Deck (Design Considerations)
Where will the deck be located on the house? Design your space like a room on your home. Would you end a room in the middle of a window? Keeping your deck away from your windows by two feet will prevent your looking out the window at a rail. Many decks have an entrance to the home at the kitchen. Walking out flush may be the desired elevation... but if you live in an area of the country with snowfall, a step or two down to keep standing snow away from the door threshold and laying against the door may be a good idea. There are obstacles that come from the house that often are overlooked. You may need to deal with or avoid water spigots, dryer vents, windows below the deck, down spouts, etc. Building your deck lower than these problems will save you money.
Site/Plot Plan: When you purchased you home, you realtor should have included a copy of your site/ plot plan in your contract. Your local zoning department may have a copy on file if you don't have one. The plan will show you the setbacks and easement lines that require you to not build past certain parameters. Your local building department can help you with this when you apply for your permit. Some townships or counties may not require a permit.
Design Layout
Start - Lay out a hose on the ground to get a feel for the deck size. Use two foot increments when deciding the size. Lumber is cut to 8', 10', 12', & 16' lengths. This will save on scrap materials and save you money. Decks are not usually symmetrical to the back of the home. Your deck will likely be to one side or the other. Note this in your consideration of your deck layout.
List the uses of the deck, and ask how much room will you need? The average size is 12% - 18% of the square footage of your home. Most people use their deck for dining or entertaining outside. Built - in hot tubs or spas, screen rooms, gazebos and outdoor kitchen areas are becoming popular in today's designs. Since the "West Nile" virus hit North America, screened enclosures have become even more popular.
Will you be dining on the deck? One trend is to build a "bump out" (It may be an octagon) to push the table and chairs off the main deck floor and give the dining area a designated space.
Is privacy needed from your neighbors or your street? Deck builders offer a privacy wall. If this is limited to the sides of the deck it keeps away the "feeling like a fish bowl".
How will you get off and on the deck? The side of the house where you walk to get to the back yard may be the best spot to enter the deck. Staircases are heavily regulated by your local building department. a width of 36" is a narrow a you can build. The rise (height between steps) should be between 7" -8". The run or "tread" of the step should be between 10" - 12" deep. Large, grand staircases are nice to look at and are very inviting to the yard, but most staircases are 36" - 48" wide. If you have a second story deck then you should consider a landing midway in your staircase. This will minimize a fall and reduce injuries. Each township or county will have specifications of how the staircase is attached to the deck frame and if it will need a railing.
Where will your grill go? Keep your grill by the kitchen door but not next to the house. This also goes for outdoor fire pits and "smokers". You can have a permanent gas line run under your deck to your grill to save you trips to refill a propane tank. Other options to consider are a counter of food preparation area or an entire outdoor kitchen. Outdoor food preparation is becoming a large part of deck design to enhance the outdoor living area.
Will you need shade? A solution is a custom awning. This can be pricey and sometimes more than the price for your deck. One very popular option is to build a pergola or arbor into the design of the deck. A pergola can be installed in one or a number of different styles, shapes and materials. Pergolas and arbors provide some shade to the area they cover. If you need total shade, you may want to consider a roof covered deck or a screened in room.
Would you rather have a railing around the deck or seating? If your deck is higher than 18" off the ground, a "guard" railing may be needed around the deck perimeter. 36" is a typical height. If your deck is higher than 10' from the ground a 42" - 48" tall rail may be needed. If you are building a wooden deck and you would like to have seating built into the design an option may be composite plastic lumber. The advantage of composite materials is you avoid the splinters and warps received from wooden seating.
Brands Construction provides free design layouts.
You can call today for a free plan for your home!
(616) 283 - 1151
We will provide you a free plan for a deck and a free estimate.
The Impossible: What nobody can do until somebody does.
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