deck building, it is the question of whether or not to attach your deck directly to existing work. If the a main building and deck are constructed simultaneously and a membrane surface has been chosen, it is usually easier to "hang" the deck frame from the main building, and the membrane will be run up the main building's wall. When a deck and building are not attached, there is almost no chance at all of the deck rotting out the building, a classic problem necessitating expensive repairs down the road.

Like all building projects, deck design is underwritten by a philosophy. It should match existing work as closely as possible, resist the elements well, and some would say most importantly, be a pleasure to use. And like all building projects, rushing at any stage of design and construction will be to the project's detriment. So take your time, determine and collect your materials as soon as possible, and be sure to keep in mind at all times the main reason for a sundeck: making the most of leisure time.

Most sundecks beyond the simple BBQ deck included with many homes will be custom additions to an existing structure. And like most custom building projects, the more thought you put in, the better the result.

Whether building yourself or hiring out, initial planning should be done by those who will be using the deck. Simply draw a line representing your house wall, adding to it the shape you envision for your deck. When you consider that most decks are about playtime, it makes sense somehow that the sticking to right angles at the design stage may not make for the best sun deck design.

While you are outside walking the shape or "footprint" of your favourite sketches, think about levels, or "elevations." Raising or lowering a deck level in places by even a single step can add greatly to a deck's look and feel. Once an approximate idea of the deck's footprint seems to work, consider points of access to the deck if any, and whether stairs are needed.

Thinking about elevations in decks is important for a couple of other reasons, the first being that most deck surfaces have joists supporting them. In general, if a deck surface is more than two feet above ground, a railing more info is required. In my view, any elevation change on a deck should be obvious.

Roofed areas increase the amount of time a deck can be used in a year in many regions. Naturally, any deck roof should not conflict with the existing building, but this is true of your deck on the whole.

Probably the biggest question in deck design is how it will be surfaced. Whichever is chosen, an important feature of any deck board will be rot resistance. Most people will stain their slatted deck surface, which will help to decrease the threat of wood rot and keep wood looking fresh.

The main alternative to wood is a vinyl membrane. As these finishes are getting better all the time, some building authorities will accept a vinyl membrane over an enclosed living area.

Whether using wood or vinyl to surface a deck, if the area underneath is open to the elements, it is a good idea to take measures that will inhibit weed growth. If the deck is only slightly above ground level or "grade," this should be done as soon as the deck's footing supports are in place, as it will be difficult to do once other support framing is installed. Taking steps to inhibit weed growth is particularly important with slatted surfaces as any water is intended to pass through the gaps in slats as opposed to draining off as with a membrane. We use a high quality landscape fabric held in place by gravel, and a little time spent here will save a lot of weeding time later.

With these main elements of deck design considered, now is a good time to consider other details. The wood lovers will likely gravitate to wood railings, but as is the case with wood deck surfaces, these will likely need to be stained, too. Thinking about minimising time spent maintaining a deck is a good idea, this because sundecks are all about leisure, and spending leisure time working on a deck doesn't make a lot of sense.

With most of the nuts and bolts of your deck design considered, now is the time to take your thinking to the next level: building. You're ready to get going if you're confident about your carpentry skills. If not, review the work of carpenters and deck builders in your area. Chances are they've built a few decks and their know-how should prove a valuable resource. Also at this stage, determine if your deck will need to be permitted by your local building authority. Though not all inspectors will offer advice, they may tell you how they would attend to certain challenges themselves, and will, at the very least, prevent you from making great mistakes if you're just starting out.

If there is one main structural consideration in deck building, it is the question of whether or not to attach your deck directly to existing work. This is largely a waterproofing issue. If the a main building and deck are constructed simultaneously and a membrane surface has been chosen, it is usually easier to "hang" the deck frame from the main building, and the membrane will be run up the main building's wall. This will help ensure water will not penetrate a building envelope. If slats are used, however, it is much more difficult to keep rain and cleaning water out of the building. In this event, we run a row of footings beside the house wall, making sure there is only about a one inch (2.5 cm) gap between the deck surface and the building's cladding. This way, the deck will only look like it's attached to the main building, and the untouched cladding will resist penetration as it would whether a deck is there or not. Yes, an extra row of support footings is an additional expense, but so is the effort of removing cladding to attach deck framing. As well, when a deck and building are not attached, there is almost no chance at all of the deck rotting out the building, a classic problem necessitating expensive repairs down the road.

No matter how big or small it may be, a custom deck adds definite beauty and functionality to your home. It is in fact an extension to your living space. The good news is these days there is an amazing range of stylish and high quality decking materials in the market so you have more flexibility than ever before to design the deck of your dreams. In fact, your only limiting factor when building an outdoor porch is your area building code. Whatever your plans are you will need to first check out the building codes of your area and see if your custom deck will conform to these codes or you may find that you have to break it down and re build it to within the laid down specifications.

Here are just some of the factors that are involved in building a custom deck.

Location, Size & Area Codes

Before you go ahead with making detailed plans, you are going to have to decide the exact location where you intend to build your deck and the size of the intended deck. Even if your area building code allows you to construct a full deck, you need to determine if there are other physical or space limitations.

Choosing The Right Material

Wood, especially weather resistant varieties such as redwood, cyprus and cedar used to be the most popular material for building custom decks but things are changing now and more homeowners are preferring to use resin materials or wood that is pre-treated with preservatives. Because these newer materials are sturdier than their older counterparts and will last longer even with minimal maintenance and care, this is. This can save you a whole lot of time and money in the long run.

Don't Get Caught In The DIY Trap

Naturally, any deck roof should not conflict with the existing building, but this is true of your deck on the whole. If the deck is only slightly above ground level or "grade," this should be done as soon as the deck's footing supports are in place, as it will be difficult to do once other support framing is installed. If there is one main structural consideration in deck building, it is the question of whether or not to attach your deck directly to existing work. When you consider that most decks are about playtime, it makes sense somehow that the sticking to right angles at the design stage may not make for the best sun deck design. Thinking about minimising time spent maintaining a deck is a good idea, this because sundecks are all about leisure, and spending leisure time working on a deck doesn't make a lot of sense.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *