Decks, Screened Porches, Gazebos
Attached or detached to a dwelling, front decks was a common practice not long ago, to interact with the neighbors and family, however this costume was replaced by decks built on the back of the houses. The variety of ideas in building decks has evolved; beginning with a simple one level deck, to be accessed by the back door, is the simplest of the decks.
Multilevel decks with fancy shapes even to accommodate grills, planters, spas, around trees, curves edges, fixed benches are among the several concepts implemented for decks, not considering screened porches and sun-
Deck Materials:
There is a wide variety of deck materials available in the market. Pressure Treated wood has been for long time the most popular, however other product based on composite materials, vinyl, aluminum and galvanized steel, has gain acceptance in the market. The cost of those materials, usually are more expensive than treated lumber, but its usage lifetime is also longer. A pressure treated wood deck could last an average of 25 years.
The worst enemy of any building material is moisture. Secluded decks, exposed to a lot of moisture and lack of sun as in the woods, diminished the lifetime of wood decks considerably, even with treatments. The other materials also are exposes to the effects of water but have a better resistance. Mold, algae are also collateral results of moisture. Considering to stain or seal a wood, helps to extend the life of a wood deck.
Stairs, handrails
Every aspect of building a deck is under Building Codes, beginning from the foundation, anchoring the deck to the house frame, pickets’ separation, stairs run-
