Seven Steps To Building Your Own Deck
Whether it's in Lancaster County or anywhere else, the #1 top priority for your deck is safety, and that cannot be emphasized enough. This page is designed to serve as a central headquarters for you to build your own SAFE deck, or do parts of the project yourself and have someone else do the work you are not comfortable handling on your own.
With safety planned in from the beginning, get ready to discover here how you can build your own deck and enjoy the benefits without any worries. This page takes you step-by-step through what you need to know as you seek to make your dream deck a reality.
First Step: Consider Your Needs and Wants
Once you've familiarized yourself with the pros and cons of different deck materials, the next logical step is to create a checklist of what your requirements are and how the deck will be primarily used. Below is your cheat sheet of questions to help you through this step.
- Who will be using the deck: adults, children, all ages?
- Will there be large groups of people on the deck and how often?
- Will the deck be attached to the home?
- Will the deck be on a second story or higher?
- Will this be a single level deck or multi-level?
- How much traffic is expected: light, average, or heavy?
- Do you have pets?
- Is there natural shade or will you need create shade?
- Are there trees or is your property heavily wooded?
- Are any trees in close proximity to where you want your deck?
- What kind of topography do you have: flat, mild variations, steep hill?
- Will water runoff be an issue for either your deck footings or your house?
- What type of soil does your property have?
- Will you be using the deck at night?
- Will this deck be for a pool area?
- Would you like the deck to match your home or accent it?
- Would you like to include an outdoor kitchen on your deck?
- And of course you had to know this one was coming; what is your budget?
In addition to answering these questions, it is advisable to consider unusual scenarios for what your deck may be forced to endure. Things like an impromptu backyard soccer game with all the nieces and nephews, and parents all standing on one side of the deck to watch. Or maybe your deck will get used as a dance floor after the soccer game is over. Will your deck be able to handle this?
Once you've answered the questions above, all the other decisions you need to make will be much easier because you weigh them against your list of answers. You'll discover much more clarity when you face that vast sea of choices in the exciting process you are about to move into next.
Step Two: Discover Your Options
Maybe you've already looked at deck sites, magazines, and other sources to get inspired with ideas for planning your deck, but the list below goes a little beyond that and includes interactive resources to make planning your deck easier and helps you visualize your finished project better.
- Decks.com - With such an obvious name, you may have already been there, but it needs to be included on this list anyway. As you would expect from the name, it's a pretty comprehensive resource for everything decks.
- Backyards and Gardens - Here is another place with a name that says it all, but it's a valuable resource in your quest to get ideas and inspiration.
- TimberTech's Deck Designer - TimberTech is a leading manufacturer of quality decking materials, and whether you use their product or not, you'll find the interactive Deck Designer tool very helpful.
In addition to the TimberTech site, the leading deck material makers have galleries on their sites that you could find useful. Here are some more leading brands commonly used by professional deck builders.
This would be a good time to mention that with all the hard work you'll be putting into your deck, you want to buy a good decking material. The mega stores have their product specially made for price, not quality. Buy what the pros use and you won't have to worry about your hard work being wasted on poor quality product.
Step Three: Meeting Code Requirements
With the importance of safety already emphasized above, codes for Lancaster County have been developed to help assure a safe deck. You'll want to pay especially careful attention to lateral load support requirements. Before moving on to the next step of planning, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the codes your plans will have to meet.
Unfortunately, the online availability of code information for Lancaster County communities varies with each of our communities. You can visit the Lancaster County site, choose your community, and see what's available, but it may require a visit to your local building permit office to get the information you need.
The American Wood Council offers a free download based on the 2009 International Residential Code that will cover most or all code requirements for your community. Be aware, it is 4 MB so it may take several seconds to open in your browser (will open in a new tab or window).
Step Four: Planning Your Deck
By completing the above steps above in their logical order, the decisions you face for the actual planning will be far less daunting; you will be able to experience the thrill and anticipation of visualizing your deck becoming a reality.
To help you through this process, Deck Advisor will become one of your most valued friends. You can learn from people who build decks for a living, and you'll be glad to know they willingly share their knowledge. Decks are highly specialized, and this resource is a great one to take advantage of.
If you're wondering about the price, it's only 3 easy payments of $0.00. Seriously though, one of the contributing deck contractors, Matt Breyer, serves the Lancaster area. That means he knows local codes, conditions, and variables so you're getting free information relevant to where you live.
Just in case you missed it in the decks.com link above, they have free deck plans for several deck styles and sizes. If one of these suits your needs, it may offer a simplified solution to planning your deck, or, help you get started in the right direction.
The Build a Safe, Strong Deck section on the Simpson Strong-Tie site offers excellent information and advice that will help you plan and build a new deck you can feel confident about. Simpson Strong-Tie is a leading maker of hardware used by the pros, and this resource is highly recommended to anyone considering building their own deck.
So far, all the suggested resources have been free, but don't worry, we have a few on the Resources page that will require small investments. There are some great books available that will help you through the planning stage and boost your confidence in your ability to successfully build your new deck.
Step Five: Obtaining a Permit
Once you've made it this far, you'll be ready to obtain a permit without the unpleasant surprises associated with attempting that task unprepared. It may seem mind boggling now if you're still at the beginning stages of researching what you're up against, but once you've taken these steps one at a time, you'll be excited when you get to this point.
Step Six: Building Your Own Deck
When you've successfully reached this step, the only thing more exciting is when the job is finished. Depending on your work speed, schedule, and the helpers you have available, you'll be enjoying your new deck in a matter of days or weeks. Before, during, and even after this step, be sure to check out the additional resources, carefully chosen to enhance your experience of making your deck a reality.
Step Seven: Enjoy Your New Deck
Congratulations! Either you've made it to the bottom of this page or you've taken these steps to create your own new deck. Even if you had to hire out parts of the project, you've accomplished something significant by doing the work yourself. Lancaster County is a beautiful place to live, but it looks even better from your own backyard deck, doesn't it?