How to Design a Deck

Designing a deck is more then just sketching out a design on a paper and heading to the lumber store or home improvement place to gather the supplies for the deck. Each step will help you arrive at a deck that looks great, and will hold up through many years of active use.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pen
• Paper

1. Figure out what type of budget you can afford for this deck. Decks can range greatly in price, and with a clear budget in mind you will be better able to stick to it. In addition, decks will push up the value of your home, which is great if you plan to sell it, but bad if you have a huge tax bill with your personal dwelling already. Write you budget on the table and circle it.

2. Choose a location for your deck. Will this deck be attached to your house, a swimming pool, or perhaps a freestanding deck? These are all questions that you should be asking your self if you wish to build a deck. An attached deck adds beauty to your home and increases the sell value, but will raise your taxes. If you will be adding this deck to the house, draw a quick sketch of where the deck will be attached.

3. Ask your self if this deck will be a small one that will hold a few chairs, and a small grill. Perhaps you want a huge deck that will hold a swing, picnic table, multiple chairs, and will be used for entertaining. All these questions are important when designing a deck.

4. Decide the layout of the deck you wish to build. How big will it be and will you include a roof or perhaps a special section built on the deck for a grill to cook fabulous meats on as you entertain on your grill? Both of these scenarios will add to the price of your deck but can come in very handy, the roof is obvious but the special section for the grill is not. You add a special section for a grill that extends beyond the deck that can be blocked off so children do not run into it. Of course, you can add a baby gate here to keep pets and animals away from the grill. Sketch a rough drawing on the paper of the layout of your deck.

5. Choose wood that is long lasting and will hold up to extended years and seasons. You will want to purchase only pretreated wood so that it does not rot, and of course, you will need to keep adding a water seal yearly to keep it in great shape. Visit the lumber store with the drawing and ask a qualified professional how much a deck such as this would cost to build.

Tips & Warnings

• Most home improvement stores or lumberyards have the software that will print out a blue print of the deck, which includes cost of materials along with the needed supplies listed.