How to Plan a Wooden Deck
Building a wooden deck can enhance the appearance and usefulness of your back yard. A deck can be a great place to enjoy a meal, relax or read a good book. If you are interested in building a wood deck, you will need to begin by creating a wooden deck design plan.
- Choose the location of your new deck. In most cases, decks are attached to a home, either off of a back or side door. If you have a pool, guest home or other interesting feature, you might consider building a deck in that location. Take into consideration the location of utility lines and other features of your home, such as chimneys, downspouts or septic tanks. Before deciding on a location, check with your local zoning regulations to see if there are any rules regarding deck construction.
- Decide how large you want your deck to be. You should spend some time thinking about how you plan to use the deck. If you plan to use it as a gathering space, it should be large enough to accommodate a table, chairs and possibly a grill or fire pit. If you plan on installing a hot tub, check to see that it is large enough to hold the tub and allow for people to safely walk around the deck. Determine what shape will best meet your needs.
- Mark out the area. Use stakes and colored tape to tentatively mark out the size, shape and location of your new deck. This will help you to visualize the deck in its new location and will also alert you to possible size or shape issues.
- Decide on the materials that you wish to use. There are many types of wood that can be used in deck construction. You will also need to decide whether you want to use pressure-treated wood to build the deck. There are also many vinyl and composite options available to choose from.
- Consider your deck features. If you want the deck to have railings, planters, stairs or two levels, add these into your design. Create a sketch and draw your deck design to scale. Take this design to your local home improvement store to get a cost estimate and a list of the supplies that you will need.