How To Get Ideas For Your Wood Deck Design
You really have only two alternatives for materials for your deck: concrete or wood. What's best for you? You must make the choice, and your choice will influence the design of your deck. The most popular choice is one of a multitude of wood deck designs. Wood Deck Designs: Where can I get ideas? Again, if you are still searching for the right idea, there are several options: check out the neighbors, TV and radio programs, books , magazines and the Internet. By the way, there are several software packages available that will allow you to work out the basics of many wood deck designs on your PC, without buying a board or nail. You can also purchase books that contain wood deck designs and plans (your local DIY center may have some of these). Wood Deck Designs: Drawing Up Your Plan When you have the general layout firmly in mind, it's time to develop specific plans. Wood deck designs can be something out of a book, or drawn up on your PC, or if you have the money, you can have a contractor draw up several wood deck designs specifically for you. But one caution: be sure that you have the design approved by your municipality BEFORE you begin work - it must meet with their approval. There is no one wood deck design that will meet everyone's needs. The only real requirements are that it be legal (meet building codes), be sturdy and solid (so it will last) and functional (meets your needs). Wood Deck Designs: Elements Of A Perfect Plan What do good wood deck designs look like? First, it will be legal. Second, the construction must be sturdy, not flimsy. Third, it will be detailed. It will detail all the materials that will be needed, what type and size of lumber, and so on. The construction steps will be detailed, and the wood deck design will have lots of diagrams and pictures, showing various angles and details of the construction. Good wood deck designs will also be the proper size for your site. Huge decks next to very small homes look very silly, and tiny decks next to large homes seem to get 'lost' - so proper proportion matters. If you will need your deck for special purposes you may need to include special areas - for a grill, or hot tub, or sandbox for the kids Wood Deck Designs: Which Wood Is Best Everyone has their preferences, but whatever your choice you need to make sure that the wood you use is able to stand the rigors of being outdoors. Water and sun, but also insects - as well as decay - make using a pressure-treated wood a requirement. Standard lumber will simply not last as long, so why waste the money. The choice of woods will affect the cost and some wood deck designs are developed specifically for certain types of woods. Wood Deck Designs: Time To Look In Your Wallet At this point, you are ready to get a preliminary estimate of what your project will cost. Take your wood deck designs and materials list to your local DIY center. They can give you an estimate of the costs. Remember, this is a cost for the MATERIALS, not labor. Now you are ready to dive in! |
