Deck Planning and Site Preparation
Good planning can make any job turn out better. Here are 10 ways to keep ahead of the problems.
1. Start with a site inspection. For most houses, the best spot for a deck is along the back wall next to the kitchen door. This provides easy access to the kitchen and often the family room too. But convenience isn’t the only matter to consider. Factor in natural elements such as prevailing winds in your area and how the sun will hit the deck. Also consider how much privacy from your neighbors you’d like to have.
2. Draw a set of plans showing where you want the deck, what size and shape it will be, and what materials will be used. These drawings are a great way to refine your ideas, and a finished set is necessary when applying for a building permit.
3. Check the availability of materials and contractors. Shop around for good prices on lumber, and find suppliers for specialty items (such as galvanized screws) that may not be available locally. Also find out how much lead time your contractors (excavator and electrician, for example) will need. It’s not uncommon for them to be already booked for many months.
4. Get a building permit from your local building department. Decks are relatively simple structures, but they still require a full set of plans showing exactly what you intend to do. The permit will establish an inspection schedule that stipulates when the inspector must visit the site and approve the work.
5. Call your local utility company if any excavation is required for your foundation work. A representative will come to your house and show you where hidden wires and pipes are located so that you can avoid them.
6. Lay out the location of your deck with stakes and string, and remove the sod from the area under the deck. Replace it with a couple inches of washed gravel or crushed stone, and make sure that the stone is graded away from the house.
7. Install at least two outdoor electrical outlets on the house wall next to the deck location, and make plans for adding low-voltage deck lighting.
8. Finish any and all landscaping jobs around the deck site—planting trees, for example—before you start work on the deck, as some areas may become inaccessible once you start building.
9. To give yourself the most room in which to work, excavate for the foundation before the lumber is delivered. Keep soil from the holes close by so that it’s easy to backfill the holes later.
10. If possible, have the lumber delivered in one load to reduce any possible damage to your lawn. Cover the lumber with a tarp to keep it dry.
