DIY Deck Design - What You'll Need When Adding a Deck to Your House

Building a deck at home can be a great way to get more use out of your outdoor space. With a deck installed, you can hang out in the sunshine with your family, have friends over for deck parties or dine outdoors up when guests come to visit. Building a deck doesn’t need to cost the earth and with a little planning and hard work, you can soon build a deck designed to meet your needs.

Before you start building your deck, you will need to request permission from your local council. If you are building anything large on your property or adding something to the structure of your home, you need to ensure you have permission from the council. Once you have been given the go-ahead, you can start planning your design and getting all of the materials together that you are going to need for the project.

Let’s take a look at some of the supplies you will need to ensure your deck build is a success.

Understanding Timber Requirements

As every deck will be different, it’s important to take the time to work out how much timber you are going to need for your project. Measure up space, draw out plans and figure out how many lengths of timber you are going to need. You should also spend time researching the best type of timber to use for your deck to ensure that the final result is strong, durable and that it looks great. Installing timber veneers can also be a great way to give elements of your design, such as a covered outdoor kitchen or dining area an elegant finish.

Concrete Posts

To ensure that your new deck is solid, it’s important that you have the right supports in place. Concrete posts are the best choice when it comes to providing support for your DIY deck. Dig holes for the posts that ate at least 700 mm deep while being careful of any services that could be hiding underneath such as water, electric, gas or stormwater drains. Once your holes are dug, you can position and secure your posts to provide a secure foundation for your new deck.

Joists And Bearers

Joists and bearers are essential for any decking project. Bearers are the lengths of timber that are attached to your concrete posts, while the joists are the lengths of timber that are positioned across the bearers to form the platform for the decking board to be attached to. When you are ordering your timber, be sure to take these crucial components into account. Without joists and bearers, building a secure deck is simply not possible.

Decking Boards

The boards that you see on the top of your deck are the decking boards. These are secured to the joists and are what you will be walking around on and positioning your outdoor furniture and equipment on. With a range of different timbers to choose from, it’s important to take the time to choose a material that will complement the overall aesthetic of your home and outdoor space. Consider whether your decking will be natural or painted, how hard wearing it needs to be and be sure to keep your budget in mind when you’re making your decision.

Plan Your DIY Deck-Build Ahead Of Time To Get The Best Results Possible

When you are building your own deck, you can create as simple or complex a design as you like. To ensure you get the most out of your new deck be sure to consider how you will use the space so you can create a design that will best meet the needs of you and your family. Planning your deck design in advance will allow you enough time to get approval from your local council and organise all of your materials before you begin the build. With everything in place and a clear plan laid out, you can be sure that your new deck will look great and be a fantastic addition to your home.