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DRAW UP PLANS
Prior to starting your deck it is a good idea to have a plan. If you go online you can find all kinds of pictures of decks and there are also plans available if you are going to do it yourself. Even if you are not going to do it yourself you can still hand over the plan to your contractor. You might also want to ask his advice on what he would recommend for your space. This is his job, he builds decks all the time, this is the one and only deck you will be building for a while
Other things to consider are your lifestyle, the maintenance the deck is going to need, how you want it to look and how much it is going to cost.
Decks do not all have to be on the ground they can also be off a 2nd storey bedroom, they can be on a ravine lot where there are multiple levels or they can just be off the kitchen or family room on ground level. The variety is unlimited. They extend your living area, add value to your home and look good in your yard.
Now you have thought all of these things through you should check with your municipality. They will require that you provide plans and get a building permit.
CHOICE OF MATERIALS
There are lots of different materials available now for you to choose from. Most people still build their deck from wood but some composite materials made from groundup wood and plastic are challenging wood. Other materials, vinyl, aluminum, plastic and stone are also materials you may wish to consider depending on the style of your deck.
Wood requires refinishing every two to three years but composite material does not. The labour involved in refinishing your deck may govern your decision. Having just finished restaining my own deck, it is extremely labour intensive.
When subjected to all kinds of weather, composites kept their colour better than unfinished wood
However, In wet weather wood resists slipping better than composites and some composites sag where wood will not. On the other hand wood can rot where composites will not.
CHOOSING LIGHTING
There are numerous types of lights which can be installed in decks. You can light the stairs down to another level, put them rail high and many of them are so well installed that you hardly know that the fixture is there. You get the ambiance of the lighting, not the look of the fixture.
FENCING
When building a deck it is not uncommon for the homeowner to build or rebuild their fence at the same time. Again when you are building a fence you can either do it yourself but you can also have a contractor do it which will save you and your friends numerous weekends. If a contractor builds it, it will be finished in a reasonable time and you can save the favours you are owed by your friends for something else.
What is the fence going to look like. Is it going to be chain link, wooden, PVC, iron or bamboo.There are numerous types of fencing that you can have. Do you want it to be maintenance free? This will govern the material you decide to use to build the fence.
What is the fence for. Is it to keep small children safe from the swimming pool in the back yard? Is it to keep the dog and small children inside the back yard or is it decorative fencing to upgrade the value of your property?
Again, if you have a contractor do the job he will be able to discuss the pros and cons of the various materials available now for fencing and perhaps suggest a design for the fence. After all, just because it is a fence does not mean to say it has to be ordinary. Use your contractors expertise, he has seen many fences in his business, take advantage of that. If, on the other hand, you have seen a fence which you particularly like, draw a picture for him and work out with him what would be suitable for your property.
A deck and a fence is a big investment in your property but once it is completed you will enjoy the results for years and years to come.
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