Planning for a New Deck

Decks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. There’s no wonder why a lot of planning that needs to take place before having any type of deck built at your home. Planning out your deck will ensure that you and contractors don’t run into any mishaps, there are clear expectations, and it comes out looking how you want it to. Here’s how you can start planning for your new deck. 

Evaluate Your Home

Do you think that your home will look better with a patio, deck, or a combination of the two? While all options can be done on most types of homes, patios are the best choice for homes that have ground-level doors or a house that has level terrain. Decks are a good choice for homes that have uneven terrains or homes that have land that is easily affected by weather such as flooding or snow. A quick evaluation of your home will give you the answers you need. 

Consider its Access Points and Usage

How will you and guests be able to access your new deck? What will your new deck be used for? Will it be a place to dine, to play, to relax, or something completely different? Regardless of how you decide to use your deck, it will play a significant role in planning for it. What you decide to use the space for will decide where it should be placed relative to the home and how people will be able to access it.

Coordinate Aesthetics

Your home’s exterior already has a certain aesthetic, so you’ll probably want your deck to match it. To do this, you’ll consider your deck’s style and the material that will be used to build it. The two most popular options are wood and composite decks.

Pressure-treated wood decks are usually cheaper than composite but they require a lot of upkeep and deteriorate relatively quickly compared to composite decks. Composite decks have a higher upfront cost but they’re low maintenance, can imitate the look of wooden decks, and last for decades. Choose the material that will best match your home’s exterior aesthetic as well as fits your lifestyle. 

The Best Deck Builder in Howard County

If you’re ready to build a new deck and need help planning it out, North American Deck & Patio is here to help. Our team of professional builders with over 25 years of experience planning and building decks can help you determine what’s best for your home. Call or contact us to start planning your deck today. 

“Jim at North American patio and deck's came up with the most ingenious way of utilizing our small very slanted very water drained environment and turned it into a virtual oasis. Making this deck the envy of all our ambitions and gem for the community.”

– C. Cross