Every spring and summer, thousands of home owners try to tackle their own home improvement projects. Some decide that they’re going to do some work on improving their lawn, making sure it looks green and full. Some people decide that they’re going to do some minor redecorating inside or outside. Others still do a bit of landscaping, planting beautiful flora and even trees that will be a joy for years to come and that will slowly increase the value of the home. Others decide to tackle one of the ultimate projects; building their own deck.
Building a deck sounds like a simple project when you first look at it; it’s simply putting together wood with a railing, then finishing or staining it as you like. And in theory, or if you’ve got a lot of practice in making decks, it is pretty simple. But every spring and summer, many who begin these projects see them end in frustration. Sure, it can be easy to build a simple pre-designed deck if you have the plans and you have some knowledge of carpentry, and that’s a project that most people who are somewhat handy should be able to tackle. However, anything more complex may tax your skills.
Here are a few reasons it may be tougher to build your own deck than you think.
Unexpected Costs
When you hire someone to build your deck and tell them that you’re looking for affordability, a good local contractor can find a handful of cost-cutting measures, everything from minor changes in construction to choosing different materials for construction. They know what they’re doing, and they’re not likely to have as much waste as someone who hasn’t cut a piece of wood since shop class in high school.
If you build your own deck, especially if any mistakes are made, the costs will begin to add up.
The Construction
If you have a simple deck plan that will work with your house, you may not need to worry too much about the construction of your deck. However, chances are that if you’re looking to figure out how to best design your own deck and you have not done this before, you need to be an experienced carpenter. How will you attach the deck ledger to your home? How will you support it? How will you fasten the planks to each other? If you have no idea about the answer to these questions, you need to hire a professional.
The Materials
Classically, the materials used in the construction of a deck were commonly a handful of different woods. These woods were chosen for their hardiness, their beauty, and for their resistance to rot and insect alike.
However, these days there is a myriad of materials. Standard timber, PVC and other composites, aluminum, all sorts of treated woods. Which is right for you? Without knowledge of the different materials, as well as an eye on your overall budget, you will find it very difficult to pick the right materials.
But it gets still more complex! Working with and fastening different materials requires different techniques and even different tools, and if you’ve got no experience working with PVC or aluminum, you’re already out of your depth.
Quality
A good deck, built with the proper materials and quality craftsmanship, well-maintained throughout the years, can last for thirty years. If you’re looking for that kind of deck construction, you’re going to need to know what you’re doing. The average person can’t put together a deck with that kind of quality of craftsmanship. You need years of experience with taking raw materials and turning them into functional works of art.
This isn’t to say that no one can build their own deck. However, this is to say that if you want to build a deck, you need to have experience in doing so. For everyone else who wants a beautiful deck, there are people in your area, like those at National Home Improvements in the Littleton, Colorado area, who can help bring your home improvement dreams to life, and help to get you to grilling on your own dick as soon as possible.
