It’s almost summer and many homeowners have decks on their minds. They’re a great addition to your living space — if they’re built right.
If you’re adding, rebuilding or replacing a deck, your top priority should be proper construction. Can it hold up? If it’s well-built, it will.
Should it look good? Yes.
When you build smart, design and strength work together. There’s no compromise. The deck’s design should make it stronger. Its strength adds to the design.
Before you start looking for a contractor, call your local building authority.
You might need a permit for your deck — especially if it’s attached to your house or over a certain height. Plus, getting a building permit means work is checked at different stages of construction by an inspector, who ensures it’s safe and up to code.
Make sure your contractor has plenty of experience building decks. Check references and get lots of quotes. And there’s no average cost — every deck is different.
There are questions you need to be clear about to make sure your deck is safe and constructed properly. Is it tied to the home’s frame and not just the exterior veneer? Does it have proper footings? Do you need railings? How tall do they need to be? Is the spacing right? What about the stairs: are the risers correct?
You’ll also need to think about the material your deck is made from, and there are plenty of options.
Everybody loves the look of cedar. I know I do. It’s what I used on my deck. And it’s popular for a reason.
Cedar has natural oils that make it resistant to rot and insects. But it requires maintenance.
Cedar is a softer wood, so it scratches easy. Even pressure washing can damage it. It needs to be sanded and resealed at least every other year. Ideally, you want to do it every year.
If you can’t make that kind of commitment, use cedar for the posts and railings, and composite or pressure-treated wood on the floor.
Composite is a combination of wood and plastic. When it first came out, I wasn’t a big fan. But it’s improved and I’m starting to like it.
Composite can be made to look a lot like real wood.
It’s UV resistant, insect resistant, and it won’t fade, stain, twist, split or warp. It’s maintenance-free, so it’s a good option for people who don’t have time to strip and seal every year. But it costs more than natural wood and five times as much as pressure-treated wood.
Pressure-treated wood, or PT, costs the least, but remember, you get what you pay for. PT has chemicals that help make it resistant to rot and insects, but it’s corrosive to metal fasteners. You’ll also have to clean it every year and apply a water-repellent finish to protect against moisture damage, splintering or staining.
In the end, you want to invest smart.
Just because it’s an outdoor structure doesn’t mean you should expect any less from a contractor. A pro will deliver a sturdy deck made with the right materials — one that’s not only safe, but looks good, too.
Billed as Canada’s most trusted contractor, Mike Holmes is the creator and host of HGTV’s number one show, Holmes on Homes.
