Planning an Outdoor Oasis

Hello World!  I hope all had a nice week.  I've got another planning post for you today.  When it's chilly outside I like to make plans for what improvements I would like to make on the outside of the house.  Today let's talk about decks. 

If you are going to hire a custom deck builder to put a new deck on your house, there are many things that you have to think about. When you hire him, the first thing that he is going to do is to sit down with you and go over exactly what you want. He will do the actual designing, but you have to tell him what you are after so that he can make a deck that will fulfill all of your needs and desires. The first step, then, is just to figure out exactly what it is that you want. 

Consider the View

First off, think about the view. If the deck is overlooking water or a mountain range, you want to be able to see those things perfectly when you sit on it and relax. Make sure that it is oriented to give you the best possible view and that there is nothing - like a support post - in the way. 

Think About How You Will Use the Deck

You also have to think about what the deck is going to be used for. Are you planning on having your young children run and play on it? If so, it needs a strong railing to keep them safe. Are you going to use it for social gatherings all year around? If you are, you may want a roof to keep the rain and snow at bay. 

Add in Some Extras

You should also think about tacking on some extras that make the deck more enjoyable. Did you know that the builder can add in a propane hookup so that you do not need to buy propane tanks for your outdoor grill? You just hook it to the wall, the same way that you hook up the stove inside. Things like this will make you enjoy using your deck more because it is never going to be a hassle. 

Consider the Upkeep

Finally, you want to think about the upkeep. How much work do you want to do? This determines the type of materials that you choose. If you never want to have to stain it or seal it again, do not use real wood. Instead, choose treated wood that is not going to rot. You could even look at composite materials that are not wood at all; they are the most expensive, but also the very best materials.

I like nothing better than a pretty outdoor oasis.  Thank you for the visit and remember to be kind to one another!  Fear Not!

Toodles,
Kathryn

***TheDedicatedHouse was compensated for this review.***