Before You Start

Before beginning your construction plans, be sure of the deck that would best suit you and your home. Do you want it at ground level, elevated or split level? How will your new deck suit your lifestyle, your yard and your climate? Are there any legal limitations on what you may build? Also, consider the size and shape of the deck, since this can limit your use of it.

Your lifestyle – You may want your deck to serve a particular purpose in your outdoor living: barbecuing and dining outdoors, entertaining, a play area for children, a platform for a pool or hot tub, or container gardening.

Traffic flow through your site should be identified so that the deck will best relate to the activity areas of your house and garden. Allow approximately 20 square feet of deck area for each person you are designing the deck to hold. If you plan to entertain large groups, provide wide steps to spill over onto your lawn for overflow space.

Your property – Consider the relationship of the deck you are planning to: your house (access and traffic), your yard (views, location of trees and utility lines, drainage), and your neighbours (privacy and noise levels).

You should address site factors such as the house, lot lines, topography or elevation changes of the site, existing trees and any other features peculiar to your site. You may also wish to provide privacy for the deck, or screen street and air conditioner compressor noise. The best views from the deck to features in your yard should also be considered.

06/03