Top 3 Factors to Consider When Designing Your Custom Deck
Outdoor living areas are ideal places to relax, play with your children, and entertain your guests. They can also seamlessly bring kitchens, dining areas, bars, hot tubs, fireplaces and other indoor amenities outside.
Building a custom-designed deck is a great way to add practicality and kerb appeal to your home. Here are some important things to consider when coming up with the custom design of your deck.
1. Decking materials
Natural woods like redwood, cedar, mahogany, merbau, and cypress are the traditional choice of construction material for decks. But these days, there is also a large variety of composite decking materials available in the construction market for you to choose from. What you choose depends on the desired durability and appearance, as well as the level of upkeep required to keep the deck looking pristine.
Real wood decks are a highly durable option, but they require a high level of maintenance required to keep looking great. If having a near-zero maintenance deck is your top priority, composite decking will be the best option for you. If you want something that falls in between, bamboo decking is an ideal option, as it offers the durability of composite material but the look and feel of natural wood.
2. Decking patterns
Whether you choose to build with real wood or composite decking boards, you will need to think about the pattern of your decking. From nested square, to herringbone, to diamonds, to decks with a cross, to basketweaves, there is virtually no limit to the shapes that your decking boards can take. All you need to do is choose a decking board pattern that blends perfectly well with your home style and let your deck builder do the rest.
3. Decking colours and finishes
Like it or not, the appearance of your deck is going to impact the exterior look of your home. The various types of decking materials available in the market come in a range of colours and finishes so that homeowners can pick something that looks nice but also adds kerb appeal to the home.
Composite decking boards come pre-finished, so you can choose the look you like before delivery is made. The finishing on wood decks, on the other hand, is usually applied after installation of the decks. It is primarily designed to protect the wood from harsh weather, but it also impacts the look of the decking. Because real wood species have natural hues and colours, they take pigments differently. So, talk to your contractor about which finish would create the look your desire.
If you have any more questions regarding your custom deck, feel free to talk to a custom design deck builder near you.