Making Decisions About Wood Deck Design
Depending on the material you choose for your decking material, a multitude of deck designs are available. Concrete and wood are the main alternatives and determine what is and is not possible with your design.
Locating Wood Deck Design Ideas
Wood deck design ideas are readily available, most often right in your own neighborhood or town, driving around looking at what other homeowners have chosen can help you to see the physical design advantages and disadvantages. Media outlets such as television, magazines, the internet, or even book resources at your local home center or library can provide a wealth of ideas. Commercially available software packages allow you to specify your wood deck design and see in on your computer screen before committing any money for materials.
Putting Your Wood Deck Design on Paper:
After weighing your options, determining your needs, sorting through your options and working out your budget it’s time to finalize your plan and get specific. If the chosen wood deck design comes from a book or computer program on your PC this step will be easier. If you prefer and have the funds in your budget, you may hire a local contractor to put the plan onto paper and suggest options. In order to ensure the safety of your design and compliance with local laws, have your local housing inspector or municipal official approve your design. The approval/permit step is imperative.
Because there are so many different factors to consider, wood deck designs are generally flexible and each one is unique in some way. No one plan will work for everyone. The design must be compliant with local building codes, robust in construction and meet the design parameters you have determined are important for your application.
Considering the Wood Deck Design details
After determining that your wood deck design has met all legal and safety requirements, your design should be composed of materials which will lend long life and provide a stout platform for your outdoor activities. All of the materials needed for construction will need to be specified down to the specific lumber dimensions, etc. Among the other details you should consider with your wood deck design are pictures and diagrams from different angles so you will be able to refer to them during the construction phase of the project.
Among the details to consider in your wood deck design include the size of the deck in relation to the size of the home. The design should consider appliances or activities which will be common in the area, grills, furniture, entertainment equipment, etc. From an aesthetic point of view avoid specifying a small deck for a large home, at the same time a large deck on a small home can be just as unpleasing.
Specifying Wood For Your Wood Deck Design
Wood decks are subject to all seasons and elements, so the species of wood and type of wood you choose should be robust and able to withstand the punishment it will receive from the weather. Insects, rain, snow, heat and cold all promote decay in wood. Pressure treated wood is designed to resist to decay and is almost a de-facto requirement for outdoor wood projects such as wood decks. There are certain species of woods which are naturally resistant to rot and decay which may be specified in wood deck design books or plans. Cost and availability of materials should be given careful consideration if you plan to specify one of these specialty woods.
Costing the Wood Deck Design
Once you have finalized the plan for your project it’s time to put a dollar figure on the project. With your wood deck design in hand and the list of materials you have produced, consult the staff at your local home center or lumber yard. The staff will be able to provide you with costs for each board required for your design. After determining this materials cost, it’s time to talk to your contractor or labor source and determine what the labor costs will be. With the plan and project cost estimate in hand you are ready to prep your site and begin!
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