A good deck can greatly improve the enjoyment of your outdoor spaces, allowing you to spend time on your own or entertain guests in a comfortable environment. Whether it be a simple patio or an elaborate outdoor living space you will need to get that deck built, either by yourself or with assistance from a professional deck building company. In today’s blog we will be providing you with helpful deck construction tips for your Vancouver home in hopes of providing you with the best possible means of building the deck of your dreams.
Regulations and Permits
One of the most important things you should do when building is to make sure that you are aware of the permits and regulations required for such a project. This is just as important when you are adding to an old deck as it is when you are building a new one. Don’t assume that permits have been acquired for previous work done on an old deck. If you didn’t do the work yourself you should confirm whether a building permit was obtained, if you are unsure, it is better to just get new permits to avoid trouble in the future.
Keep in mind that any new construction on an old deck will be held to current building standards when it is inspected. In Vancouver you will need a permit if your deck is more than 2 feet off the ground, if your new deck will be attached to the home, if your new deck is 100 square feet or more, or if you’re adding a patio cover to your deck. If you live in a historic area or have a heritage home, you may require a development permit as well as a building permit.Things that can prevent a building permit from being obtained are proximity to your neighbor’s property lines, if the total footprint of structures is greater than 60% of the property’s square footage and aesthetic consistency with the neighborhood. Make sure you know exactly where your property line is so you can ensure the necessary setbacks are met.
Material Selection Tips
When you are choosing what material to use in deck construction here are some things to keep in mind. There are essentially three major material categories that you can use in deck construction, real wood, artificial composite wood or recycled plastic. If you are using real wood, you should be sure to apply durability measures to that wood as it is the only certain way to extend the life of a wooden deck. These durability measures could mean using pressure-treated boards or using something naturally moisture and rot resistant like red cedar.
Composite decking is often more expensive than natural timber but is highly durable, requires less maintenance than natural wood, and is highly moisture resistant, making it an excellent choice for Vancouver’s wet coastal climate. Recycled Plastic has similar benefits to composite decking but tends to have a more artificial look and feel than natural or composite decking.
Building Tips
If you are planning to sink posts to support your deck it is important to dig down at least 4 or 5 feet to protect your decks posts against frost heave, while this may seem less important in a warmer, wetter climate like Vancouver winters can be unpredictable and you never know when a cold snap might hit and do damage to an improperly designed deck. If you are planning to build a raised deck, make sure that you have considered the weight it will need to support.
Building codes are very exacting when it comes to how much weight a raised deck needs to support in order to prevent collapse and ensure the long-term usability of the structure. As well when planning the construction of your deck it is important that you not forget about railings. If your deck is sufficiently raised, railings are an absolute requirement but even on decks close to the ground they can be an important safety and visual addition to your deck. If you need to do any soil grading for your deck make sure that you slope the grade away from your hope to ensure proper drainage, if this isn’t done water build up and then frost can do serious damage to your home.
Use an experienced Deck Builder
One of the last tips for building your deck is to consider using the services of an experienced deck building company that has a long history in the area. Choosing an experienced deck builder will ensure that all the important elements of deck design are covered by someone who knows what they are doing, saving you time and headaches. Deck Experts is a Surrey owned and operated deck building company that works all around the greater Vancouver area. With our experienced staff and a commitment to professionalism and quality work we believe that we can provide one of the best deck building services in the greater Vancouver area.
We hope that we have been able to provide you with some helpful tips for constructing the deck of your dreams and hope that should you require assistance in building a deck that you will contact Deck Experts.
Deck Experts, based in Surrey, BC, are professional deck builders with a long track record of success. We offer free estimates and long warranties and can build or fix any deck around. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about decks, please call us at (604) 626-7100.
