Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Uncategorized


How to Create the Perfect Deck Plan

By: Richard Vande Sompel

Have the family come together to discuss various ideas of what a perfect deck plan might be for everyone. Walk around the property and consider various locations for the deck. Backyards are often the popular choice but the side or even front yard may be a better choice to suit the needs of the family.

Determine the potential size of the deck. Where a larger deck might cut into the yard area, a smaller deck might be the better slection. However, if the yard is rarely used or lawn maintenance is a negative issue, then a larger deck will make life easier.

Consider what things are typically done by family members outdoors. Determine how the construction of a deck might make them more enjoyable. Brainstorm ideas of new ways to enjoy outdoor living as well.

Cooking outdoors is the most popular deck activity for the majority of people. Locate the grilling area as far away as possible from areas where children playing might pose a safety issue. Leave enough room for the chef and assitant cooks to gather around the barbecue to chat and burn meat together. It might be worthwhile to construct a complete cooking center with a small refrigerator, counter space and even cabinets. In cases where rain might affect the ritual of cooking outdoors, think about erecting an overhead shelter of some sort.

In the planning of a deck it is important to consider the placement and arrangement of outdoor furniture. An area could be set aside specifically for dining with a large table and chairs. A wide open deck might be preferred that would offer several strategically located areas that would encourage small groups of people to come together for buffet style dining and tasting wines.

Consider sticking with movable furniture instead of built-in benches and tables. Guests and family members are likely to prefer arranging their own seating and eating spaces.

Eating and entertaining on the deck after dark are considerations that make deck lighting an important issue. Motion sensing floodlights are great for providing security or lighting the way for home entry. However, it is extremely unappealing for outdoor dining ambiance. Low voltage lighting fixtures set into steps or posts provide a much more effective and subtle solution. Outdoor holiday lights or Japanese lanterns strung up on or around the deck strategically can do much to create a festive feeling or mood.

The movement of the sun during daytime hours will impact upon the location of the deck. Main entertaining areas will have to be kept away from the heat and the glare of the afternoon and setting sun. Attention will have to be paid to choosing the best places to sip a drink at night, read the newspaper early in the morning, work on a tan or enjoy an afternoon nap. Such decisions will affect the placement of overhead structures such as arbors and pergolas as well as hammocks and swinging chairs.

Privacy can be an important deck design issue. The size of the deck will partly determine the approach to be used. Low railings and benches or none at all open up a deck to the yard. Railings with closely spaced balusters, privacy screens and overhead structures can be used to provide a sense of enclosure.

Building a raised deck might put the family on display for all the neighborhood to see. However, by stepping the deck down, this problem will disappear. The alternative would be to construct a higher deck with fence-like structures bordering it. A strategically placed trellis can easily support attractive climbing and flowering plants that will work with the deck's railing system to provide all the privacy that is needed.

Constructing a multilevel deck is another alternative that will create areas that are separated but not walled off. In the process family members and guests can experience various measures of privacy.

The wraparound deck is another excellent choice to create a sense of privacy. Because of its design nature, one area will be separated from the other simply because each one is adjacent to a different side of the house.

One of the easiest methods to create privacy on a deck is by means of the strategic placement of plants around its perimeter. As bushes, shrubs and trees grow over the years, the snese of privacy and enclosure will heighten. Hedges can easily be planted in order to replace railings and achieve the same effects.

Orienting the deck in order to enjoy the best features within the yard is an extremely important decision. Where possible, plan and design the landscaping to complement the deck and enhance the total experience. The location of flowers, shrubs, climbing vines and trees are part of this. However, items such as bird feeders, trellises, fountains or other water features can enhance the measure of enjoyment immensely.

Creating the perfect deck plan should involve everyone in the family in some way and should reflect the lifestyle, tastes and desires of all concerned. In that way this new outdoor space will easily provide years of enjoyment for the whole family, guests and quite possibly any future owners.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Richard Vande Sompel is a professional deck builder of 35 years and over 850 decks built and is the author of "How to Plan, Design and Build a Deck from Start to Finish". To Discover More About Deck Design and Claim your 2 FREE Deck Plans, Insider Report, MP3 Audio and discover everything to know about building a deck visit: http://www.DeckBuildingRevealed.com

| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Please Rate this Article

Recent UnCategorized Articles

  • Fruit Gift Baskets Are Appropriate For Any Occasion By: Charles Cox - Financial times have gotten pretty tough these days. So whenever you give a gift, do you consider how the recipient would benefit financially from that gift? And would it not be nice to give a gift to someone who has fallen on hard times? That is what happens when you give fruit gift baskets.
  • Looking For Mr. Right Through Dating By: rodrigo rehn - There are many women who often look forward to meeting their dream man or the Mr. Right. But some of them do not really believe in the fact that there can be someone who can be given the title of Mr. Right. They only exist in the imagination of some women and never happen to be true.
    Tags: meeting, perfect date, dating, life partner, dating advice
  • How To Combat Fear For Dating By: rodrigo rehn - There can be hundreds of reasons why you will fail in a date. But the most important reason is fear. A face with all the blood drained out from it, quivering lips can spoil a date badly. There are thousands of people who often are really scared to go for a date or suddenly feel tensed up when their date arrives.
    Tags: date, first date, feeling insecured, dating, dating advice
  • 3 Powerful Tips To Make Your First Date Perfect By: rodrigo rehn - Almost all of you must have fanaticized about the first date in your life. In fact we are all about the proverb that First impression is the last impression.
    Tags: first date, relationship, date, meeting, make the date
  • Snoring - Ways To Treat The Nighttime Dilemma By: Paul Hata - The most often question raised to any condition is - can it be cured? Well, that actually depends on the nature of the disease, disorder, or syndrome and what knowledge do the medical and scientific communities have with regards to the problem. Luckily, snoring is not much of a difficult condition to treat. The nature of which is also well-known that most consider it normal.
    Tags: health, weight loss, nutrition, vitamins, skin care
  • Know What Causes The Snoring Problem By: Paul Hata - It is undeniable that snoring actually causes major problems, if not in general health then maybe with relationships. There is no wonder then why too many people want to quit snoring. Add to it the fact that everyone deserves some rest after a day of tiring work. The sad part though is that snoring is not a voluntary act.
    Tags: health, weight loss, nutrition, vitamins, skin care
  • Bad Breath Caused By Anaerobic Sulfur Producing Bacteria By: Paul Hata - Bad breath is caused by Anaerobic Sulfur Producing Bacteria, which normally live within the surface of the tongue and in the throat. These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans in digestion by breaking down proteins found in specific foods, mucous or phlegm, blood, and in diseased or "broken-down" oral tissue.
    Tags: bad breath, breath, halitosis, oral hygiene, dental
  • The Contributing Factors To Snoring By: Paul Hata - Snoring is the noise produced through vibrating throat components. This occurs only during sleep since this is when our muscles are most relaxed. Relaxation of the muscles can inhibit the passage of normal airflow since the muscles fall back to cause blockage, narrowing the passage itself.
    Tags: health, weight loss, nutrition, vitamins, skin care
  • Bad Breath Caused By Plaque And Bacteria By: Paul Hata - Bad breath is due to anaerobic bacteria that live within the surface of the tongue and throat, that produce smelly sulfur compounds when they come in contact with proteins, which cause bad breath. Plaque on the tongue can cause bad breath where bacteria can grow.
    Tags: bad breath, breath, halitosis, oral hygiene, dental
  • The Advantages Of Removing Wisdom Tooth By: Paul Hata - Wisdom tooth are also known as third molars are the last teeth to erupt. This occurs generally between the ages of seventeen and twenty five. There remains a great deal of disagreement regarding whether or not this tooth need to be removed. It is usually suggested that the tooth that remain completely buried or un-erupted in a normal position are unlikely to cause harm.
    Tags: bad breath, breath, halitosis, oral hygiene, dental

Today's Hot Articles

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!


Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.