You’re Doing It Wrong: Tips To Reverse Course
Buying a home with an enormous backyard is a definite thrill. So much space! There’s room for your dog, a swingset for your 5-year-old, and a deck! For many of us, this is the holy grail.
And you want to build it yourself.
And you want to build it yourself.
And we’ve got faith in you. We do. But decks are a huge undertaking, and assuming you can get it done with just a drill and a good attitude is a near-guarantee of disaster. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It just means you need to pay extra attention with this DIY project. (And remember: Always consult your local building code first and research each element extensively before you start building.)
So, want to learn how to build a deck? Look out for these seven signs you’re building your deck wrong—and some expert tips on how to reverse course.
1. You’re being unrealistic
Sorry, beginners. A deck should never be your first major construction project. Period. End of story. Just stop now. Hire a pro.
You have to know what your skills are. If you’ve never built a small patio deck, then you’re going to struggle with a 20-foot-by-10-foot patio deck.
There’s something to be said for learning on the job, but building a major platform—one that will eventually be filled with family and guests—isn’t the time. You don’t want to put anyone’s life in danger, do you?
You’re building something that not just has people walking on it, but could be loaded down with 4 feet of snow. Ideally, you should have worked with concrete before and be really confident with all sorts of leveling.
2. You didn’t plan a footprint
Before you hammer that first nail, consider how you want to use your outdoor space. Will you eventually add a pool? Does the sun hit the east side of the yard, but not the west? Plan your footprint accordingly.
Here’s why: If you don’t pay attention to the layout of your yard beforehand, you can end up accidentally covering the vents for your washer or dryer or blocking sunlight to the bulkhead window in the basement. Plan that stuff out and understand where you want shade or privacy walls in advance instead of saying ‘It’s springtime!’ and building.
Maze Lumber is proud to offer designing services to help you plan out your project with color 3-d rendering and blueprint quality copies of your final design. With all of the new accessories that are out there to add to your deck, such as lighting, glass post tops, hot tubs, and more railing options and styles than the mind can imagine, we can help you find just what you are looking for at an affordable cost.
Maze Lumber is proud to offer designing services to help you plan out your project with color 3-d rendering and blueprint quality copies of your final design. With all of the new accessories that are out there to add to your deck, such as lighting, glass post tops, hot tubs, and more railing options and styles than the mind can imagine, we can help you find just what you are looking for at an affordable cost.
3. You didn’t call the utility company
The biggest things that can go wrong can happen easily. Perfect example- You're in the back yard drilling holes to lay the cement, and you encounter water and gas lines.
Hitting a gas line will not only force you to take a long break from construction while it’s being fixed, but it could also cause your beloved home to go boom. So make sure to dial 811 a few days before you dig to find out where utilities lines are buried.
4. You didn’t build a proper foundation
Experts can’t emphasize this enough: The No. 1 rule to building your own deck is to build a proper foundation.
The specifics will depend on your locale, but as a general rule, you need to secure the concrete footings holding up your wooden pillars at least 3 to 4 feet beneath the ground, and 12 inches below the frost line—otherwise the winter chill will leave your decking in shambles. And it’s not just cold you need to worry about: High winds can tear decks with poor foundation right out of the earth
Sure, you can build a deck without paying attention to your foundation that looks good as soon as it’s finished, but you walk around on it and nothing stays level and chairs are tipping over.
5. You’re cutting costs
Speaking of safety: Building a deck is not the time to cheap out on supplies. Sure, you can pick up some inexpensive pine at your local home improvement store, but you’ll regret it when it starts to rot one year in, requiring the careful replacement of every single board.
Make sure your wood is pressure-treated and your steel is galvanized or stainless, otherwise all of this stuff will fail and you’ll be playing catch-up.
6. You’re being careless with the railings
Making sure your railing is actually secure is one of the hardest things to do. You can’t just nail balusters into the side of the outer joists- You'll want to bolt the posts and use heavy-duty screws. If it takes a big hit and someone bumps it, you could rip it straight out of the side of the joist. Do your research, and beef up your railing to make sure you’re doing it right.
If you find this confusing, take the time to talk to an expert before you begin. Usually people can read enough online and figure it out if they’re really committed, but handrails and stairs are where people really throw their hands up and call someone.
7. You’re scared to call in a pro
People sometimes get overconfident, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed it makes sense to call in someone who feels confident. Maze Lumber also offers a list of trustworthy contractors if you just don't have the time to install the deck yourself. As each contractor has their own specialty such as traditional deck building, modern and cutting edge decks, or the-off-the-wall designs that will make people notice that new addition on your house, Maze will be there from the groundbreaking all the way to the champagne bottle breaking.
For homeowners experienced in DIY projects, building a deck can be a fantastic advance-level summer project. But don’t get in over your head: Building something designed to support anything from a few guests for a summer barbecue to a small wedding reception requires the highest level of attention and care.
Whether you are putting on a front stoop, or planning on your family's summer entertaining area, Maze Lumber will take care of all of your needs. Maze is proud to stock Trex Accents decking, Timbertech decking as well as premium southern yellow pine treated decking. We can also special order Timbertech, Azek Decking, Rhino decking, Certainteed decking, Eon, and more! Not only will Maze provide you with all the materials from the concrete and structural treated materials, but will also help you with the designing of your deck.
MAZE LUMBER
MAZE LUMBER
1100 Water Street
P.O. Box 449
Peru, IL 61354
Phone: 815-223-1742
Phone: 815-223-1742
Fax: 815-223-1752
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:30AM - 4:30PM
Saturday: 8:00AM - 12:00Noon
Sunday: Closed
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