Tips for Creating Great Decks and Patios
One of the best home improvement ideas is a
deck, patio or both. A deck will allow you to enjoy the great
outdoors in comfort and is an ideal place for entertaining. You can
add a chiminea for those colder nights or days to get even more use
out of your deck.
A deck can be up off the ground or down close to ground level. The
floor is usually made of timber, but you can have one right on
ground level and use dry-set pavers. In this case your deck is
called a patio. A deck may or may not have railings and roof. If it
is up high, railings will be a safety feature. A roof will subtract
from the sun, but add shade for hot weather and shelter from summer
storms. You’ll get more use from your deck with a roof. You may even
decide to turn your deck into a spa.
You will need to decide what materials will be used to build your
deck or patio, how big you want it and exactly where it will be. It
may be that you intend to just go ahead and build it, but wait, you
need to visit your local city building department to find out just
what permits you need to build your deck. There are industry
standards to adhere to, but these may differ from state to state. In
fact, in some areas one of the regulations is that railings are
necessary if the height above ground exceeds 24 inches.
Foundations must be of a specified depth and strength, as must
joists and bearers. If glass panels are used, these must be safety
glass that will shatter into non-shard pieces rather like a car
windscreen. You may think that simply putting pavers onto a bed of
sand sounds easier and it may very well be, but you still need to
prepare the area beforehand by removing any vegetation and leveling
it, or rather, sloping it away from the house so that water will run
away rather than flooding you out. The slope needs to be a ¼ inch
for every foot.
The chosen flooring for most decks is redwood, which is durable and
beautiful to look at. Cedar, which is slightly cheaper, can be used
for the framing. It will need to be sealed to make it more durable.
The footing for your deck can be pre-formed concrete or poured
on-site using cardboard tubings with an anchor set into the top.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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