An Overview Of What's Involved With A New Deck Installation

A deck is a great addition to a backyard. If the living area and kitchen are on the second level of your home, you may want an elevated deck that's level with your second floor. If your living area is on the ground floor, your deck may not even need stairs. You might want a deck around a pool or away from your home under shade trees. You have many options when it comes to designing and placing your deck. Here's an overview of the deck installation process.

Choose Where The Deck Will Go

You'll need to comply with local codes that regulate how close a deck can be to your property line and easement area. Plus, you won't be able to build over a septic tank or water well. You may want to choose a flat part of your yard for the deck or you may want the deck away from trees so you can grill outdoors safely.

Have Plans Drawn Up

Once you know where the deck will go and the style of the deck you want, have plans made. Plans make it easy to order the right amount of supplies, and the plans give the builder a blueprint to follow. Plus, you may need to submit your plan to the city to get the permit for your deck. In addition to getting the permit, you'll also want to have utility lines marked on your property. The deck installation contractor may handle these details for you.

Prepare The Ground

If your deck will be on ground level and resting on a slab, the ground has to be level. If the area has a steep slope, the ground may need to be graded before the deck is built. A second-story deck is built on posts that are buried in the ground, so level ground may not be as important. A deck that's close to the ground may need to have the ground prepared by covering it with weed-control fabric and rocks to keep weeds from growing up through the deck.

Install The Posts

Posts require digging holes in your yard with an auger. The contractor has to follow local building codes for the depth of the holes and how to secure the posts. This is usually done by sinking posts made of pressure-treated lumber into concrete and allowing the concrete to cure. Once the posts are ready, construction on the deck can begin.

Build The Deck

A deck installation project could take a few weeks to complete. It's a good idea to contact a builder a few months in advance of when you want the deck to be finished so they can fit you into their schedule and order supplies in plenty of time to get the work done.

The deck installation contractor follows all building codes when it comes to safety. A deck elevated from the ground needs rails around it and the steps. Once the deck, steps, and rails are installed, you may want the deck to be stained to keep it from turning gray as it ages. You may need to wait several weeks before the contractor can finish the deck by staining so the new wood has plenty of time to dry out.