Cedar is a popular choice for many wood projects. It’s has a heavy red tint to it at the beginning of its life. Cedar is known for holding up in the elements quite well, eventually aging to a nice silver or grey color.

Mahogany is a wonderful choice if money isn’t an issue. This wood gives your deck, mailbox, or porch a very luxurious feel to it. It’s a brownish color and has very tight grains.

Synthetics are a choice for many people. Synthetic wood has a few advantages, it’s very easy to install. Usually you can just lay the beams in place and glue them together. Since it’s not real wood, it holds up better than real wood. It’s extremely durable, water proof, and can withstand the elements. However, there are always downsides to using these installations: looks. No matter how good the product is, you can never really imitate real wood. It’s glossy and doesn’t give the appearance of real wood, but is a very nice substitute.

By Mike Terry

You can practically see concrete used everywhere around you. Various structures including buildings, houses, and roads are made out of concrete. Basically a few reasons make concrete this important; it is inexpensive, versatile, and a very strong material. However, like most of the other materials, concrete can also get damaged therefore it is important that concrete sealer should be used in every home’s surface to keep it protected. Building a house is not a joke, it is very big investment and owners will make sure that it is maintained in every way possible. Repairing the structure in the future might cost a lot of money therefore keeping it protected already will be a wise move. For this reason, using a concrete sealer can make sure that your concrete surfaces stay strong for a lot more years.

Concrete surfaces need to be protected with concrete sealer so corrosion and deterioration can be avoided. Being a porous matter, concrete can easily absorb water therefore chemicals and moisture can easily damage it. Concrete sealer makes sure that this absorption does not take place and all the destructive substances are unable to get through its layer and enter the concrete. When a concrete surface is not sealed, it is vulnerable. Over the time such unprotected concrete will continue to absorb water and moisture and soon it will start to break or crack. This usually happens to sidewalks, driveways, garages, floors, and other concrete surfaces found in a home.

You can really not avoid deterioration on concrete surfaces like garages and pathways because vehicles and humans continuously pass by therefore it is necessary to use concrete sealer on such places that are at most risk. Along with all these factors, concrete can also suffer from damage when the weather changes. Extreme changes can be pretty damaging; if the climate suddenly goes from hot to cold, concrete surfaces will get weak. If you are living in a place where it can get extremely cold in winters and extremely hot in summers; your concrete surfaces need urgent protection with concrete sealer.

Not only using concrete sealer will make sure that your concrete surfaces stay protected and last long but it will also give a much better and fresher look to the surface. It makes the concrete look cleaner and newer for a longer period of time. Always use a high quality concrete sealer to get maximum protection.

When looking for deck plans, be sure to find one that goes with the space you have in mind. There are several free resources available on the internet to help you with your deck plans. You can also choose to hire a professional deck designer to ensure the deck you build is the proper fit and shape for the space.
Deck construction typically begins with excavating the chosen area and setting the posts. Once the concrete has fully cured, the deck is framed and in some cases support beams use joist hangers and extremely large lag bolts to connect to the existing home’s foundation.

The decking (horizontal boards you stand on with your feet) is installed, some prefer nails for their finished look, some will use screws for the extra strength. If you use nails, however, be careful if you have a soft wood like cedar because if you miss the nail you will leave hammer marks. The last step of deck construction is the railing, for safety reasons. Some will apply stain or even paint to create the finished product, and protect the lumber to ensure the deck will last for years to come.

Aside from just feeding birds, bird feeder decking ideas also surprise us with visits from some of the rarest bird species in our own home garden. Bird feeders are often equipped with webcams to capture these rare moments. Depending on the species of bird the feeder is for, bird feeders come in different designs and kinds.

A very popular kind of feeder is a seed feeder. These feeders often come with sunflower seeds. Different kinds of seeds are often separated by sections.

On the other hand, you also have hummingbird feeders that have a liquid feed. This is most often a sugary syrup that hummingbirds like. The syrup solution is colored brightly to attract them. However you should be careful when you pick the coloring, as toxic coloring could make the birds sick. Another kind of bird feeder with liquid feed is an oriole feeder. They tend to be orange so take that into consideration when planning out your decking ideas.

Aside from how good the feed is, the effectiveness of a feeder most depends on where it is placed, and how far away it is from bothersome little creatures like cats and squirrels. Squirrels tend to take bird feed and carry it to their homes, wasting your efforts to feed the birds.

Despite all the joys and advantages of bird feeders and what they give to birds as well as us, feeders do have their negative points as well; namely for birds. If you do not maintain clean water and feed you leave the birds at risk to spread diseases when they come in contact with each other. And as one species gets overtaken by disease, another species grows, which leads to an imbalance in ecology.

So if you’ve gotten some decking ideas of installing a bird feeder, go ahead and enjoy the company of our feathered friends. But remember to keep it maintained to look out for them as well.

The Internet

This is the most obvious, largest resource available for free deck plans.  If you are reading this article now odds are you have a computer and internet connection at your disposal.  There are several high quality websites that have a massive variety of free deck plans available, all you have to do is look around and see which type of free deck plan suits your deck construction needs the best.

Building Supply Store

Often times there are free deck plans and other renovation plans available at your local hardware or building supplies store.  Be sure to ask an associate when you are buying your lumber if they have any free deck plans available as you were interested.  Most of the time they are able to provide you with high quality, free deck plans from experienced construction professionals.  This is an easy way to filter out some of the poor quality plans found on the internet.

Ask a friend/neighbor/relative who recently built a deck

Sometimes you may know someone personally who has recently had a deck built or built a deck themselves who would be happy to provide you with some free deck plans.  The only problem is most houses have different spaces available for deck building and the plan may not work with the space you had in mind for a deck.  This method to get free deck plans can work great with neighbors in new sub-divisions with very similar houses.  They may have had some great small deck ideas that would work well with your new home.

A proper deck construction involves a lot of expertise and skills, so there should be certain norms which should be followed before construction. Before Deck construction make sure you follow certain guidelines and rules while designing the deck. There are many points while constructing a deck which are overlooked by home owners.

Before deck construction, decide which material you want to use for it. There are many materials available for deck construction but go for the materials which are reliable and will have a long shelf life. There are materials like PVC coated for deck which are thick and can withstand a sufficient amount of required weight. You can go for other deck construction materials also according to your choice and taste. There are different pressure handling decks available which require cleaning, coating and tarnishing every two to three years. You can opt for those decks if maintenance is your main concern.

Privacy can also be an issue while constructing a deck in your home lawn or a backyard. Sometimes while you are resting on a reclined am chair on a deck, you might feel that you are on stage and the people in your neighborhood can have an eye on you. You should decide the proper size, width, length and diameter of the deck according to your lawn or garden carpet area.

If your deck is in contact with the direct sunlight, you have to make sure to cover the deck, because direct sunlight contact may cause damage to the deck. There is also various coating which can be applied during the deck construction and installation time to prevent the deck from any damages caused due to direct contact with the sunlight. When you are on deck, the summer breeze or winds might give you a soothing feel, but they may add an obstruction to your conversation or might roll of any dust or paper plates accumulated on the deck here and there. Positioning your deck at a proper place is also quite vital for successful completion of deck installation.

Many people go wrong while deck building because supporting large loads is much more difficult than it seems to be. Not just the weight of the hot tub, but also the dimensions and electrical wiring required for the hot tub should be kept in mind by the deck builder at the time of deck planning and construction. Once, you have measured for your hot tub’s dimensional requirements, accounted for weight and identified a power source, you are ready to start the construction planning.

The next step is to decide on the extra support required for your hot tub. Make sure to add at least 3 feet in diameter to your deck i.e. if your hot tub is 9 feet in diameter then your deck should be at least 12 feet in diameter to be built properly. Next, you will have to dig foot holes in the ground to support the deck and then place proper footings in the dug holes. You will also need enough posts to support the hot tub’s full weight and the weight of the potential tub and deck occupants. If you are not comfortable at this phase, you should consult a professional.

If you have successfully accounted for the weight, power and design, you are all set to build a deck for your hot tub. Always keep in mind that the deck can be build on both sides of your home and you could also opt to build an free standing unit elsewhere on your property. Decide on a place that you are comfortable with but also make sure that plants, trees, and utilities do not become obstacles while deck building.

Though hot tubs can be a great addition to your home, they need to be built properly. If your deck is not designed properly and is not sturdy enough, it might collapse without notice or the structure could prove to be a very dangerous liability to your household. So if you do not have extensive deck building experience, make sure to consult a professional deck builder to build your hot tub ready deck.

Even for all the do-it-yourself guys, constructing a deck is not very easy which they can tackle quite comfortably. For the rest of you, there are a number of deck building contractors to do the job to perfection.

The very first step in planning a deck is to work out where to build it. For this you need to consider the size, the shape, the location and the neighboring landscape of the deck. Some of these features may be more important to you than the others, but you should always keep all of them in your mind when you plan, design and build a deck. Some additional factors to be considered are:

1. Access – Will you be building the deck in a convenient location? Is there proper access to and from the house to the deck? Is there an existing wall or a door that needs to be removed?

2. Direction – Which direction does your residence face? This is important because if you put your deck facing the sun, you might need to think how you will get shade from the sun’s heat, otherwise your deck may simply be usable. In this case a good deck builder will suggest you to incorporate lattice barriers into your design. These offer shade from the sun and also give protection from cool winds.

3. Privacy – This is very important. You must make sure that your deck design offers you privacy from your neighbors.

4. Design – Your deck should look like an extension to your house. If you do not have the skills necessary for designing a deck that blends well with your house, you should think about hiring a professional deck builder. A deck building expert will assist you with planning the design of a deck, determining which materials need to be used and a rough cost estimate of your project.

5. Material – The most common deck building material is wood, like cedar and redwood, which can be either stained or sealed. You can also opt for recycled plastic materials in composite decks.

Once all of the above considerations are thought out, it is time call a deck builder and to begin your new deck project. Have fun on your new deck!

1. Design your deck so that you use standard dimensions of lumber (8, 10, 12 and 16 foot lengths) in your deck structure rather than odd sizes. Have the deck extend out from the house 12 feet rather than 11 or 13 feet. This will eliminate waste which can add up to wasted money.

2. Visit deck material supply outlets in your community and compare prices. Look for weekend or seasonal discount specials that you can take advantage of. If necessary use the good old credit card to obtain that special discount and/or collect those air miles or reward miles too. After all there’s nothing like a free vacation once the construction work is done.

3. Prepare a list of the materials that you will require to build your deck and their quantities also. Make several copies and submit them to several deck material supply outlets. Explain that you will give your business to the material supply outlet that provides the best deal on comparative building products.

4. If you and one or more of your friends, relatives or neighbors plan to construct a deck at the same time, work together to collectively obtain the very best price deal from deck material supply outlets. These retail stores will likely give you an extra discount because you are purchasing a greater volume of lumber.

5. Purchase items such as screws, bolts, nails, etc. in bulk quantities rather than individually or in samller packages. Money can be saved by shopping around to find material supply outlets that sell by the pound or case.

6. Consider renting a tool or piece of equipment rather than purchase it especially if you are not likely to use it much in the future. Home improvement centers and rental outlets have a wide range of tools and equipment that customers can rent at reasonable prices as opposed to purchasing tools and equipment.

7. Do not use an entire piece of sonotube in a post support hole. Instead fill the hole with concrete mix and insert a 3 or 4 inch piece of sonotube at the ground surface to act as a collar. This will prevent any column movement in the ground and make your deck support system more stable. In the end you will use much less sonotubing and cut costs.

8. Each time that you cut a piece of pressure treated lumber brush on a seal/preservative to protect the newly exposed surface. This will protect your wood warranty and ensure that your deck will not deteriorate over time and create an expensive deck repair situation.

9. Use the proper hardware when constructing your deck. Screws last much longer than nails and generally do not pop up necessitating deck repairs. Use galvanized hardware rather than powder coated hardware. The former may be a bit more expensive but in the long run will last far longer and will most likely not require fixing. When you go cheap you’re often courting disaster.

10.Apply a protective finish to your completed deck. It will protect your investment and ensure that your deck will not deteriorate and require one or more expensive deck repairs.

The key to successful deck building is to plan, design and construct that deck you have wanted for so long in the best way possible. As far as cost is concerned you can do it the smart way and follow the suggestions above to cut those costs or do it that other way and watch the expenses add up.

Decks remain a popular choice with regards to home improvement and reviewing deck plans can go a long way in helping you to decide what kind of deck you want. Decide for plans that have a proven background for the best results.

1. Design the Deck

Even before you begin to build a deck you need to cover some basic things such as where the deck is going to be situated as well as the size it’s to be. You must also determine the materials you want to use and how access to the deck is going to be achieved.

Then you should contact your local zoning board so that you are aware of the permits and licenses that you will need.  Review some deck design plans to help you get a few suggestions regarding the look and feel of the deck that you want.

2. The Layout

When it comes to completing your project successfully you must determine the right locations for the deck footings and to do that there are 2 methods to use:  Firstly, install a ledger board to determine 2 positions at the house to work from. Next, remember that your deck plans will be in 2d and so you will need to ensure your lines are leveled. This will ensure that your deck is not misshapen upon conclusion.

3. Setting the Posts

You need to dig a hole and put concrete into it.  A 60 pound bag of ready mix would be advisable. Place the concrete pier into the still wet concrete inside the hole. The concrete will obviously harden around the pier and so provide stability.

By use of a screw gun and screws you then need to fix the post to the pier. By following this method the post will be neither inside the concrete nor underground and therefore exposed to the elements. The post will then be attached above the ground between the metal anchors which are attached to the pier.

4. Framing the Decking

It is important that you employ heavy-duty supports as well as pressure treated lumber when constructing the component parts as the deck framing needs to be sturdy enough in order to properly support both weight of the deck and hold up with the passage of time.

Just like correct framing is essential for houses likewise it is necessary for decks. There exist several ways to achieve correct framing which include installing ledgers and beams so as to pour concrete piers and cutting stair stringers. If you’ll need some free advice regarding deck details you should approach your local building authorities.

5. The Deck Stairs

This part is rather easy and anybody having a limited amount of knowledge when it comes to construction really should be able to construct an attractive set without much hassle.

A lot of people go for one or two flights of stairs from the deck to the surrounding yard.  Depending on your aesthetic preferences you are able to choose from a variety of different ways to do this. Keep in mind that some municipalities do have specific codes that you will need to be aware of and take into account when you design the stairs. Some municipalities actually require a minimum width of three feet for the stairs so find out about that first.

6. Finishing the Deck

Just about all decks will face weather fluctuations and if you neglect to apply a protective coating to your finished deck you will run into problems sooner or later. To avoid the wood weathering you should make sure that you finish it soon after you have finished building it. Woods such as pressure treated wood, cedar, and redwood are all examples of wood that will require protection.