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From planning and design to construction and materials, we'll walk you through every step of the process to help you create a beautiful deck.


Step 1: Find Ideas & Inspiration

The first step to a beautiful new deck is envisioning what you want it to look like. There are thousands of places you can look online to find deck inspiration – we couldn’t possibly keep it all here so, we encourage you to scour Pinterest, Google and all corners of the internet until you find what speaks to you! Where ever you find your inspiration or get your ideas, our Build-it-Better Coaches will give you the right advice and connect you with the right people to Build-it-Better, on time, on budget and exactly as you envisioned it!

 

What You Need To Know Before Building A Deck

Deck FAQ

The New Deck Design Centre


Things To Consider When Planning Your Deck:

  1. Will your deck be freestanding or attached to your house?
  2. Will your deck be above grade or on the ground?
  3. Do you need to do any drilling or excavating for posts of supports?
  4. Do you want a single level deck or multiple levels?
  5. Do you want a basic layout (square or rectangular) or with angles or curves?
  6. What size (dimensions) do you want your deck to be?
  7. Are there obstacles to consider?
    • Air conditioner
    • Windows
    • Doors
    • Gas meter
  8. Have you visualized the layout of your deck with a string line?
    • It’s a valuable exercise to plot out your deck in your yard using a string line.
  9. Will there be additional structures on your deck?
    • Will they all fit?
    • How much do they weigh?  The deck structure will need to support their weight.
    • Examples of items or structures to consider:
      • BBQ
      • Outdoor kitchen
      • Firepit
      • Built-in seating
      • Water feature
      • Pergola
      • Roof structure
      • Gazebo
      • Patio umbrella
      • Furniture
      • Hot tub
      • Trellis
      • Privacy screen
      • Railing
  10. Do you want stairs on your deck?
    • Make sure to lay out the stairs so that you get a feel for their location.
  11. What deck materials do you want to use?
    • Pressure treated
    • Cedar
    • Composite
    • PVC
    • Exotic woods
  12. What types of railings did you want to install?
    • Wood
    • Composite
    • Aluminum
    • Glass
  13. Are there any other accessories that you would like on your deck?
    • Lighting
    • Post caps
    • Gates
    • Lattice
    • Architectural details
  14. What is your budget?

 

<h3>Visual Learner? <strong>We get it.</strong></h3><p>We get it. Turkstra TV is full of helpful videos to get you up and running on your next home improvement project.</p>

Visual Learner? We get it.

We get it. Turkstra TV is full of helpful videos to get you up and running on your next home improvement project.

Discover Turkstra TV


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Building a deck with his dog. Do it yourself with Build-It-Better.

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