Designing Your Backyard Deck
When I first started planning my new deck I went hog wild. I had a multi-tiered deck with built-in benches, a hidden area for hammock, and a large dance platform. I enclose the whole deck with a beautiful aluminum railing system complete with lighting and steps. I also added a large canvas awning cover much of the area to make the deck more usable during inclement weather. I showed my sketches to a local contractor. I should've known from the saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth that my project was going to be very, very expensive. However, part of the fun of a new deck is the planning! When you plan your deck, you can let your imagination run wild and add all kinds of fun features. As your planning process moves forward, you can whittle down your design to a more practical (and buildable) plan. Planning a new deck can be as simple as a few sketches, or as complete as a blueprint. You can have an architect or designer create plans for you, or you can do it yourself. Also, there are many new software programs available to make planning easier. This is a great thing to do on a cold or rainy day when you wouldn't want to be outside working on your deck.
Before you start planning your deck, you may want to browse through some magazines for ideas. I spent an entire day at a local bookstore flipping through books and magazines to get ideas for my backyard deck. You can also search the Internet for photos of existing decks to give you some better ideas. I also drove to my neighborhood, knocked on some doors, and got to look at some beautiful existing decks. With the homeowners permission, I was even able to take some digital photos and get some exact measurements. My new backyard deck design was starting to take shape.
After I sketched out my ideas, I used wooden stakes, hammered them into the ground at the corners of your deck. This helped me to visualize the shape of my deck and what it would look like in my backyard. At this stage I make as many changes to the shape and size of my deck is I want without incurring any additional costs.
As you stake out your new deck, take into consideration any changes in elevation. You may want to consider a multi-level deck, areas for steps, or special task areas on your deck. Task areas may include things like a wet bar, a place for a grill, or even a private sitting area. These special task areas are what will make your new deck unique. I like to add a cozy, private seating area as an escape area. This area is usually hidden behind a built-in planter or even some large rocks. Once you have your deck staked out in its final position, you will want to draw some final plans. You can take these plans to your local home center or building supply store, and they can create a materials list for you. You will also need a set of plans if you need a building permit for your deck. Most townships or municipalities require building permits for a new deck. They will want to have one or two sets of plans submitted with the building fee. The more professional your plans look, the easier it will be for you to get approval to build your new deck. Once my final plans were drawn up by the contractor, it looked a lot smaller and less elaborate than I had originally planned. However it fit my budget perfectly and when it was finally completed, my new backyard deck looked wonderful and got lots of use. |
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