Updated August 17, 2020

Enhancing Your Home’s Appearance and Functionality

A deck is a great addition to a home that enhances the appearance and functionality of your home. It connects your private space to the great outdoors and offers a fun place for entertaining guests. Adding a deck can be a fun home improvement idea for your family, as there simply are plenty of ways to upgrade and customize it. Here are some of your options to help you design your dream deck.

deck installation in fort collins

Front or Back

You can either add a deck in the front or at the back of your home, or even both, as long as you have the space and budget for it. But a backyard deck is more ideal, especially if you’re fond of spending some time gardening or dining in your backyard. Having a front yard deck would be nice too, but only if your street is not too busy or if you have landscaping to hide traffic.

Design Process

Your deck must blend perfectly well with your home’s architecture. The key to having a beautiful and functional deck is choosing the right materials. The components of your deck will be exposed to the elements day in and day out, so be sure to choose materials that can withstand extreme conditions. Stained and weatherproofed hardwood is the superior choice, as it is low-maintenance and easily blends well with the surroundings. To make sure that your deck project meets your vision and needs, choose a deck builder in Greeley who will collaborate with you throughout the design process and construction.

Furniture

To make your deck usable, add built-in benches with waterproof upholstery and a small stylish table. If you wish to have a small dining area, play with other materials for the dining set. Wrought iron and wrought aluminum are great alternatives to wood. It will add variety to your deck’s design. Cover the seats with comfy cushions to enhance the level of comfort and style. Spice it up with eclectic fixtures or accent lighting to enhance its nocturnal setting.

backyard deck

Accessories

Once you build a deck that fits your structure and suits your needs, it’s time to add a few accessories to personalize your outdoor living space. Add drama to wood panels by throwing in a rug made of outdoor fabric. Hang planters or bird feeders over your deck roof overhang and place potted ornamental plants against the railing or wall to enliven your deck. Having natural foliage in your deck can make it more comfortable and inviting. A pergola also accentuates the beauty and comfort of your deck and provides additional shading.

When designing and adding a deck to your home, many options are available with the help of a deck and fence company. You should take your time and research before you begin with construction to avoid making costly mistakes and redoing the layout. Once the project is complete and your vision realized, you can have the outdoor living you’ve always dreamed of.

Sources:
Do’s and don’ts on decks, enquirer.com
The Best Outdoor Furniture, realsimple.com

A deck is an important part of the backyard because it is the landing point from which you get to show off the rest of the yard. When you start planning the construction of your deck, you should consider all the aspects that go into building it. The following are three tips to take into account when thinking about a new custom deck in Northern Colorado.

1. Materials

There are two major options for materials for your deck: wood or composite wood. Both of these materials have different qualities that can be benefits or drawbacks. The differences are summed up below.

Wood

• Natural look with many options for types of wood
• Higher maintenance and doesn’t last as long
• Cheaper to replace if damaged but needs to be replaced more often

Composite Wood

• Can be made to look like natural wood
• Low maintenance and lasts a long time
• More expensive to replace but needs to be replaced less often

Between these two materials, there is very little to consider. The basic conclusion is to go for wood if you are able to keep up with maintaining the deck or to go with composite if you want something that is low maintenance with the drawback of looking less natural.

2. Check Local Building Codes

beautiful stained deckIf you are part of a homeowner’s association, you should check with the association to make sure building a deck is permitted. This is especially important if your deck will be visible to your neighbors. Building against the homeowner’s association could risk incurring fines.

Another consideration is regarding city or county building codes. Many codes might have specific building limitations such as the height or size of the deck. Checking on these codes will save you the hassle of dealing with reconstruction later.

If you are in doubt about the specifics of your town’s codes, your contractor might have that information on hand. Other limitations might involve the type of materials used or the land on which you are building. When planning custom decks, even more specifications might need to be taken into account.

3. Location

Many times, it might not be safe or convenient to build a deck on your specific land, regardless of building codes or homeowner association regulations. Your contractor will be able to help you build the deck you want while also taking the location into consideration. When push comes to shove, you might not get what you first wanted, but you will be happy with what you end up with.

A deck is a perfect way to enjoy the vista of the landscaping in your backyard. It is the best place to sit back and enjoy the weather on a great summer day. Most of all, a deck is important for the overall completeness of your house.

Custom decks will be catered to your specific needs. Your Northern Colorado contractor will be able to help you with the location and other specifications such as materials. Eventually, you will end up with a deck you love.