An effective way to enhance your homes functionality and it's value is to add a deck
. If you are the creative kind or on a tight budget then you could want to design a deck yourself. There are multiple ways to do that. You could possibly use specialized software or you could possibly create hand drawings.
First and foremost you have to create a plan. When you design a deck you will need to think about what purpose it will serve? Is it for cookouts and large social occasions? Will the deck surround a pool? What kind of seating arrangements will need to be made? Do you would like to include seating around the edges or use freestanding tables and chairs? Do you host parties in the evening that would need outside lighting? Make sure to accommodate for those instances.
Once you've discovered the purpose, it's time to decide on location. This is all about availability and size. What are the dimensions of your yard? Do you want to be as far away from the road as possible? Does the location include having to connect the house to a pool? These are all important considerations whenever you design a deck.
Another important issue is what the neighborhood has to say about your new addition to the house. Depending upon the different zoning laws or the neighborhood bylaws there may be restrictions as to where and what size your deck could be. You will want to create this one of your first research steps in regards to planning.
After you have the all-clear it is time to design a deck on paper. This could be done through your own freehand drawing or special software such as Timbertech or the Deckorators. When creating a hand drawn design be sure to include correct measurements.
Now that the design basics are out of the way, you might look at the more detailed decorative issues. This comes with such items as the kind of railing you would like to use, the height of the deck as well as the stairs, the shape of the entire project, the pattern for the wood to follow and what kind of wooden planks to use.
If you aren't sure how to build a deck then perhaps your contribution is simply to design a deck. After doing this you could hire an experienced craftsman to complete the project to your specifications. You might even wish to consult with an expert in regards to your design so that they could record the appropriate measurements.