Adding a deck to your home is a fantastic investment. It’ll expand your living space and give your family plenty of reasons to spend more time outdoors. It’ll also give you more space for unwinding and entertaining. At the same time, it’ll add a great deal of value to your home. All that being said, it’s important to plan out your new deck before diving into a project like this. You can use the following tips to help you make the most of the investment.
1) Permits and Restrictions
First of all, be sure you fully understand local permit requirements and building restrictions before planning a new deck. Those tend to vary by location and can be based on factors like where the deck will attach to your home, how big it will be, its height, and weight limits to name a few. If you’re under the jurisdiction of a homeowner’s association, additional regulations may apply to the style, size, color, and materials you can use for a deck. Understanding permit requirements and regulations beforehand will save you a great deal of hassle and expense after the fact.
2) Determine Your Needs and Expectations
From there, determine your needs and expectations. What will you use the deck for? Will it be a small space for enjoying time outside with the family, or will it be an elaborate, multifunctional space for entertaining? Do you want nothing more than a simple outdoor lounging area, or would you like to incorporate additional features like a fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, and a hot tub? Beyond those aspects, how much space do you have to work with? Considerations like those will help you decide how big to build and whether the deck should be built in a single level or multiple tiers. It’ll also aid in determining where to place the deck.
3) Privacy and Shade
Be sure to consider how much shade and privacy you want as well. Being in full view of a busy road or the neighbors tends to detract from people’s enjoyment of their outdoor spaces. Suffering through full sunlight in the hottest months of summer can have the same effect. You may need to add extra fencing to your property to keep prying eyes at bay. Alternatively, curtains or shades could give you added privacy as needed. If you don’t have a great deal of natural shade from surrounding trees, a roof or retractable awning may be necessary as well.
4) Choose Your Materials
Materials are also essential when you’re planning a deck. They’ll factor into its longevity, maintenance requirements, and appearance. Cedar and redwood are popular options for outdoor structures because of their resistance to pests and the elements. Like all types of natural wood, though, they need quite a bit of maintenance. PVC isn’t a natural material, but it requires little maintenance. Many people choose composites because of their durability and more natural appearance.
5) Lighting and Electrical
Lighting and electrical needs are also factors to think about. Installing the right lighting will add ambiance and allow you to enjoy your deck even after dark. Numerous types of lighting are available to create different looks and serve various purposes. Heating, fans, and other electrical features could also take your deck to entirely new levels. That being said, if you have them installed, you may need to upgrade your home’s electrical panel or add a secondary panel to the mix. If you want to install a hot tub or outdoor kitchen on your deck, those may need to be connected to your home’s plumbing and gas as well.
6) Extra Features
Consider any extra features you’d like to incorporate into the deck too. Those might include planters for decor and atmosphere, built-in seating, or storage for drinkware and dishes to name a few. Which features you add are entirely up to you and how you plan to use the deck. Your only limits are space and your budget.
7) Long-Term Considerations
Don’t leave long-term considerations out of the mix when you’re planning for a deck, either. Those include maintenance requirements for the deck itself and any features you incorporate into it. Think about whether you might want to expand the deck or install more features in the future as well.
Getting the Most Out of Your Deck
A deck can extend your functional living space and give you new ways to enjoy the outdoors. It’ll also boost the value of your home. An addition like this takes thought and planning, though. If you’re thinking of adding a deck to your home, keep the tips listed here in mind to help you make the most of it and ensure it fully meets your needs and expectations both now and in the future.
