A house by the countryside is considerably missing a nice feature if it has no deck. The deck makes a house blend with the country setting. The deck is also a good spot to lounge around and deal with everyday stress. If your house has no deck, think about how a nice wooden deck can boost your house’s aesthetic value and improve your stress management. As you may have noticed, the deck will actually be your home’s outside living room. Better make one now.
A deck is usually a large intricate surface attached to a house’s walls and doorway. People often seek professional help whenever they want a deck constructed since a deck is not easy to build, by any means. In your case, you have the option to follow suit but be ready to pay for an overcharged design, labor and material fees. Your best move is to construct your entire deck from scratch and ask for one or two professionals to assist you in the deck construction process.
Make no mistake about it — the deck is not easy to create. You have to come up with a deck design, put together dozens of large wooden pegs, and make sure that your deck will hold up for at least a few decades. A lot of time, effort and concentration are needed if you want to make a sturdy and stylish deck. Then again, if you focus on the benefits of a good deck, you can surely build one without encountering a lot of hassles.
Materials Used:
deck lumber set/advanced deck kit
lumber
hammer
nails
screws
screwdrivers
wood plane
wheelbarrow
mechanical drill
nuts
bolts
pencil
measuring tape
chisel
handsaw
shovel
gravel
water
varnish
paintbrush
deck design software
printer
paint (optional)
railing ornaments (optional)
Deck Design
The deck plan is your ultimate guide when you are set to build a deck. Your quickest way to get a deck plan is through an advanced deck design software. Purchase the latest version in any computer software store then check all the template designs. Once purchased, manipulate your chosen design to suit your taste and the theme of your home.
You can tweak the design of the deck railings, the floor pattern, and the shape of every deck section. You can also add deck furnishings and ornaments in the design to have a clear view of the finished product. When you have settled on the design of your deck, generate a plan through the software then print your deck plan.
Choose the Right Materials
There are lots of materials required to create a deck and chances are, you will devote at least one whole day for shopping. Your first stop should be a large reputable lumber shop where you will find piles and piles of deck kits and lumber sets . Get a hardwood-based advanced kit and check the wooden components.
Most of the time, an advanced deck kit will lack a good number of wooden pegs so you have to purchase extra lumber from the lumber shop. You can consult the wood dealer for more suggestions about the number of wooden pegs to be added. Just show him your deck plan and he would know how much extra-lumber you need.
When you have secured all the lumber that you need, your next stop is the hardware center. Grab all the tools and equipment that you need. If you find some of the items too pricey, you can just borrow them from your neighbors and friends.
Finally, if you have some cash to spare, you can hire one or two carpenters to serve as your assistants throughout the deck construction process so that you can cover more ground and finish your deck the soonest time possible.
The Deck Foundation
Get your shovel and dig two-foot holes for all your deck posts. Check your deck plan for the spacing of the deck’s posts. Once done, mix gravel with water then apply the mixture to all the holes. Get the deck posts from your kit and stick them to the holes. Apply a few more layers of gravel to completely cover all the holes and hold the deck posts steady. If you notice that some of the desk posts swivel, you can deepen the hole and add more layers of gravel.
The Deck Joists
Get the set of thick deck beams from your kit and assemble them on top of the deck posts. Drill holes through each beam and post, then use your set of nuts and bolts to connect each beam to a couple of deck posts. Reinforce the connection with nails, if necessary. When the deck beams have been assembled, set-up the joists above the beams and apply the same connection process that you just did with the beams and deck posts.
Deck Flooring
Check your deck plan for the floor design then smoothen each piece of decking with a wood plane and a wood file. Once done, assemble the decking accordingly on top of the joists. Drill each decking plank and affix them to the joists with your set of screws. You can hammer a few nails to further reinforce the connection.
Deck Railings
View your deck plan and assemble the railings accordingly. Get your hammer and chisel, then etch out patterns on the railings to make them look stylish. Once done, affix the railings at the side of your deck with nuts, bolts, screws and nails.
Color Your Deck
Check your deck plan to see the color scheme of your deck. Apply paint or varnish throughout your deck. When the paint or the varnish settles, apply a deck coating solution to make your deck protected from extreme temperatures and sudden temperature changes.
At this point, your new deck is ready. You can now kick back, relax and savor the nice view in front of your deck. Experience relaxation in the outside extension of your living room.