Your Home DIY Deck Adds Value To Your Home
Saturday, September 4th, 2010Just like many home improvement projects, building your own home DIY deck adds value to your property so getting professional advice is important to avoid costly mistakes.
Before anything else, you must decide the kind of deck you want to construct. It can be one of three types:
* low level deck which runs at the same level as the floor of your home, often used to extend living space
* remote deck which is not connected to your home and is usually constructed next to a swimming pool, garden or pond
* high level deck which runs above the floor level of your home and requires a handrail and stairs.
Preparation
1. Choose a deck design which complements the shape and look of your home.
2. Once you’ve chosen your design, you can then gather the tools and materials that you will need such as:
* circular saw
* power drill
* tape measure
* hammer
* chalk line
* level
* combination square
* framing square
* hand saw
3. Purchase deck materials. Natural wood looks great for most homes..
4. Check with local building regulations about obtaining the necessary permissions from the local council and/or building certifier before commencing work on your home DIY project.
5. Survey the area to be constructed for existing water, electricity and other connections and mark their positions.
6. Clear the area of trees, plants and other objects that may be lying around the construction site.
Once preparation is complete, you are now ready to build your own deck following these steps:
1. Using white string, mark specific points on the land which correspond to the length and width of your deck as well as the location of the footings.
2. Proceed with setting the posts by digging footing holes, pouring concrete into them and setting a stirrup bracket in the center of the concrete pad. A spirit level will come in handy when you want to make sure that the posts are upright..
3. Allow some time for the concrete to set and add temporary braces to keep the posts upright.. When already set, cut the posts in the appropriate length, and add more height to it if you are going to construct a handrail around your deck.
4. Add the floor joists and secure them with the framing anchors and galvanized nails..
5. Install the decking material, often timber, by laying them across the joists and attaching them at the joints using galvanized nails or screws. Use a circular saw to trim excess wood..
6. Build the handrail and stairs if your deck is situated high above the ground.
7. Finish it off with a coat of paint or wood oil.
Building your own deck will be a challenging but worthwhile home DIY project because it can increase the market value of your property, add beauty to your home and bring enjoyment for the family.

