Deck101

Before You Build Site & Design

It takes time to study a deck site and compare designs. Fortunately, no one knows your site better than you. And remember a good deck design is not an accident.

A Deck Is A Room

How a deck meets up to your existing floor plan is critical. Decks are more inviting when a door leads directly out from a public room.A popular arrangement is to have sliding patio or french doors leading directly from the kitchen or den onto the deck at the same height as the interior floor. This creates natural circulation and a site line that invites use. For outdoor dining and cooking ,direct route to the kitchen is essential.

The Sun In Your Back Yard

Whether you prefer to sit in the sun or shade, think about what seasons of the year and times of the day you're most likely to want to use your deck. Remember, there are plenty of ways to make attractive shade structures, but only one way to make your deck sunny is to plan for it. Remenber, too, that areas that are sunny in the summer could be blocked in the fall by the shadow of your home.

Winter & Summer Sun

The sun's changing angle is easy to overlook when you are designing your deck. If ,for example, you are designing your deck for winter, try to picture where the sun will be in June. Trees that lose their leaves in thw winter will let much of the winter sun shime through, but evergreens won't.

Mapping Your Environment

Take some time to observe and map the factors that influence your site. Wind: What is the prevailing wind direction ? You may to buffer that side of your deck with a hedge or screen. Noise: Although it's difficult to block noise outdoors, trees and hedges can provide only psychological barriers. Desireable Views: Design your deck to show off landscapes you like. Use an open railing design to preserve your view. Consider too the effects os a change in elevation. The view from your new deck may look entirely different. Privacy: To avoid staring into a neighbor's kitchen, you can design a screen or trellis.

Structure of Your Yard

Your yard may present some of the following deck building challanges. Setback Requirements: Always check with your local building department to find out how close to property lines and driveways you can build. Trees: You may have to build around or near trees. Try not to cut large roots when you dig footings. Soils & Slopes: If your yard drops steeply from your house, you will need tall posts that require extra bracing.

Designing For Your Life Style

Try to map out the major activities you expect to use your deck for. Is there room for everything. Shade: If you like to sit in the shade you may need an umbrella to move about as the sun shifts. Where will you store it? Lighting: If you intend to use your deck at night, plan for outdoor lighting and electrical outlets. You'll probably want at least one weatherproof outlet for appliances. Storage: Few people expect to clutter their decks with toys, garden hoses and tools, but that's just what happens. Try to provide built in storage or an out building for your frequently used items.

Furniture

Make sure your deck is wide enough to accommodate both a seating arrangement and foot traffic.Try to be realistic about how much space is required. A good rule is to have at least 36" of walking area in between objects.

Elbow Room

Don't just measure a table. Add on the seating arrangement you use, plus to get in and out. Don't be cramped outdoors!

Universal Design

Building a deck ia an excellent opportunity to make your home accessible to wheel chairs. You may be able to intergrate a ramp into your design. Ramps should rise no more than 1 inch per foot. Access is also improved by designing wider doorways and landings. Before you start, be sure to consult your local building codes.

Updated:08/06/03 05:15 PM