Building Your Outdoor Pool or Patio Deck

Decks encourage people to spend time outside.  It is ideal place for barbeques and sunset watching.  An attractive deck can also increase the value of your home.  But before you pick up a hammer (or hire a contractor), consider your needs and decide on materials for your deck.  Pick your deck material carefully and it can last over 20 years.

• Design and style.  You should tailor the design of your deck to your needs, activities, and to the site:  Is it going to be the place you curl up with a good book, or do you entertain mobs of people regularly?  Consider direction of the sun and prevailing winds on the deck side.  Consider how you entertain outdoor.  Instead of a big platform, try decks with two or three levels.  It multiplies your living area and allows guests to congregate in small groups.  Think about amenities you would like to have such as outdoor sound system, lighting, a fan, a built-in bench or two, and planters.  A pergola can transform your deck into an outdoor room.  It provides shade, give you a place to attach speakers, and hang plants.  Think about how you would surround your deck.  Railing isn’t usually required if your deck remains below 18 to 24 inches- check with your local building codes.  Another alternative to deck railings is stairs that run the width of one or more sides of your deck.  Wide stairs provide a good transition into the yard and can be used as additional seating.  Consider the design with unusual angles or curve.  It creates a unique architectural feature to your home.  With today’s selection of stains and decking, it is easy to find the color that compliments your home’s exterior.  You don’t have to stick with brown unless you want to.

• Decking materials. 

Majority of decks are made from pressure-treated southern yellow pine.  They have an average lifespan of 10 years.  Wood decking needs diligent upkeep.  Maintenance includes wash your deck at least once a year using deck wash or a pressure washer, and finish with a preservative sealer. Sealant protects wood from water damage (fresh water hastens rotting), blocks UV-rays, and has mildewcide and algaecide property.

Dense redwood lumber and cedar naturally resist insects and decay.  Redwood is fire resistant, takes stains and paints well and expensive.  Cedar weathers to silvery gray.  Both woods are soft wood making them prone to marring and denting.  They can last 20 years or more and must be maintained yearly.

Teak, mahogany, and ipe offer a luxuriously rich appearance and longevity and cost more than other woods.

Composites cut like wood but don’t rot, shrink, warp, or splinter.  The composite can’t be used for structural support (beams or joints).  Follow manufacturing recommendation for plank support and appropriate tools to install.  Warranties range from 10 years to life.  No need to stain or paint yearly.  Clean as needed with soap and water, house hold detergent, or deck cleaner.  Composite deck will not look like wood.  Boards are uniform in appearance and have no knots and varied surface qualities found in wood.

No matter what decking materials you decided on, use stainless steel screws.  They will resist corrosion and extend the life of your deck.  By using stainless steel screws, you will avoid the ugly stains of metal fasteners rusting and bleeding into the wood.  Also use hidden fastener when installing your deck.  This will give your deck surface a clean and neat looking.