Deck/Porch Factors to Consider

Repair or Replace

Because a porch or deck is more exposed to the elements than the indoor sections of your home, they will need more frequent upkeep and repair. You should expect periodic painting, re-staining, or resealing. Wood boards and other materials may need to be replaced in spots. If you do not make regular repairs to your porch or deck, it may become structurally unsound and need to be completely replaced. On a relate point, decks that are on the second floor or above can cause injury or death if they become unsound or unstable. If you have any reason to suspect your deck has deteriorated, have it inspected by a professional.

Get Help or Do It Yourself

If you are thinking of building your own porch or deck, you should first answer these three questions:

Do you have the skills to do it?

Do you have the time to do it?

Are there vendors who will inform and support you through the installation process?

Here is some help in answering those questions:

1. Skills required: Medium-High. This depends on the complexity of the porch or deck. A simple, 12’ x 12’ deck built at ground level requires grading/landscaping skills to level and prepare the section of your yard, planning and carpentry skills to build the deck, and modest painting skills to stain/finish the deck. Advanced skills start to be required if you install stairs, if your deck or porch is higher than ground level and you need to build a level deck on posts, and if you are adding a new door to your home to serve as a porch or deck entrance.  

2. Time required: It will take approximately 75 to 100 hours to install a 12’ x 12’ deck at ground level, from start to finish. If that deck is raised three feet and attached to your home, the time required will increase 50% to 75%. For many parts of the job, it will be necessary to have two people.

3. Vendor support: Low. Porches and decks are custom designed. The primary material used is raw lumber. Consequently, there is no vendor to support the bulk of the work. When you are in the later stages of the project, installing deck lights, staining the wood, installing an awning, vendor support can for installing each product will be medium-high.

Cost

35$ to $70 per square foot to have a porch or deck installed, depending on the complexity of the installation, materials used, and where you live. If you do the work yourself you can save 40% to 60%.

Size

When planning the size of your porch or deck, you need to consider three factors and keep them in balance:

How are you planning to use of the porch or deck?

A deck off your living room that will be used for entertaining needs to be much larger than a secluded and private deck you add to your master suite.

How much space is available to use?

Part of this question is about the size of your yard, usable area, and possible obstructions like trees or boulders. The other part of this is a question about the permit you can acquire to build a porch or deck: can acquire a permit for the size deck you want or you will need to modify your plans.

Your porch and deck should appear to be in proportion with your house. When the project is complete, the porch or deck should look like a logical and beneficial addition to your home. If the scale of the project is either too small or too large, it could look disproportional to your house. A porch or deck should also be proportional to your yard. If you are adding a deck so you and your guests can enjoy your beautiful yard, you cannot have the deck take up half the yard.

Materials

Wood is still the most common material use to build decks, but wood is starting to be replaced or supplemented by new materials in porch and deck construction. Here is a list of commonly used materials:

Wood: Until recently, all porches and decks were constructed almost entirely of wood. Because of the exposure to moisture, most wood used for decks is pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood is exposed to chemicals under pressure, and the chemicals prevent decay and termite damage, and can dramatically reduce repairs of your deck.

Composite Decking: Composite decking is a combination of wood pulp and plastic. It is looks like wood and is lower maintenance than wood. Composite decking lacks the strength of wood, and long pieces of composite decking used as floorboards require more closely spaced supports. Composite material is not generally used for the main supports pieces of a porch or deck, but is used in combination with pressure-treated wood.

Aluminum and Fiberglass: There is a small but growing market for aluminum and fiberglass decking materials. There are among the lowest maintenance products, and are designed for easy installation.

Access

How many points of access you plan for your porch or deck will impact its appearance and function. A porch is usually has steps to the yard and access to the front or back door of the home. However, if you are installing a wrap around deck, it is ideal to plan at least one additional entrance to and from the house, as well as at least one additional set of stairs to the yard. Homeowners commonly add decks to the living room, the recreation room, or the master bedroom to function as an extension of the room. However, it is often necessary to install a door to provide access to the deck, and stairs from the deck to the yard. The door will often be made of glass, to present an inviting image of the deck from the room. If space permits, the use of double doors is also common, either sliding or French.

Enclosures

To what degree to you want your porch or deck to be open to the elements, and to what degree do you want it to be protected from the elements. This goes back to what time of day and year you plan to use the deck, and the whether and insect conditions in your area. Railings are the most basic form of porch and deck enclosure, and they are essential for almost all types of porches and decks. Other enclosure options are screens, windows, roofs, and awnings. If you are installing screens, windows, or awnings, consider making them removable, so you can use them or not depending on the conditions.