Custom decks are one of the most popular new trends in the home renovation industry, according to Handy Man Repairs CEO David Carter. A noted expert in the fields of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanics, and painting, Carter is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the National Kitchen & Bath Association. His company is based out of Philadelphia, Mississippi and here he gives his tips on building a custom deck or patio.
Building a custom deck or patio depends on your budget more than anything else. People are shocked when they find out that a 15-foot by 20-foot modest deck with a flimsy overhang is going to be in the area of $4,000 to complete from scratch. Most homeowners just don’t expect that the price for a deck is going to be that high.
Because of that, one of the first things that a homeowner should determine before moving forward with a decking project is the budget. Homeowners need to set the budget for their decking project before anything else because that budget will determine the materials, the type of fasteners, and whether they can use any exotic woods in the construction.
Lots of great wood products like IPE and Tiger Wood are available for personal decks these days. Redwoods and cedar varieties are also popular. There are two grades of pressure-treated woods that people use the most frequently, and then you have various sizes to contend with, too.
A number of new decking materials are on the market that homeowners should consider, as well, such as these materials that are made from recycled goods or materials like vinyl or fiberglass. These are all viable options for personal decks, and people should really look closely at each before making a decision.
What I typically recommend to my clients is that they check out a book called Stanley Complete Decks. This really is the best book that has been written on the topic, and I use it all the time. The reason I recommend this book so frequently is because it really walks you through the decking process step-by-step, starting with deciding on a design. Not only does it walk you through which design options are available these days, but it has even got photos to give you a better idea of what to expect.
One of the most popular decking styles I am seeing right now are these herringbone, multi-level decks. They are popular with a lot of homeowners. Basic square decks with everything running the same way are no longer popular. I like the new styles, though, because I like to mix it up.
I encourage homeowners to think of the entire deck. Am I going to use galvanized nails or am I going to use screws? The should really be getting into it and thinking of things like that. I personally recommend screws for most decks, weather-grade screws to be specific. I like this specific type of because they don’t back out over time and you don’t have these little nail heads kicking you in the foot while you are trying to cross your deck.
After asking a homeowner what style of deck he is interested in, the next thing I try and find out is what size deck that he wants. And I will make recommendations during this time, based on what seems appropriate for their home. I do this because I have gone to people’s homes, and they live in a double-wide trailer and they are asking for a 20-foot by 20-foot deck. That is just too large, and it seems out of place.
So instead I will try to make the homeowner select a picture that he likes, or tell me about a neighbor’s deck that he likes. Once I get the homeowner down to that specific point, we can go from there in determining the rest—whether it will be on the ground or elevated, things like that.
It is important that I always ask homeowners these questions before getting started to target them in on what they really want and what is going to make them happy. Because the happiness of the homeowner is really going to be what is important once the deck is finished and completed.
