| We all work so hard in our daily lives that being able | | | | kinds of materials at your disposal nowadays that |
| to relax in a peaceful outdoor space after a long day | | | | offer different design influences. Consider the design |
| is done, is something we look forward to and expect | | | | options available from aluminum, vinyl, glass or wood |
| as home owners. And for most of us, a backyard | | | | railing combinations. Different decking materials such |
| deck or patio is the typical place where we wind | | | | as Ipe and even mahogany give your deck a real feel |
| down. | | | | of attachment to the home. |
| So when did the contemporary idea of backyard | | | | And to add visual and material contrast don't forget |
| decks become so popular? | | | | that the actual deck surface materials nowadays can |
| Interestingly enough, wood decks are a relatively | | | | include advanced waterproof and maintenance free |
| knew phenomenon over the last 50 or 60 years. It | | | | vinyl flooring material, fiberglass, as well as one of |
| used to be that homes had covered front porches | | | | over 55 different kinds of composite decking boards. |
| where people would gather and socialize. It served a | | | | Consider Existing Architecture of Your Home |
| slightly different purpose then and was usually | | | | Probably the most important thing to consider when |
| tastefully built-in as part of the overall architectural | | | | designing your deck is the existing style of your |
| design of the home. | | | | home. This is certainly the one area that deck |
| However the kind of decks found on single-family | | | | builders often overlook entirely and just go ahead |
| homes today are not really part of any defined | | | | and build a big cedar or redwood rectangle |
| architectural movement or period. The deck designs | | | | suspended 4 feet above the ground regardless of |
| of today evolved from the west coast, which was | | | | the look and style of the existing home. |
| younger, hipper, and less concerned about sticking to | | | | Instead look at your home and identify its |
| traditional architectural designs. People just started | | | | architectural influences - if any. Some homes built |
| building cedar or redwood decks on to the backs of | | | | over the last 30-40 years are quite nondescript so |
| their homes to create more living space and take | | | | you'll have to wing it a bit in those cases. But if you |
| advantage of the milder weather. | | | | have Arts and Crafts bungalow style home famous |
| And when pressure treated wood became available it | | | | for its simple but robust accents such as large beams |
| was then possible for homeowners in the more | | | | supporting roof overhangs, shingle siding and clean |
| seasonal parts of the country to build decks that | | | | lines - try to add hints of some of these attributes |
| would last longer and withstand the elements. | | | | to your deck. |
| And perhaps another reason why decks became so | | | | If you have a Cap Cod style home famous for long |
| popular was because most builders did not provide | | | | sloping front oriented roofs and dormers, a California |
| any front or back covered porches on their homes. | | | | influenced redwood deck is going to appear a bit out |
| Also many homes were being built 3 feet or more | | | | of place however well designed and built it is. On the |
| above grade requiring stairs from the back door to | | | | other hand, a deck that uses the soft marine |
| the ground. So building a deck was a perfect solution | | | | influenced color palette for the deck boards or fascia |
| and something usually done by each homeowner | | | | with white railings, or teak inspired decking (if you |
| afterwards. | | | | can afford it - Ipe is a nice alternative) might look like |
| Most Backyard Decks Clash With The Style of The | | | | a perfect match. |
| Home | | | | Another example might be a Victorian era style home |
| But here is the dilemma, since a deck is really just a | | | | known for is "busier" appearance. These homes |
| platform to sit on and relax, very little effort tends | | | | exemplify complexity in detail with such attributes as |
| to go into creating deck designs that actually look | | | | large turned balusters, circular turret style roofs, |
| good and work with the architecture of today's | | | | curved walls and more. They also typically had large |
| homes. And because of the perceived simplicity of | | | | porches on the front of the homes with roof |
| building a deck, almost every handy man has tried his | | | | overhangs. Imagine just sticking a square pressure |
| hand at this one time or another, further | | | | treated 2x6 deck on the back of one of these |
| exacerbating the deck design void. | | | | homes. It would detract from the character of this |
| To create a well designed deck that has some style | | | | kind of home. |
| and looks like it belongs well with a home, rather than | | | | These are extreme examples of how architecture |
| an after thought, requires only a bit more effort. But | | | | can clash but hopefully illustrates the point well. |
| the results are worth it. | | | | So you see, you have to just take a bit of time to |
| So here are some tips to help you come up with | | | | think about how this additional living space will work |
| better deck designs for your next project. | | | | with the overall design of your home. But you will be |
| Materials | | | | delighted with the improvement to your deck designs |
| Redwood and cedar are beautiful materials to work | | | | if you follow these simple approaches. |
| with and perform well for decks. But there are all | | | | So get out there and build it right! |