Meta- Thinking of building a deck in your backyard? Well, it’s a difficult task on its own. Here is a guideline with the key points you can follow to get the best results. 

Introduction 

As winter is coming to an end I wanted to change my five years old worn-out deck. But I had no idea where to start. So it got me wondering, how to build a deck in your backyard?

After extensive research and by gathering personal experience, here’s what I found. 

Building a deck is not as hard as it looks, but there are a few key points one should keep in mind while building a deck to get the best results. Though if you are a DIY enthusiast like me, it might be a bit confusing to pick the right guidelines from a sea of advice. 

But don’t worry. We got you. 

To make your deck-building process easier, we noted down all the key guidelines that you can follow to build a deck in your backyard. 

Interested? Then keep on reading!

Let’s get started.

Guideline to build a deck in your backyard 

Whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast you need to follow a few key guidelines to build your deck the right way. There are some deck safety 101 as well that you’ve to obey too.

You see, Building a deck takes huge time, energy, and money.  Therefore, it is logical to build it the right way so that none of that goes in vain. Plus, who likes a poorly built backyard deck that doesn’t even meet your expectation? 

So we noted down all the key points that you should keep in mind while building a deck in your backyard. 

Plan before action 

Planning is a very crucial part of building your deck. No matter how confident you are in your skills, it is better to be careful. It is very hard to undo a step when you’re building a big project like a deck. 

So, always make a plan, before starting with the process. It not only saves you labor and time but also reduces any chances of extra spending. 

1. Calculate total cost

All of us have a different budget, be it for building decks or any other woodworking project. Before you start building your deck allocate your spending according to your budget. 

Don’t splurge money on any material that is out of your price range. Also, don’t compromise the qualities because of the price as well. As per woodworking expert Tom Bradley– “Whether you prefer to use water-based or oil-based deck stains, the best brands will not be cheap.” 

Hence, set your priorities and foresee the amount of money you’ll get to spend. 

2. Design as per requirements

There are various kinds of decks, depending on the size, structure, design, etc. While planning your deck first lay-out your requirements then decide on the kind of deck you want. 

If you want to frequently throw BBQ parties or have a big family you might prefer a bigger deck with a large space. In case you have a small family and do not need much space then a big deck that you do not need will be tough to maintain. If you have a pool in your backyard you may want to build your deck around it, or you may have an interest in gardening and flowers, so build holes in your deck for filling it in with flower pots.

There are many ways you can design your deck subject to your preference and requirements. Planning in advance makes it easier to reach your desired deck design. 

3. Choose the right materials

While building the deck you will be needing different materials. But some of these are more significant than others, so you need to take your time to pick the right kind. Such as the type of wood to build your deck, wood stain, etc. 

Picking the right kind of deck wood is very important while building a deck. You need to pick a wood that is long-lasting, sturdy, and resilient to humidity and heat. The quality of the wood will decide how your deck will hold up. To make it stronger you also need to pick the right type of wood stain and other protective layers.

Ensure deck safety

While building a deck for your backyard, safety should be your primary concern. Especially if you are living in a sloping area or the deck is raised from the ground. 

If you already have a deck you might want to repair it and go forward with the basic infrastructure, thinking it might be a cheaper option. But if the basic structure is in poor condition this could be hazardous. It is not worth saving a few dollars for your safety. 

But that doesn’t mean you need to build the deck from scratch. Sometimes the basic infrastructure can be in good shape. That is why you should always check your deck prior to building it for ensuring utmost safety. 

Extra additions

Depending on the foot traffic and the uses, you need to plan your extra additions. Like stairs, steps, fences, etc. 

If you have children in your household it would be better to have fences around for extra protection. You can add extra steps or a separate staircase if you have individuals with joint problems or for additional safety to avoid accidents. You may also add features like flower beds, jacuzzi spots, benches, for beauty and comfort. 

Conclusion

We hope you got the answer to “how to build a deck in your backyard”. If you follow all our guidelines given above you can build your deck swiftly and smoothly. 

Hope you found this article helpful. We tried to provide you with all the relevant information that might help you.

Thank you for being patient and staying with us till the end. 

Happy woodworking!