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Book to Know: 'Deck Ideas That Work'
Considering a new deck? Peter Jeswald's handy volume offers loads of design and material ideas
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
With springtime here, it's time to head outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. And what better place to do that than on a deck overlooking the yard? If you have a deck you love, great. But if your deck is need of a makeover or if you're considering building a new one, I can't think of a better place to start than Deck Ideas That Work, by Peter Jeswald (Taunton Press). Read on for tips from the book about deck design, materials, lighting and more.
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Extra living room. Decks are great options for creating much-needed living space for older, smaller homes. With an overhead structure and some furniture, a deck greatly extends the home's living space.
And don't stop there. Decks can be great places to enjoy family movie night; outdoor dining, cooking and entertaining; a soak in a hot tub; or a special retreat for some quiet outdoor time. It all starts with making a wish list that defines your goals.
And don't stop there. Decks can be great places to enjoy family movie night; outdoor dining, cooking and entertaining; a soak in a hot tub; or a special retreat for some quiet outdoor time. It all starts with making a wish list that defines your goals.
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| Choosing materials. Are you the type of person who has to have a natural decking material? If so, your options go beyond pressure-treated lumber or cedar. Ipe, cumara, garapa, cambara and bamboo are among the many harvested woods that you can choose from. Try ipe, a sustainable product, if you like the darker, richer look of mahogany. Or use bamboo if you're looking for something that's lighter and also known for its sustainability. Do you have concerns about maintaining the deck over the long term, but want the look and feel of wood? If so, maybe a synthetic material like a wood-plastic composite (WPC) is right for you. When selecting a decking material, Jeswald suggests considering:
Take field trips to look at decks made of the materials you're considering. And talk to a local decking pro to get some advice on what's available in your market, plus each material's cost and maintenance. |
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| Working with a patio. Sometimes we think we should have either a deck or a patio, but not both. Not so, says Jeswald. A deck and patio can work very well together, especially on a sloping site, or when you want to make a graceful transition between inside and outside with a few feet of height between the two. In this example, a small deck area with a broad flight of steps to the patio allows for that gradual transition. |
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Take advantage of a view. Decks don't have to be large. Sometimes a deck for one person to sit and take in a view is the best approach. A deck area as a retreat for just one could be that quiet space that keeps you outdoors all the more.
If you have a special view that you want to maintain, consider using cable rails or chain link fencing to create a visually unobtrusive rail that meets building code requirements. Cable rails can be costly, but a simple wood rail with vinyl-coated chain link is inexpensive and attractive.
If you have a special view that you want to maintain, consider using cable rails or chain link fencing to create a visually unobtrusive rail that meets building code requirements. Cable rails can be costly, but a simple wood rail with vinyl-coated chain link is inexpensive and attractive.
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Light it up. Backlighting your deck's stair risers is an unusual way to put exterior safety lighting where it's needed. Simple cutouts in the risers in any pattern that suits you can yield a delightful decorative element while keeping you out of the dark.
Don't make lighting the deck an afterthought. Effective lighting will increase the enjoyment you'll get from the deck. And lighting your deck will keep the view to the yard all the more enjoyable by eliminating the "black mirror" effect on windows when it's dark outside and all lit up inside.
When thinking about lighting your deck, the book suggests considering:
Don't make lighting the deck an afterthought. Effective lighting will increase the enjoyment you'll get from the deck. And lighting your deck will keep the view to the yard all the more enjoyable by eliminating the "black mirror" effect on windows when it's dark outside and all lit up inside.
When thinking about lighting your deck, the book suggests considering:
- ambient light created by the bounce of light off exterior walls and surfaces
- shadowing to highlight interesting shapes, by shining the light on the object so its shadow is cast on a nearby surface
- silhouetting an object by placing light behind it
- moonlighting by casting light down from a high spot in a tree
- vignetting by using several lights to illuminate a spot or object
- task lighting with focused lights on a particular area, like an outdoor kitchen
- safety lighting, such as light on the stairs from deck to lawn
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| Finishing touches. Furniture, plants and other outdoor accessories bring the best of modern life outdoors. Organize plants in a container garden that adds color and structure to the deck and can be used to flank doorways and stairs. Extend the use of your deck throughout the year with a chiminea, freestanding fireplace, fire pit or outdoor heaters powered by electricity or gas. Outdoor heaters can range from small, inexpensive tabletop units to larger, more costly freestanding gas units on wheels, allowing you to move them to where the heat is needed most. |
Comments
jonnymac great idea book, but I have never seen a case where chain link fence is attractive. I don't think it is that transparent either. A little extra for cable rail or glass would be a much better choice.
14 months ago · Like
decorator123 I love the small deck photo! I just wanted to throw in another idea. I have a small deck on one side of my house and a larger one with a yard on the other. I hung four hammock chairs--all different colors from the wood patio covers. I cannot tell you how delighted I am with them. I found them at Beachside Hammocks. The address is http://www.beachsidehammocks.com. They are the most comfortable chairs I have sat on and they stretch out into a full length hammock. Because they are made of soft spun polyester, they haven't lost any color and I even take them off of the wooden bar that comes with them and was them in the washing machine. They really spruce up both patios. 
14 months ago · Like
bluecenturyhome I have to agree with Jonnymac. Chain link fencing is not attractive in the least. To me, chain link fences are a downgrade not an upgrade. I do like the look of the deck in the second picture though.
14 months ago · Like
Linda ludwig We have the Tech deck, looks like wood but isn't. Question, we also have dogs and the traffic of their footprints on the deck has left staining.Any suggestions on cleaning this type of deck. really disappointed on how it looks.I wonder if a good power wash will take care of it. Thoughts?
14 months ago · Like
ebea The picture with the Pergola - what is with the unfinished ends on one side? The other two showing sides are finished beautifully. I would not want those boards just sticking out like that. They need to make all four sides alike.
14 months ago · Like
Wicker Patio Furniture and More I think that covered areas are the best. They allow you to enjoy the outdoors while providing some shade to help make it a little more comfortable.
14 months ago · Like
Northcape Design/Build I couldn't disagree more with the suggestions for decking!!! White and red cedar are horrible, at least in our climate. White cedar attracts black mildew and both "shed" their finish every year; a maintenance nightmare. PVC decking is the worst choice if you have to have synthetic decking. Moves a lot with temperature change and sags if you don't have your joists 12" OC. We use a lot of mahogany, cumaru and ipe. You can finish it if you like or just let it weather down to a nice gray.
14 months ago · Like
songlo i like this
14 months ago · Like
snowblime I have to agree that the chain link is rarely a good choice even a 4" chicken wire would be better but my favorite is the stainless cable rail check out AGSstainless.com if you like that look too
8 months ago · Like
Mary Pat Holtschlag I've seen hog panels used as fencing and it looks great. It can be painted and is very sturdy. Cutting requires some skill, but the results I've seen are quite beatiful.
6 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook published on March 14, 2012.
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