Adding a Deck to Your Home
In this piece we will be discussing what is essential before you start building a deck or patio of your own. In the linked Houzz piece, they bring up good points, but there are some instances where we felt the need to go a bit more in depth.
That being said, an outdoor living space should be enjoyed to its fullest potential. You’ll want your deck to entice you, your family, and guests to head out and enjoy the nice weather and scenery, all while socializing and swapping stories. There is a wide variety of styles and materials at your disposal, so like the Houzz article expressed, choosing your style and materials is always the first step.
Determining Functionality
We always talk about being sure on which style you’ll go with and keeping your project consistent with it. An important feature that Houzz touched on, that we haven’t truly covered, is choosing your materials and style based on functionality.
- “Typically, people want a deck that’s multipurpose, with areas for eating, cooking and hanging out. But, as with most things, the sky is the limit. So depending on your budget, consider things like an outdoor TV, a fireplace, a fire pit, a hot tub, a kitchen, a water feature and more” (Houzz).
This is an excellent aspect to keep in mind in regards to the success of your project. Knowing what you want the deck, or outdoor living space, to do specifically will help you determine the size, layout, as well as your budget.
Determining Accessibility
- “If you’re adding a deck to a portion of your house that doesn’t have a door, then you’ll have to add an opening, which can increase costs drastically depending on whether you’re planning for a door in a load-bearing wall or not”(Houzz).
While this has some truth, it is not completely set in stone. There are different styles of decking that doesn’t necessarily require that they be directly attached to an entrance to your home. A free standing deck is just one example of a deck that isn’t directly attached to an entrance. Also keep in mind that there are no strict or mandatory guidelines to follow when designing your outdoor living space, so if you want to build a wrap-around deck that isn’t attached to an entrance – but still to your home – then by all means, pursue the design you love!
Head to our recently published article for more decking ideas.
Materials
- “A lot of contractors have had problems with composites in the past, but they’re getting pretty good now,” Jellema says. Composite is about 40 to 50 percent more expensive than real wood, but because you don’t have to keep re-staining it and paying for upkeep, the cost over time can be equal to or less than real wood” (Houzz).
One downside that the article failed to mention, is the fact that composites will absorb much more heat than natural wood materials, meaning that you might just burn your feet on a hot summer day when stepping out on your deck! Whereas materials like Redwood and Cedar will remain cool, even on the hottest days.
Head to our traditional decking page to learn more.
Concluding Thoughts
Overall this piece brings up excellent points, but with our added information we hope that your knowledge grows even more, thus helping you design the perfect deck that you deserve. If any inquiries come up during your shopping and building process, don’t hesitate to contact us so a specialist can facilitate your project.
