| Long ago we stopped designing boring rectangular | | | | your home or in your yard. An air conditioning unit |
| wood decks built to fit an old picnic table and a pair | | | | can be moved, but perhaps you can work around it |
| of dirty boots. Today's decks are complete outdoor | | | | or build toward another area of your yard instead. |
| rooms, with imagination as the only limitation to what | | | | The same goes for walkways, pools, patios, ponds, |
| can be created. A quiet retreat or a comfortable | | | | driveways, gardens, door exits, and windows, as well |
| place to entertain and relax outdoors is becoming a | | | | as existing trees, shrubs, grading and nice views. The |
| dream to pursue for many. By asking yourself some | | | | next area to consider in your design planning is the |
| simple questions, and working with your existing | | | | use of the new deck. A cozy spa area may be just |
| property's unique personality, plus borrowing the odd | | | | what you had in mind for that private party, or for |
| good idea from other decks, you can create the | | | | relaxing before bed. If you do a lot of entertaining a |
| deck of your dreams. Of primary concern to the | | | | large sitting area will be a must. How many people |
| design of your deck is the layout of the home and | | | | live in the home, and how many people will you want |
| property. Deciding where to put your dream deck on | | | | to entertain on the deck? What furniture and fixtures |
| the property is a good place to start. Is it going to | | | | will be on the deck and where? A table or two |
| be an access into and out of the home, or will it be | | | | perhaps, and how many chairs? Will there be any |
| built further away in the yard? The closer to the | | | | loungers, a BBQ, swings, hammock, benches, planters, |
| home, the more it will be used. Measuring the deck's | | | | a spa, bars, kitchens, fireplaces, fire pit, gazebo, |
| distance off the ground is another early consideration. | | | | trellis, pergola, serving trays, or ponds? All these |
| High decks require railings to meet safety standards. | | | | items take up space and need to be placed in the |
| (At some point you will want to consult your friendly | | | | design for proper sizing. The most common error in |
| building inspector.) Exposure to sun or shade is a | | | | deck building and designing is making the deck too |
| major consideration in the design and placement of | | | | small. Remember it is much cheaper to do it right the |
| your deck. If you are a sun worshipper and build a | | | | first time than to build two or three decks over your |
| deck in the shade, you probably will not be happy. | | | | lifetime in your home. Have fun designing your dream |
| Similarly, someone who prefers a little shade will want | | | | deck and good luck. Tom Jacques - President, |
| to include plans for shade if they can only build their | | | | Hickory Dickory Decks Still wondering where to |
| deck with a full southern exposure. You may have to | | | | start? |
| work around some of the things already attached to | | | | |