About Deck Building

Decks can be built as free-standing entities or can be attached to a house or any other building to add to the usable space. Wooden decks are especially advantageous during the warmer summer months when your wooden patio might be just the perfect place to enjoy that outdoor barbecue or after-dinner cordial. No matter what the intended use may be, a deck is bound to increase the enjoyment of your living space.

Types

Decks come in many varied shapes and sizes, plus they might contain an overhead roof to keep out the rain and sun. One very popular combination of platform and shelter is an eight-sided octagon deck with a gazebo built right over the top to act as a roof and sunshade. Square- or rectangular-shaped decks are the most common, but many an innovative designer has come up with creations that are circular, triangular, eight-sided or free-form. In fact, a deck is best designed to use the available space that already exists at your place of residence.

Features

Wooden decks need to be built on piers to raise the level of the platform above the ground for at least a half-a-foot or more. Most commonly a pier is nothing more than a concrete footing that penetrates the ground level for several feet. A small deck can get by with four piers, one at each corner, but larger platforms will require more support. On top of the footings goes the frame, which will invariably be constructed from standard-sized framing timbers. This system of joists is almost identical to the floor support system found in most wooden frame houses. On top of the joists goes the decking. These are the floorboards, which are spaced apart by a small distance to allow for proper training. The pieces of timber used for floorboards need to be at least 1½ inches thick and treated in such a way that they are water repellent. Finally, there are the steps and handrails that can be added to the side of the deck. The same goes for the roof that is occasionally added to provide protection from rain and sun.

Materials

Outdoor decks are almost always built from wood. Sometimes planking can be used that is naturally water resistant. The most common types of wood used is cedar, redwood or cypress. The other common option is to use a cheaper wood and then either paint the wood or treat the raw material with a sealer. If you paint, be sure to use a good primer-sealer and then cover the first coat with a heavy-duty deck paint. Another option is to use pressure-treated wood, but this method is not as common as it once was, due to health issues that arise during the manufacturing process.

Location

Choosing the right location for your deck is of the utmost importance. Decks are usually placed on the backside of your house for privacy reasons. It is good idea, but not absolutely necessary, to place your deck at a height and position, where an existing exterior doorway to the main building can be used to walk out onto a wooden platform. This entrance can even be on the second floor, but a deck at ground level is most common. Also be aware that you can build a free-standing deck, which can be placed anywhere in your back yard, even out by the pool.

Options

A roof is one option for your deck. Be alerted to the fact that these constructions can involve plenty of materials and construction time. In any event, plan ahead when constructing a roof or gazebo. Most common is the likelihood that you will have to add steps and guard rails to your outdoor creation. These need to be done carefully and you must pay attention to safe and acceptable construction techniques. The larger the deck, the more necessary it becomes to build more than one set of stairs. For the stair stringers, try to avoid cutting into the support planks, but instead use the entire board and lay your steps in between the two supports. Use the same spacing between steps, as if you were building them inside. With a rail it is important to use the base frame as part of the support for the whole system. These means extending the vertical support an extra 8 to 10 inches along side the exterior frame. Also, when installing the hand rail, be sure to cover all possible places where a visitor needs protection. A thorough sanding is also recommended before constructing the hand rail.