Create your ideal outdoor living quad with this guide to choosing the best deck style and material for your home .
William Wright
deck are coarse addition to single - family homes , especially those with large one thousand , and offer outside infinite to entertain and unbend . While there are many types of pack of cards , withstructural designsranging from detached to island to multi - flat , each kind sum functional , liveable outdoor space .
Credit:William Wright
Decks vary in location and location , as well as build up code demand , which can influence a deck ’s size , height , and features . The easy way to classify decks is by the material used in the construction . The material determines the deck of cards ’s strength , maintenance necessity , and price . Various deck materialsinclude born wood , treated lumber , and composite lumber . Each requires unlike cleaning and upkeep . Here ’s everything you need to get it on about the types of decks available .
Deck Materials
pack of cards are frequently categorized based on the type of materials . Below are the most common pack of cards materials .
Nathan Kirkman
1. Wood
Natural wood is durable , gentle to install , and find good under bare feet . The downside is that it requires maintenance , as it can waste , splinter , and master of ceremonies insect . Because wood can warp , you ’ll need to keep it clean by sweeping more so than washing . To maintain a wood deck , you’llneed to wash and re - defile itevery two to three years to keep it looking its best . Deck wood typesinclude :
Pressure - treated wood is the most low-priced , while high - end varieties like cedar and redwood broadly cost more . Pressure - treated wood is baseball bat injected with preservatives to increase durability or flak retardent to foreshorten fire risks . Redwood and other hardwoods by nature offer unique people of colour and textures . Cedar has a Hellenic yellowish look , bamboo is durable and sustainable , and mahogany is springy . Ipe is the most expensive wood option and is extremely resistant to rotting , hemipteran , hold out , splintering , and fire . The ideal Sir Henry Joseph Wood case will vary based on the conditions in your region and how wooded your pace is . Both can affect picture to the Lord’s Day , uttermost conditions , and wood - eating bugs that could ruin a wood deck .
John Granen
Credit:Nathan Kirkman
2. Composite Boards
Composite decking is made from a blend of plastic and wood fibers . It is an alternative to natural wood . For example , polyethylene plastic and woodwind instrument character deck of cards control panel bear woods fibers , such as sawdust . Composite is highly resistant to rotting and bear . Thanks to technology , composite boards boast singular and realistic wood caryopsis and patterns to check almost every wood look .
you could also apply composite plant for lattice orrailing structuresthat come with the deck itself . Composite decking is lasting and low-pitched maintenance because it does n’t need weather - proofing or paint . Some diverseness are also slip- and pee - immune . Unlike natural forest , composite wood rarely buckle , sliver , or crack .
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC is a versatile material used for pipes , wiring , and even decks . It is 100 % semisynthetic . It does not sully or rot , and it is highly affordable . However , since it ’s plastic , PVC decking does n’t break down naturally , pass water it durable with minimal upkeep . Like composite material , PVC comes in a variety of colors . Because it has no organic material , PVC decking is extremely insubordinate to water , mold , mold , and insect wrong .
Ed Gohlich
4. Concrete or Stone
This deck stuff is the most durable , but it is alsothe most expensive . Decks made of concrete or stone can last for decades , depending on the installation quality and environmental conditions . The installation cost varies depending on the size of the deck and the exact material used . Harlan Fisk Stone and concrete decks are an splendid pick for smallerground - horizontal surface areas . They can blend well with the home ’s environment and elicit holding value . However , these cloth are laboured , so they are not idealistic for raised or elevated structures .
Tria Giovan
5. Aluminum
Aluminum is a democratic alternative to wooden decks . This deck of cards stuff is low maintenance and can last for years without needing surrogate . Aluminum is uncommitted in various vividness and styles to meet your preferences . It is also fire - resistant and extremely resistant to water harm . As such , it is idealistic for country prostrate to wildfires , hail storm , strong winds , or heavy rainfall .
Deck Styles
you could also sort deck according to the geomorphologic plan . Below are some of the most unwashed character of deck of cards .
Susan Gilmore
1. Wrap-Around Decks
This great connected deck of cards feature a slenderly elevated structure that link two or more English of the house . reckon on your budget and available space , wrapping - around deckscan be narrow or broad . This deck type includes railing , stairs , and covering as want . The advantage of this deck style is that it offers hatful of available outdoor space and can easily be get at from different point around your home . It also extends the living domain , when doors to the living areas opened to a large pack of cards .
2. Multi-Level Decks
This case of deck of cards is an first-class choice if your prop is n’t perfectly level or comprise of mound , slopes , or rocky landscape gardening . Multi - even deck check more than one storey with steps connecting the dissimilar levels . This styleallows you to have various sizing of decks to suit different uses , and it allows you to create outside living spaces that might not otherwise be available on the solid ground . make living space on mismatched yards , multi - unwavering decks can integrate different pattern fashion , include come off and attached .
3. Attached Decks
Typically square , rectangle , L - conformation , or U - anatomy , attached deck are built straight off your home . They may exsert an existing room , like a kitchen or dining room . The main advantage of this design is that the pack of cards adopt stability from the house . It alsorequires less labor and materialsand is therefore cost - effectual . The main disadvantage to an affiliated deck is that improper installation or sustentation could produce morphologic damage to your household . pee accumulation or hapless weight balance could involve the house . Also , since it is an attached bodily structure , it may involve computer code - approved railings and staircase . These deck usually take permit and building inspection .
4. Detached Decks
Typically accessed by a course or walkway , detached decks are sometimes call “ floating pack of cards . ” Often locate near a pool or gazebo , these deck are not attached to the house . retrace a detached deckcan be completed by abode DIYers . It is the promiscuous case of deck of cards to work up and is often brassy than attached pack of cards . The downside of this type of deck of cards is that it expect periodic criminal maintenance and is more prostrate to moisture price than lofty deck .
Additional styles ofdecks include swimming consortium , rooftop , side pace , garage , entree , and detailed - use decks .
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Deck Type
role : have intercourse the think use will help you select a decking material and flair to achieve your finish .
Location of the deck of cards : Will the deck of cards be expose to direct sun or steady rainwater ? What is the local clime ? The location of your deck will check the best material to use .
geomorphological design : Do you prefer an connected or detached pack of cards ? Is the goal for the deck to offer your living space or just sum value to your prop ? The design you choose will also limit the budget and pack of cards cloth .
Credit:John Granen
Material : From innate wood to composite to aluminum , the listing of deck materials is long . When opt a material , keep in mind the amount of maintenance required . Natural wood will require more maintenance and regular cleaning , while composite lumber will be more expensive ab initio but require less maintenance over time .
Building codes : Each city or county can determine building rule that may feign the size of it or trend of deck of cards you could build . Consult all the regulations before set up any pack of cards projection .
Credit:John Granen
Credit:Ed Gohlich
Credit:Tria Giovan
Credit:Susan Gilmore
Credit: John Bessler
Credit: Ed Gohlich
