Choosing a Location

Decks should complement the style of your house and backyard and be situated in the most ideal location. Decks need to be situated where they will meet the multi-functional needs of your family. A deck can surround a pool, be attached to your house, be freestanding or even in certain circumstances be placed on a flat roof.

The location of your deck greatly depends on what you will use your deck for, the layout of your backyard and your personal preference.

Deck location considerations:

• Consider everyone who will access your deck such as children or people in wheelchairs. You will want to ensure that it will be suitable for them to use.
• The deck should be easy to get to both from a house door and your yard.
• Decks that receive direct sunlight have certain practicality but also many downfalls, including more sun damage to materials.
• Decks that are built in high-wind areas may need a privacy screen.
• Consider the deck's height in relation to the view and the distance you can see from the deck.
• The height of the deck, the materials used and the type of soil in your ground will determine the amount of structural support required.
• Check to see how the deck and its proposed location will impact your property taxes and your insurance costs.
• Before you begin your planning, be sure that there are no pipelines or electrical cables of any kind in the ground where digging will take place. To be sure, contact your local utility companies. Excavating where there are underground pipes or wires is not only dangerous, it can be very costly.
• If you want to build your deck on a hill, you will probably need to consult a soils engineer to design the structure as this poses extra requirements .

Most importantly, decks need to be planned and constructed so that they are legal and safe. A local building department should be contacted as they can inform you of restrictions or requirements pertaining to the current building code.

Many local building departments require that you submit a drawing plan and pay a fee to get a building permit. Sometimes they will monitor the progress and inspect your deck after certain stages have been completed.