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Deck Design Fundamentals
It may be wintertime and a bit early to be rolling up shirtsleeves to start the New Year's resolution of building that dream backyard deck. Don’t panic! The most important part of building a deck is the planning. This article will cover deck building fundamentals and future articles will go into depth with some fun ways to build and finish a deck.
Research Legal Deck Building Restrictions
There are number of things that affect deck building. Be informed. These restrictions might include…
- Zoning Ordinances – What percentage of a residential lot may contain a structure?
- City Easements – How close to the property line can a homeowner build?
- Neighborhood Associations – Does a homeowner need special permission? Are there special restrictions?
- Building Permits – Does the city or municipality require permits and inspections for a deck DIY project?
Choosing a Great Deck Location
A good deck location will have a strong bearing on how much use a deck will get. Here are some considerations…
- East, West, North, and South – The geographic zone the deck will be located in matters. This helps determine how the deck should be oriented. Maximize or minimize the sunlight?
- The View – There are a few things that should be considered here. Which view is most attractive? How to best keep an eye on the kids playing in the yard or pool? If the deck incorporates a hot tub, what’s the best way to avoid the nosy neighbor when one of those midnight tub parties happens?
- Deck Accessibility – Which door will be used to access the deck?
Make a Rough Sketch of the Deck
Now that a general concept of the orientation of the deck has been fleshed out, it’s time to sit down and make a to-scale sketch of the deck, house, and property lines. Play with different ideas about the size and shape of the deck. Make sure it works in the yard. Some things to consider…
- Locate and sketch underground utilities, outdoor faucets, and gutter and downspouts.
- Make note of the views and neighbors as identified earlier.
- Draw in existing trees and shrubbery.
- Make note of ground level changes.
Experiment with Deck Design
Okay, the rough sketch has been done and best orientation of the dream deck has been identified (probably with compromises). Now it gets fun. One of the great things about backyard deck design is that there are so many customizations…
- Basic Deck – This is simply square or rectangular, with or without handrails or stairs/steps.
- Basic Deck with Corner Cutoffs – This is a more visually appealing version. The outer corners are cut off at a 45 degree angle with steps to the yard.
- Multi-Level Deck – Why settle for one level when more is better? Imagine, the ground level deck comes off the home at door level and a secondary deck ties into it and steps up 6 inches or so.
- Wraparound Deck – This type of deck wraps around the outside corner of the home. This is a good choice when dealing with a fierce sun (or that nosy neighbor’s hot tub view).
- Freestanding Deck – This deck isn’t connected to the house at all. It works well in a garden or backyard pond setting.
- Hot Tub Deck – The hot tub is elevated level from the basic deck with a skirt to cover the hot tub’s base.
All of these designs can be mixed and matched. Have fun with them!
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