As the cold and snow of winter becomes a distant memory, it’s normal for Calgary homeowners to turn their attention to their outdoor spaces. For some, there will be plans for a new flower bed or vegetable garden, while others will have ambitious plans to get their family to spend more time outside. An obvious strategy is to create more defined outdoor living spaces, and a deck is a quick and easy way to create a space that all the family will want to spend time on. However some of the larger, overweight or more complicated decks can require engineering and consider your local building codes. Hiring a professional deck contractor to help design and guide your deck project can be very helpful in these situations. This is especially the case if you are planning to add a Patio Cover, Pergola, Screen Room or Sunroom to your deck now or in the future with a DIY deck kit.
5 Steps To Building Your Dream Deck
Like with all good outdoor home improvement projects, the success of your deck project requires planning and organization before you even put a spade in the ground. These steps are needed to build the deck of your dreams:
- Create a full plan – a successful deck starts with a comprehensive plan. Start by looking at the different dimensions of our backyard area and home to see what fits your space and planned activities the best. You can then mark out where the deck will sit in real life and make any adjustments necessary to get it in exactly the right location.
- Dig the foundations – once your Calgary DIY deck kit has arrived, you’ll need to dig the grass and soil down by at least 30 cm and make sure the base is flat. In some cases, digging below the frost line is needed, see your local guidelines or consult a professional deck building company to confirm the depth in your area. For ground level installations, gravel is a great material to give a solid base that can be made flat easily. Once you’ve prepared the ground, install the footings, making sure that your joists won’t touch the ground.
- Lay the joists – the joists are the backbone of your deck, so it’s essential that you lay them at the right distance from each other (a standard of 16” on centre is usually recommended) and that they are completely flat from beginning to end. A laser level is a great tool to have here especially if you’re installing a large DIY deck yourself.
- Prep and lay the decking – now comes the fun part. Your DIY deck kit will likely be faced with wood plank deck boards, it should be relatively easy to get everything screwed down in a short period of time. Remember to leave a space between boards to not trap water and decrease the life of the wood. Take the time to lay everything out ahead of time to get the right pattern and to make sure you have enough decking to cover your project.
- Pick the right stain – once everything’s in place, you need to think about long term protection for your dream deck. You need to think about finding the balance between the right colour to match your house and other outdoor structures, and enough weatherproofing protection to withstand the variable Calgary seasons. Be sure to leave your deck to cure once you’ve applied the stain so that you can enjoy your new dream deck to its fullest.
Why Choose A DIY Deck Kit
When you’re planning out your deck, you can choose to get professionals to come and run the whole project from design to finishing touches. However, it’s easy to see that putting together your own deck isn’t as hard as it sounds, and with a couple of helping hands, it’s the kind of thing that you can knock out over a long weekend. All you need is a DIY deck kit and some common carpentry skills. A DIY deck kit allows you to build your dream deck as you can completely customize every part of the deck, from the size and layout to the materials that you use. The team of deck experts at Desert Sun Patios can work with you to help you measure out your deck and compile a DIY deck kit that will give you everything you need to create your perfect deck.
Putting Your Dream Deck To Good Use
Once you’ve built your customized DIY deck, it’s time to put it to good use. Here are some popular ways to use your new outdoor space:
- Outdoor dining – the most common way to get the most use out of your DIY deck area is to make it into an outdoor dining area. You can go more formal with a full table and chairs set up (of course making sure that you have enough room for all your family around the table) or more relaxed with a set of folding chairs and table so you can use the deck for other things when you’re not dining. In either case, you’ll want to think about a patio umbrella or a patio cover to keep things shaded while you’re enjoying your al fresco meals.
- Party central – if summer means party time for you and your family, you’ll find that your deck is the perfect place to host gatherings. You’ll want a variety of outdoor seating, including individual chairs and some longer couches for sharing. Whether you choose a more classic wicker design or something more modern made from metal is up to your own aesthetic. Just make sure you have some small tables for drinks and snacks to keep the fun rolling all summer long.
- Garden command centre – finally, your new DIY deck kit will be a perfect place to run your garden during the summer months. If you need a handy place to store your tools, wrap up your hoses and keep your potted plants safe from younger children, your deck is the place for all of these things. Buy a range of storage shelving that can hold different size objects, and attach a row of hooks to your external wall to hang your tools for easy access during the warm gardening weather.
