After much consideration, you’ve chosen a deck over a patio. Now what? It’s time to figure out the important details that will push your project beyond a sketch on a napkin to become an actual outdoor living space.
Decks can be connected to a house or detached. Decking materials include softwoods, tropical hardwoods, synthetic woods and pressure-treated lumber. Then there’s the type of deck you desire (like wraparound, pool deck, etc), along with shape, size and even the placement pattern of the wood.
Deck With a View
One of the most important considerations when planning a deck is placing the deck in a location that offers a great view. Emphasis is on “great” since your deck can have a view, but it might be of your neighbor’s trash-filled, overgrown or neglected backyard.
That’s not the case with this house, which is perched on a hill overlooking a river. The narrow balcony-style deck is relaxed, comfortable, and all about that breathtaking view.
A deck positioned so high needs to have protective railings, which, in this case, is a glass partition that doesn’t obstruct the view.
Pool and Hot Tub Deck
What makes this deck a true extension of the house? The deck and house floors are level and appear to be seamless. Patio doors—in this case, sliding doors—open up to the deck and be left open in warm weather. The hot tub and pool are accessible from several rooms of the house. In other words, it’s a quick hop in and out of the spa and back into the house.
The hot tub is sunken into the deck for a clean and uncluttered look. The deck’s shape and steps conform to the shape and architecture of the house.
Best of Both Worlds: Combining a Deck and a Patio
On the fence about whether to install a patio or build a deck? Sometimes you can do both, and quite effectively. This is a relatively small outdoor space that has been well planned to incorporate a wooden deck area for dining and relaxing. At the same time, the raised patio is surrounded by tightly planted containers of various plants like small trees, vines, and shrubs.
The reverse could also work, with the lower level as a patio/gardening area and a raised deck for sunning and dining.
Hardwood Rooftop Deck
Hardwoods like teak and iroko (pictured) are beautiful as decking surfaces. Most are insect- and weather-resistant, sturdy, and can last for decades. Iroko trees can be grow on the west coast of tropical Africa and survives for centuries—an ideal substance for a rooftop gathering space. Rather than keeping the deck on the ground, you can make use of the space on top of your home if it is an available option. This idea is unusual to some, but it can give added privacy if you live in the city and won’t take up yard space if you have surrounding property.
Ipe Deck Steps
Rather than sticking to one flat surface, creating a deck with wide, large steps can have some advantages. These three wide steps also serve as outdoor seating, made comfier with with thick square pillows. This deck is made of ipe wood, which is a hardwood that is much like teak, that resistant to rot and termites—a great choice to ensure what you’ve built is long-lasting.
So take inspiration from any of these ideas for your house deck design.
