How to Choose a Deck Location


Home Improvement:

Selecting a site for the deck location is an extremely important step in the deck building process. However, it is surprising that many homeowners neglect to spend much time in determining whether the site is truly the best place to construct the deck. There are a number of factors that need to be considered in making a determination about the final placement of this outdoor living space.

If a raised deck is being considered it is important to make sure that the views are examined from the same position and eye level that would be occupied on the deck. Looking out a door or window that opens onto the potential deck site is an ideal way to get a good idea of this. However, if partially hidden views are being considered then a ladder or scaffold will be needed to verify the best site for capturing those views. At the same time it might happen that an eyesore might be discovered and would need to be screened out.

A raised deck can create some privacy issues. A deck 3 feet or more off the ground may put a homeowner on display for the neighborhood to see. Fencing required to alleviate this situation would probably exceed height restrictions along property lines. The strategic placement of tall shrubs or dense trees can do something to partially solve the problem. Another solution would be to add a privacy screen or barrier along one or more sides of the deck.

A design problem for many decks is how to resolve the height difference between floor level and ground level. The most inviting doorway transition is no change in levels at all which is easily done if building a deck at floor level. If the deck is to be built lower to facilitate privacy, then stairs or a descending series of platforms would be needed. Avoid stairs at the door if possible. Instead plan a landing that is a minimum of 3 feet deep and at least as wide as the door being served. Where possible plan the landing as large as possible so that anyone can linger without creating congestion. A practical minimum size would be 6 by 6 feet.

Make a point to consider access to other parts of the yard. Ground level decks offer unlimited possibilities. However, a raised deck would required careful planning. Consider providing access points to reach the garden, side yard or garage. Think about the fact that stair locations have an impact upon the placement of furniture and areas for various activities. Outdoor stairs need to be broader, wider and less steep that indoor stairs to take advantage of the wide open spaces and more relaxed pace of life outside.

Plan the location of the deck with the various seasons in mind. Choose a location where the deck enjoyment can be increased by adjusting the site to sun and shade patterns for the various seasons. A deck built on the south side of a home can capture enough winter sun to extend the outdoor living season. A raised deck exposed to prevailing winds may be undesirable on certain sides of the house.

A deck can be designed for almost any slope no matter how steep it is. In some cases it may require an engineered structural system to do it. Look for suspicious soil conditions such as non-compacted fill or persistent seepage. The important thing with a deck is that the ground at deck site should slope away from the house. If not then the site must be regraded to prevent future problems from occurring.

The amount of available space within the yard is an important consideration. Setbacks, easements, septic tank clearances, traffic paths, buried utilities and other obstacles impact the yard and limit potential deck locations. Many of these restrictions do not necessarily apply to a ground hugging deck although total lot coverage might be an issue.

It is vital that the proposed deck location site is accessible. Materials must find their way to the job site. A backhoe, or concrete truck might need to navigate its way to the area at some point. In some cases fence panels might have to be removed from a fence with a neighbor's permission to facilitate this. Difficult access to the building site will result in possible work slowdowns and extra expenses.

The end result is a deck location that is perfectly suited to the needs, tastes and style of the homeowner and family members.

Richard Vande Sompel is a professional deck builder of 35 years and over 850 decks built and is the author of "How to Plan, Design and Build a Deck from Start to Finish". To Discover More AboutDeck Location and Claim your 2 FREE Deck Plans, Insider Report, MP3 Audio and discover everything to know about building a deck visit: www.DeckBuildingRevealed.com


Hot Topics In Home Improvement

    Are You Ready For An Integrated Home Theater System?

    It's one thing to have home theater but how about an integrated home theater system in your house?

    What do we mean by integrated? Simply how about the entire house being one complete entertainment s...

    Doors and Conservatories

    Prior Products manufacture the market leading profile Rehau S706 70mm slimline window and door system offering all the benefits of PVCu window, doors and conservatories while preserving the appearance...

    Home Improvement Loans - Remodeling Using Financing

    Remodeling your home can be costly! From a few hundred dollars to repaint a room to $20-50,000 to remodel a bathroom or kitchen, few people can afford to use their savings alone to pay for hefty remod...

    Bruce Hardwood Flooring Is An Industry Leader

    Nothing can make a room look more attractive, elegant and stately than a beautiful hardwood floor.

    With an ability to be dressed up or down to fit the theme of a room, hardwood is at home in any de...

    Refinishing Hardwood Floors - What To Expect Once You Start

    Refinishing hardwood floors is something that you can do yourself without paying professionals high amounts of money to do it for you. However, you do need to have time to spend on your refinishing pr...

    Kitchen Sink Manufacturers - Where To Find The Very Best.

    If you are looking for the very best in kitchen sink manufacturers then you need go any further than the very accessible Internet. You will find just about every reputable company and manufacturer tha...

    Home Improvement - Laminate Vs Hardwood Flooring

    There's no doubt about it: hardwood floors are elegant and beautiful. But, they aren't always the best choice for a busy household. First, hardwood can be very expensive, depending on the plank size a...

    Use Antler Lamps For Western Lighting With Rawhide Lamp Shades

    Antler lamps are one of the most beautiful accessories available for western decor. So much more than a lighting fixture, antler lamps bring life to your room. If you have a cabin or mountain home, th...

    Carpet Installation and Carpet Cleaning

    Carpets have continuously increased in popularity and millions of people have them in their homes now. With in-home carpets comes a whole new area of marketing. People now need things to clean their c...

    How To Use Decorative Concrete Effects To Spice Up Your Home

    When a person thinks of concrete art, they usually envision a child's handprint in a slab of wet concrete. While this is cute, this is not the basis of age old concrete art. Concrete really is the mak...

    Flooring Tips You Must Know

    Buying a new floor can be a frustrating and confusing process. Here's a list of things to keep in mind before heading out to purchase your new floor.

    1. Take note of the room layout.

    -Draw an outl...

    Bagless Vacuum Cleaners - Better Value in the Long Run

    Ever since the early nineteen nineties, bagless vacuum cleaners have been chipping away at the market dominance of their bagged vacuum cleaner counterpart. Claiming to best the bagged variety of clean...

Most Recent Home Improvement Supplements

Newly Popular Home Living Articles

    What Are The Most Important Common Baby Supplies?

    Having a new infant is such an exciting time, but with all the commotion, it's possible to forget an item or two for the nursery. Infant supplies are much needed elements when caring for your baby. Wi...

    Hurricanes and Water Sanitation

    The flood waters that wreak havoc on your home when rivers run over their banks or when hurricanes come calling can contain almost anything that you can think of (and some things you can't) that can b...

    Look to Flowers for Great Landscaping Ideas

    The task of coming up with the best landscaping ideas for one's home can indeed be daunting. However, one need not think too hard, because some of the best landscaping ideas can come from the simplest...

    10 Tips for Making Online Shopping Safe

    We've all heard how great Internet Shopping can be. You can buy things far cheaper, you can shop when you want to and there are no queues when you want to pay. With just a click of the mouse, shoppers...

    Marriage Books vs Marriage Counseling

    Is it possible to save a marriage through reading a book? Up until recently I would have said no, that marriage counseling was the only way to go. Having since read 'How to Save a Marriage' which is a...

    Gift Ideas For The Hard To Buy For Guy

    Men can be just as hard to come up with gift ideas for as women can. They can be hard to buy for because they either have every tool that they will ever need or they are so particular about what they ...

    Tips To Get Relief From Pregnancy High Blood Pressure

    Pregnancy high blood pressure is a common occurrence in early stages of pregnancy. However, women preparing for motherhood tend to get worried about this problem. In order to help your body to find re...

    Show Your Modernism Through Your Modern Furniture

    The term modernism was first used in the late 19th century when the society was eager to alter, reshape or improve their environment assisted by the rapid growth of technology and advancement of scien...

    Get A Unique Theme For Your Baby Room

    To make sure that your babys room is done up in style you can go for some great baby bedding and furniture. Once you have a theme for the room you can match it with the bedding and furniture. However ...

    Home Improvement - Laminate Vs Hardwood Flooring

    There's no doubt about it: hardwood floors are elegant and beautiful. But, they aren't always the best choice for a busy household. First, hardwood can be very expensive, depending on the plank size a...

Interesting Today:

Most Recent Home Living Blogs:

Releated to Home Living:

Home Improvement Links: