A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
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| Split Level Deck |
A deck not only
adds value to your property but increases your outdoor living space for
entertaining and family relaxation. Make sure that your deck plans match your
house design and reflects your personal lifestyle.
Try to imagine
all the ways you'd like to use your deck, because most design elements will be
based on those kinds of preferences.
Important
questions to ask:
·
Do you entertain frequently?
·
What kind of seating will you need: built-in benches
or patio furniture?
·
Do you want a cozy seating area or one large common
space?
·
What lighting or heating requirements do you need?
·
How large or small of a deck do you build to
complement your home?
Plan for the Elements
Do you want to
locate your deck in shade or bask in the summer sun? If you want the best of
both worlds, you may need to add an overhead screen, a trellis or plant a large
leaved tree for summer shade.
Also consider
wind protection, noise mitigation and blocking unwanted views with the use of
plants and shrubs or design elements. If you’re planning on adding a hot tub,
plan to maximize privacy and ensure that the deck is reinforced to carry the
water’s weight.
Shaping it Up
While an angled
deck can add interest to an ordinary home, it may be a more complicated task
requiring more materials and labour. You can also consider a wrap-around deck
with seating flush to the railing, or utilize lattice, planters and an overhead
trellis to make it more visually appealing.
Deck Anatomy
Here are five
structural deck components:
·
Vertical posts, usually set in concrete
·
Horizontal beams to carry deck weight
·
Joists to distribute deck weight
·
Decking or flooring
·
Railings or balusters to retain
Carefully Select Materials
Decks must stand
up to extreme weather conditions, excessive heat and moisture and prevent
against rot. So durability is important. Pressure-treated cedar, pine or
redwood can withstand extremes while standard spruce, fir, or pine needs to be
treated to endure. Check out the many deck materials to see what best suits
your deck design.
Anatomy
of a Deck
Arbors:
A structure that
can be used for hanging plants or vines. Awning: An overhead covering to provide shade and protection from the weather.
Balusters: The vertical members of a railing in between the posts. An overhead covering to provide shade and protection from the weather.
Bridging: Blocking used between joists to prevent them from rocking and twisting.
Decking: The boards that make up the floor of the deck. The decking or deck boards attach directly to the top of the floor joist.
Fascia: A decorative board used to cover the front and side rim joists.
Flashing: A material used to prevent water from entering the home particularly where the ledger board bolts to the house.
Footings: The concrete support foundation the deck is built upon.
Girder: A lateral support beam the floor joist rests on.
Joist: Spans of lumber that make the substructure of the floor the decking is fastened to
Joist Hangers: Metal brackets used to secure the joist ends to the ledger board.
Lattice: An open cross pattern of interweaved strips generally used for privacy screens and skirts.
Ledger Board: The board bolted to the house and joist ends get fastened to.
Deck Posts: The vertical lumber that rests on the footings to support the girders and deck.
Post base: Metal brackets to securely fasten the bottom of the post to the footings.
Post top: A decorative top that can be added to a railing post.
Rails: Rails are the top or bottom horizontal members spindles attached to.
Rise: The vertical distance of one step.
Risers: The vertical boards behind or in back of stair treads.
Skirt: Covers the deck underneath.
Spindles: The vertical members of a railing in between the posts also referred to as balusters.
Stringers: The framing for stairs the risers and treads attached to.
Tread: The step or part of stairs that is stepped on.
Trellis: An overhead wood structure constructed for a decorative look and to shade sun.
For more information on renovation industry
best practices, home financing or home maintenance needs, contact: http://www.homeforcebc.ca/.
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1 comments:
Sounds very interesting! I will check this out! custom home plans
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