Decks: Types & Floorboard Materials
What is a Deck?
The word deck originally describes the horizontal surface that stretches along the length of a ship. In architectural terms, a deck is a lifted structure either attached to a house or detached, with one or multiple levels. The deck is built to adore a view and extend outdoor living space. A deck is mostly located at the back of your house and beautifies the backyard. It can be retrieved through various rooms, but a kitchen, living room, or dining area are rough choices. Unlike a patio, it is not built straight on the ground but is lifted, sometimes as high as the second or third floor of the home.
Deck sizes available in the market
The deck size should be in proportion to the size of your house. Decks range from small architecture off a kitchen to multi-level outdoor exteriors that can lodge many warm-weather activities. Deck size depends on the load and type of furniture you want it to carry. It is also customized regarding backyard size and your budget.
Decks Floorboard Materials
- Pressure-treated wood: Pressure-treated lumber is inexpensive, easily accessible, and great weather- and insect resistant. It’s used as flooring material on a majority of decks. The disadvantage is that it’s not very barefoot-friendly, since it produces smashes. With time, pressure-treated wood will begin to crumble and cloak.
- Composite wood: Composite wood is made up of recycled as well as fresh plastic, and wood fibers. Composite wood decking never requires staining or glazing. It doesn’t smash, rot, split, or fragment. But composite wood decking doesn’t stretch well, so you’ll need to lessen the joist spacing. Composite wood decking is normally affixed to joists with constructor-specified hidden hooks.
- Cedar: Cedar is about twice as costly as pressure-treated wood, but it resists well due to its built-in oils and tannins. Cedar commonly resists bugs and pests. Dirt takes well to cedar and like pressure-treated wood, it tends to crumble and split.
- Tropical hardwoods: Tropical, imported hardwoods describe the top end of floor decking materials. Their firmness and density mean that they don’t take spots well, but they can be oiled for safety. Tropical hardwoods must be fixed to the joists with different hidden clips.
How to Build Decks?
The main materials used for deck manufacturing are pressurized-wood, composite wood, or vinyl, all of which are the best choices. What is right for you depends on the look that you are visualizing, the amount of maintenance you are ok with, and your budget. If you choose a cedar deck, then be prepared for periodic maintenance to refresh the paint or marks and restore any loose screws or nuts so that the deck remains in fine condition and is intact to use. Composite wood and polyvinyl are popular mediums because they last longer and don’t support as much weather-induced destruction as a wood deck can.
Unlike a patio, a deck can have multiple levels and needs a paling for protection. A deck also has one or joint staircases that goes into the backyard. Larger properties have both a deck and a patio, even both at times.
Safety Considerations
Follow all safety instructions that come with the power tools that you will be using during work. Height can be a safety concern when building uplifted decks; even an uplifting of a foot or two can be enough to cause serious damage.
Types of Outdoor Decks and How to Choose One
Outdoor decks are floor or footboard structures usually made from wood or composite decking materials that provide a place for outdoor activities. They include seating areas, chairs, overhead protection, screening walls, and other extras. There are various types of decks to consider before having your own at home. Many attached deck designs are available, others may stand solo in the yard, surround a pool, or even attribute multiple levels.
There are several ways to classify deck types, including basic structure, their location within the landscape, or intentional use.
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Attached Decks
They may be the most popular type of deck and are structurally robust. It is normally designed as an attachment to an existing room, such as a dining room, kitchen, or living room. It is accessed by doors that allow free passing between indoor and outdoor places. This broad set includes both simple ground-level platforms and multi-level frameworks with proper stairways and docks. What is unique to a detached deck is that it is structurally attached to the house taking on a ledger board that is firmly anchored to the home’s casing.
This type of architecture means such decks are firm and robust, but it also means that they are apt to building code requirements. They are built as a structural addition to the homes. When lifted a little above the ground, these decks must be fixed by posts and footings according to building code demands. The advantage of having this deck is it helps enlarge and extend inside spaces, such as the living room, they are good multi-use area, and adds real estate value.
Detached or Platform Decks
Structurally, a detached deck and an attached deck are exactly opposite. It is not anchored to any permanent structure at all. It is built freestanding elsewhere in the yard or further from home, often linked to the home via a pathway. Sometimes it is also called floating decks or platform decks. These structures can be built without the complex footing-post-beam layout as in the attached decks. Detached decks are an excellent alternative to a patio for uneven ground, the easiest type of deck for DIYers, and are inexpensive to build.
Wraparound Decks
A wraparound deck is best considered as a huge attached deck. It is usually a slightly lifted structure that continues around one or two sides of the home to connect multiple areas. These decks are occasionally covered by roofing which is called wraparound porches and added feature railings in addition to steps. Your wraparound deck can be narrow or wide depending on your budget cost and the available space around your territory. If the deck is covered the whole, expenses will be higher to add fresh roofing and reroute the gutter system. Composite floor decking materials will be an expensive project, but they last up to twice as long.
Wraparound decks allow you to follow the sun or shade throughout the day, extensions of the living space of your home and assist with free indoor air circulation when their doors are open.
Multi-Level Decks
A multilevel deck is a sequence of many separate decks individually that are linked by stairways. Hills, ramps, and rocky landscaping may not be able to sustain any outdoor living spaces except by constructing several decks offset at different levels. It is safe, easier, and more budget-friendly to build a deck over a ramp or rocky area than to level the land for a patio.
A multiple-level deck can include separate parts that are linked to the house as attached decks. They also consist of detached areas that are related to stairways. Multi-level decks are much more expensive than the standard square or rectangular decks designs because of the additional materials and labor for their construction. Like other decks, pressurized-wood or composite wood can be used depending on your budget and requirements. The benefits of having these decks are they create horizontal living space on uneven yards, contain both attached and detached design styles, and can be built in parts according to budget.
Side-Yard Decks
Beyond the basic structural designs, decks can be classified by their location within the living space. For instance, a side yard deck offers the best way to turn a vacant part of the yard into a functional area. When this often neglected space isn’t being used for lawns, pets, or storage, building a side-yard deck can turn it into a comfortable and livable area. These decks are smaller in size and cost noticeably less than full-sized decks, but they can create extra space and improve the area’s aesthetics. Side-yard decks are made of wood or composite wood based on reliability needs.
A side-yard deck can also provide a sheltered, calm way without leaving home. A small deck with a tub outside an exterior bedroom door can turn your side yard into a calming and modified attractive space. Privacy screens are a great addition to safety. Functionally, side-yard decks are categorized as attached or detached fabrics. Normally, they are at ground level, but lifting them on posts attached to footings is possible. The advantages include they are less expensive than a full-sized deck, easy for DIY projects, and cover unattended space in a good way.
Swimming Pool Decks
A swimming pool deck is a great choice because it’s slip-resistant and never gets as hot as patio masonry made of stone or concrete. Wood or composite decking is also an elegant way to make an above-ground pool more classy. The adjacent decks create more space for swimmers and offer space for parents to keep a poolside eye on their swimming children. Since original wood can split and scratch, it needs maintenance with a deck fixative regularly so that swimmers don’t get smashed in their feet. Composite decking is a good option, however, it is a little expensive and a few colors retain more heat than others.
Since pool decks are exposed to water regularly, light-colored decking is a great choice for reliability, splinter protection, and least maintenance.
Functionally, a poolside deck is often built so it simply stays on the existing concrete cover around the pool. They are sometimes constructed around above-ground pool levels to create the illustration of an in-ground fixing. In this kind of architecture, the poolside deck can even be an attached structure that extends out from the house to cover an above-ground pool. Here, construction is much more complex, bearing footings, posts, and a complex understructure. Pool decks are slip-resistant and cooler on bare feet than masonry materials.
Entryway Decks
Constructing an entryway deck is the best way to create a more welcoming entrance path to your home. It also provides a functional space for visiting guests or enjoying a happy evening with friends. An entrance deck can be similar to a front lobby but without a full yard. Or, it can be planned as a series of steps and a terrace that adds to your home’s engineering. This type of deck has built-in tables, and each feature is made of wood or resistive composite materials.
Materials, textures, shapes, and layouts should complement the rest of the house, making the deck and house look like they were built together. Entryway decks enhance the home’s architectural appeal and are less expensive than some lavish paving options. They also add space to the front yard.
Rooftop or Over-Garage Decks
Rooftop and over-garage decks allow owners to expand their outdoor living areas without taking up noticeable space in the yard. However, it’s important not to start this project before hiring a professional who will tell you whether the structure is safe and worthy for a deck. Like front yard decks and outdoor dining decks, it is elegant to use composite decking when building a rooftop or over-garage deck for longevity purposes. Moreover, the cost of preparing the existing structure for deck installation can be much higher. These decks work great on flat roofs, and they’re the best option to create outdoor space in urban residences. They provide better views than ground-level decks and offer more privacy.
What is the Difference Between Patios and Decks?
An outdoor living area such as a patio or a deck can be a valuable addition to your home, both for your amusement and for resale value. There are some similarities between a deck and a patio and that’s why they are mistaken for one another. Some basic differences are important to know when deciding which one of the two is a better option for your yard.
Patios & Decks
A patio is a concrete frame or structure usually uniting the exterior of a house and is located in your backyard. A patio is attached straight to the back or side of the home, although there are cases where it is located away from the house and is a detached structure. Unlike a deck, a patio is a flat slab built on the ground directly and is not raised significantly. A patio does not have multiple levels. The word deck originally describes the horizontal surface that stretches along the length of a ship. In architectural terms, a deck is a lifted structure either attached to a house or detached, with one or multiple levels. The deck is built to adore a view and extend outdoor living space.
Size
Patios vary in both size and shape. Some patios are large enough to board two chairs, a table, and a fire pit. While others can carry a large seating arrangement and dining set too. Decks range from small architecture off a kitchen to multi-level outdoor exteriors that can lodge many warm-weather activities. Deck size depends on the load and type of furniture you want it to carry.
Materials Used for Construction
The prime material used to build a patio is concrete. However, large paving stones, tiles, or bricks can also be used. A patio is a ground-level horizontal slab that is often not surrounded by any walls. Pergola is added for comfort and shade. The main materials used for deck manufacturing are pressurized-wood, composite wood, or vinyl, all of which are the best choices. Composite wood and polyvinyl are popular mediums because they last longer and don’t support as much weather-induced destruction as a wood deck can.
