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Things to Consider When Building a Deck

Size: Just like an empty room in a house, it looks big with no furniture. Once you add a table, chairs, and a BBQ, it shrinks. Make sure it's big enough to hold all the outdoor furniture you plan on putting on the deck, plus room for people. Optimizing material with a good design can grow your deck without a lot of extra cost. A 15' wide deck can become a 16' wide deck through good material usage and a few more deck boards.

Levels and height: Avoid a step down at the door or doorwall. This extends the living space of your home because the deck appears to be a continuation of the floor in the home. A one level deck makes furniture placement a breeze as every square foot can be used. Extra levels need to be big enough to be useful. Too small a space will go unused.

Stair placement: Stairs to the yard need to be placed where they create a good flow to the backyard space.  Walking down steps running to the left when the yard is to the right just adds distance. Placing stairways inside of the deck rectangle can eliminate problem placement. Good design is a must. Consider landscaping requirements when placing stairs.

Railing: Back in the day, stripping and refinishing a deck was a hassle, but the railing and balusters were impossible! Building a deck with today's composites eliminates having to deal with the deck surface and composite railing eliminates the really tough refinishing of the rail system. As a bonus, most composite rail systems go together faster than a tradition wood rail. While most composite deck manufacturers have color matched rail, you can also mix and match colors. A contrasting rail color can look great. 

Exposure/shade: Decks built on the West side of a home can create a warm space in the early evening. Consider planting shade trees that will grow to shade the space in the late afternoon. With other exposures, determine when sun will be on the deck surface and plan accordingly. With a little forethought and a little time, trees can offer free shade while looking beautiful and they are great for the environment.

Skirting: Lattice is the typical skirting material when you'd like grass right up to the deck. Lattice is also great for keeping most animals from getting under the deck. It doesn't end with lattice. There are many beautiful ways to skirt a deck. Consider a removable or hinged door to allow storage of a few items under the deck if the height allows. Depending on the height of the deck, landscaping the area surrounding the deck adds beauty. Hostas or some other low maintenance plants can compliment the look.

Fasteners: Hidden fasteners offer a clean, smooth deck surface free from any nails or screws. There is more labor involved in using hidden fasteners, but the years of enjoyment make it worthwhile. Color matched screws are available for those choosing to not use hidden fasteners.

John's Lumber takes pride in offering you the best material and ideas to make your deck the talk of the neighborhood!