| When the best site has been determined for the | | | | Initially, take the time to draw a base map which |
| construction of the deck, it is time to put possible | | | | is a plan of the existing house and property. If it |
| ideas down on paper in the form of an initial deck | | | | is possible to locate architect's drawings or deed |
| design. Gather as much information as possible. | | | | maps that show the actual dimensions and |
| Study deck designs in how-to-design-it books. | | | | orientation of the property, this step can be |
| Browse through home improvement magazines | | | | eliminated. |
| for additional information and ideas. Visit the decks | | | | Certain base map data is important. Measure the |
| of relatives, friends and neighbors for inspiration. | | | | area where the deck will be located. Make a rough |
| Take photographs if needed. | | | | sketch first and then transfer the information to |
| The important task is to design a deck that | | | | a more refined scale drawing. The dimensions of |
| works. Good looks are never enough with such an | | | | the lot, the location of the house and other |
| outdoor living space. The deck must survive harsh | | | | structures such as a pool, garage, storage shed |
| weather conditions, blend in with the architectural | | | | or hot tub, the position of doors, windows and |
| style of the home, coordinate in some manner | | | | interior house walls, the path and direction of the |
| with interior rooms and be sturdy enough to last | | | | sun, fencing or privacy screens, utility lines such |
| for years to come. To achieve all of these goals | | | | as water, gas, sewer and electricity, the direction |
| it will be necessary to use appropriate materials | | | | of prevailing winds, existing trees, shrubs and |
| and construction techniques. Durable and | | | | garden beds and any obstructions beyond the lot |
| affordable materials that comply with the local | | | | that might affect sunlight, the view or privacy |
| building codes and provide the look that is right | | | | should be included. |
| for the house are a must. | | | | Place a sheet of tracing paper over the base map |
| Ensure that the plans are as complete as possible | | | | and sketch in a possible deck shape or |
| to minimize confusion later no matter whether the | | | | configuration. Examine it and evaluate its strengths |
| construction is being done by a homeowner or by | | | | and weaknesses. Repeat the process trying |
| a contractor or builder. | | | | different configurations or modifying ones that |
| It is not necessary to be an artist in order to | | | | seem to have possibility. Don't confine ideas to |
| design a deck. The process is more science than | | | | rectangles or single level decks. They may not be |
| it is art. The deck's basic surface pattern and | | | | the best or most interesting choices in the long |
| substructure should be drawn in plan view as seen | | | | run. Experimentation and imagination will pay off |
| from above, looking straight down. The | | | | eventually in a more satisfactory deck design. |
| arrangement of the deck substructure should be | | | | Once a deck shape that seems to work has been |
| drawn in plan view as well as elevation view in | | | | created, figure the deck's actual size and confirm |
| which it is seen straight on from 1 side. Railings | | | | its shape and placement on the site. Refine the |
| and other vertical deck parts are best drawn in | | | | scale drawing. Consider traffic patterns. People |
| elevation view. Any attachments or detail | | | | should be able to move smoothly from the house |
| features should be drawn from the view that | | | | to the deck and from the deck to the yard. If |
| most clearly shows their construction. Three | | | | necessary, open up a house wall to improve |
| dimensional detail sketches can often work best | | | | circulation. Avoid creating traffic patterns that run |
| for these. | | | | through the middle of outdoor spaces. Plan them |
| To reduce the deck's plan to paper size, it should | | | | so they flow along the perimeters of these deck |
| be drawn to scale. A typical scale might be 1 foot | | | | spaces. |
| of actual deck reduced to 1/4 or 1/2 inch | | | | Taking the time to do the research, to do careful |
| depending upon the size of the deck. A simple | | | | planning and using some imagination in the intial |
| way to do this is to use graph paper where a | | | | deck design process will eventually lead to the |
| certain number of squares would equal 1 foot on | | | | creation of an outdoor living space that will satisfy |
| the deck. If a larger drawing area is needed, tape | | | | the needs and lifestyle of family members and |
| sheets of graph paper together. | | | | guests for years to come. |