Tips to Build a Deck
There are many reasons why you might want to build a deck around your home. Some do this because they have an extra room that is meant to be used for enjoyment. Others build decks to improve the look of their property. But, another commonly known reason is to allow for better drainage and ease of maintenance. The question remains, how do you build a deck on grass or concrete?
Building a Deck
If you build a deck over pavers, you need to make sure your plan includes a way to secure the pavers to the ground. You can accomplish this by using deck blocks. Deck blocks are plastic or resin-based and serve as the legs for a planter, tree or bench. When used together, deck blocks form a solid deck that won’t budge and is highly resistant to moisture and even termites.
Many people think that you can build a deck over any material and this is true. However, you will find that wood is the most popular choice for decks. There are several benefits to using wood as the material for your deck. One benefit is the fact that wood is sturdy and durable and able to withstand the elements for many years. This means that you don’t need to replace your deck’s wood structure year after year like you would with other types of material such as vinyl decks.
Pavers do not hold up well to snow or rain, so if you have a particularly bad winter where ice and snow develop on your decks then using a deck scraper to scrape the snow and ice from your deck can save your deck from expensive repairs. There are other types of materials that are less expensive but can still provide the same amount of protection as a deck block, such as a weed mat. Weeds growing in your yard can sometimes get out of control and spread across your landscape. If you use a weed mat you can simply push the weeds into the mat and the weeds will naturally push themselves out.
Materials
To build a deck, there are some important items that you will need. The first step in building your deck is to buy the deck materials. There are many different types of materials that you can choose from. You can build a deck that looks like a Victorian style with wooden beams and planks. Or you can build a deck that replicates a Spanish patio style.
There are two main types of materials used in building decks. These include pre-fabricated deck boards or prefabricated decking materials. Pre-fabricated decking is made from pre-manufactured lumber that is cut and formed into the exact shape and size of your deck. This is great if you know what type of decking you want or if you’re just building one deck at a time. Decking materials such as deck blocks come in kits that contain everything you need to build your deck.
Possible Problems
Building your deck presents several challenges. One of these is the issue of footings. Footings are extremely important in the stability of your deck. If the footings are not properly installed your deck will sag and develop leaks. Proper footings must be checked before the boards are installed and are generally a good idea to have an expert check your wood for any cracks. Most importantly your footings should be solid and ground firmly into the earth.
Another important element to build a wood deck is to build a deck railing system. The type of railing system that you build depends largely on the style of your home. For example, a Victorian-style home would most likely have a straight rail system to a Spanish style home would most likely have a curved rail system. A combination of wood and concrete will also yield different results. For more advice consult a DIY expert or search online DIY sites.…
