A deck can be the most beautiful part of any home if it’s designed and made properly. It allows you to go outside and still be in your home, and it’s a perfect place for gatherings whenever your family and friends come to visit. You can consider it as an outdoor extension of your living room. If you enjoy being outdoors, then a nice deck is a must-have. It can be an easy and rewarding summer project if you do your homework on time and do some research before starting. Building a deck requires time and focus, but it will all be worth it once you get to enjoy the shade and relax on your deck.
Budget and restrictions
You want to start by defining your budget. How much are you ready to invest in a new deck? Keep in mind that this will be no cheap project. High-quality materials and equipment, which you will most certainly need if you want to build a deck that will last long, can be pricey. Another thing to consider is whether or not your neighborhood has any restrictions that might prevent you from building a large deck. If yes, then you’ll need to adjust your design to meet specific requirements.
Img source: Trivago.com
Design
The designing stage includes deciding the size of the deck, its dimensions, shape, materials you’re going to use and similar. Do you wish to go with high-quality tropical Ipe wood or cheaper, pressure-treated lumber? Once the basics are put on paper, you can start adding details. Wooden decks are often the most beautiful and popular ones, so if you decide to go with wood instead of PVC for example, you need to define what type of wood you want to use. You can opt for a deck that is attached to your house or a free-standing deck – it’s all about your preferences.
Materials
In order to prevent your deck from collapsing, high-quality fasteners are a must-have. You should use bolts instead of nails since you don’t want the nails to be pulled out and leave you with a collapsed deck. However, you can go with screws in areas with less stress.
Img source: Pinterest.com
Concrete is embedded into the ground for support. You should make sure to pour it deep enough in order for it to be able to withstand any major ground changes.
Pressure-treated wood is a very good and inexpensive choice for decks. It can resist rot and mold, and it even deters insects. That’s why close to 80 percent of decks in the US are made with this material.
Redwood is another typical choice for wooden decks. However, it’s significantly more expensive than pressure-treated wood.
Tropical hardwood is also one of the more luxurious choices, but when you decide to pay around 10 dollars per square foot for this wood, you can be sure that it will last close to 50 years. One major thing you should check when buying tropical hardwood is whether or not it comes from sustainably harvested sources since you don’t want to be hurting the planet by making a pretty deck.
