Patio Decks

Nothing quite captures the essence of the summertime like having a barbeque with friends and family outside on a patio deck. Patio decks are not only an excellent way to extend your home, but they also symbolize social gathering places – places to have parties and to make memories. Some people also enjoy patio decks because they are areas to relax and kick back in the sunshine, either all alone or with others.

Because patio decks are extensions of your home, they can continue the inside décor on the outside. Or, they can have a totally different kind of décor than what you have inside the house. The choice is up to you. You can be as creative as you want when designing your patio deck!

Deck Patio

When designing your deck patio, you must first choose the materials that it will be constructed with. Patio decks can be made of materials such as wood, vinyl, or other products. They can even be made of a combination of products – such as a wooden floor with vinyl railing. Some highly popular patio deck materials are pressure-treated southern pine and hem-fir. Other materials including redwood and cedar are also well-liked because they are rot-resistant materials. If you are looking for a fancier, exotic look, you can make the deck out of hardwoods such as cambara, meranti, or tauri. And if you don’t mind spending some extra money, you can use plastic and composite lumber – known as Trex. Trex requires very little maintenance despite its high price.

Next, you should try to make your patio deck a smooth transition from your home to your yard area. Decide if you want to have built in tables, benches, or storage at this point. This way, you will know how much material you will need to purchase. And remember: Any patio deck that is more than thirty inches above the ground is legally required to have a railing with thirty-six to forty-two inch high railings. Balusters on the railings must be two to four inches apart. These standards are required for patio deck safety reasons.

Another thing to consider is the area of the country in which you live. For example, in the Northeast U.S. mosquitoes are very abundant in the summer months. For this reason, it is a smart idea to screen in your patio deck – to avoid the itchy bites from these pesky creatures. You should also take into account where you are building your deck. It may not be a good idea to build it on a slope or an area that is exposed to a great deal of traffic or noise. After all, you wouldn’t want any disruptions in your peaceful environment!

One final thing to consider when building a patio deck is its shape. Ask yourself if you want a patio deck that wraps around your entire house, or if you want it to be located in the front, side, or back of your home. Once you get all of these points figured out, you will be set to build the patio deck of your dreams!