Tips For A Perfect Patio Deck Plan

Every success of a construction greatly relies in a perfect plan. Having an additional patio deck in your backyard or front yard requires some preparation before building starts. You can opt from a ready-made blueprint or starting your plan from scratch with your own personal and original ideas. Nowadays, people are fond of doing outdoor activities with families and friends. It will be more exciting and interesting if you have the best and most appropriate patio deck for your home. If you have plenty of available space outside your home, then you might consider building a pool or playground. It will really be a fun place for your kids. Being exposed to sunlight and fresh air is a good habit that every family must practice. It will surely be of great help in maintaining your good health condition.

While doing your plan, always select for a theme and concept first. These things will serve as your basis and foundation of ideas as you go along with the plan. Choose a color that matches to your home exterior. It is more pleasing and attractive if everything complements with each other. If you plan to have a more unique and amazing patio, consult the best contractor or architect in town that will help you construct an efficient plan. The installation of patio must be directed to its purpose. It will make the plan easier if you already identified the main reason of building it. The contractor can also prepare ahead of time in making the best and right plan for you if he will have an idea about the purpose of your patio ahead of time. It will also be helpful if you know the direction of sunlight that will hit to your patio as well as the shade.

Building a patio can be done easily through a DIY project. However, if you think that you can't do it all by yourself in your self assessment, it will be great to really seek for assistance from a contractor. Choose a design that is suitable to your preference so that it will be clearly stated in the plan. Select for the materials that you want to use and the color of the patio. If you are having a lot of guests very often, you can consider placing chairs where everybody can be seated. Always check for the availability of space so that you can also set space limitations to your plan. Afterwards, you can start creating ideas in maximizing the place and personalizing the designs. There are different kinds of patio available in the market that can be your reference while making your plan. Consider what furniture you want to put in your patio because furniture usually has bigger space requirements. Never go beyond to your budget. Your plan must coincide with the particular budget that you have allotted. Making your plan extravagant can only turn your patio into a big waste of time, money and effort. Stick to your budget and make a smart plan that is attainable and affordable.

Patio Deck Plans - Online Resources

Patio deck plans can be found on the internet by simply doing a search for what best suits your plans for what you want to do. Do you need a deck for a hot tub spa, an above ground pool, or for just barbecuing delicious family meals for your crew. Outdoor deck plans come in many sizes, lumbers, and designs complete with who to call to do the install.

Construction Guide For Free

A great resource on how to build your patio deck plan for do it yourself builders, deck contractors,and building inspectors is Downloaddecks.com. This 10 page building guide goes into great detail of how to build your own customized deck. It gives direction on ledger board attachment, framing, stairs, rails and frost footings. It will give that personal insight that you may need to start building your backyard paradise.

Websites

There are several great websites which will help you find a patio deck plan for a professionally designed deck that will have your neighbors drooling with envy. Functionality, strengths in building in high, low, and medium elevations, and attractiveness are all some of the basic principles of finding the right patio deck plan for you. Some have plans which are down-loadable in PDF format that fast, safe, secure and user friendly.

Porch Roof Page

Most patio deck plans will also include the porch roof page that shows you how the construction would look once introduced to your deck style. The angle and length are given for the hand framed rafters. Those plans should be in agreement with current IRC code to support 80 lbs. per square ft. loading. Typical porch detail planning should show the recommended process of how you do the tying in of the house roof to your patio deck.

Conclusion

In this current economy long expensive family vacations are out of the question with most working folk. Some see a more practical approach for how to get more bang for their buck. By making the right decision on what patio deck plan to build you can have an outdoor paradise every summer right in your own backyard. You will not only improve the value of your property, but contribute to the over all ambiance of your neighborhood. Put your money where your heart is. You nurture relationships with family and friends for a lifetime. Why not have a place to meet for those good times. At the hot tub, backyard pool, grilling center, gazebo, or whatever you want to construct. Put a patio plan in your future and put some pizazz back in your lifestyle. Invite the neighbors for some fun in the sun that you will have right at your fingertips. You have only one life, so live it!

Personal Design for Your Patio Deck

The patio deck is a social area of the house and how it is designed can say a million things about you. With the many designs available to choose from, you might be at a standstill in the selection process. Now, if you are an open-minded person, then this concept of personal design for your patio can greatly increase the chances of customizing the area according to your taste. The most common characteristics of the design that many people are looking for is a low maintenance, easy to install, and stylish patio.

Of course, a do-it-yourself patio design may need a little bit more time and effort to make, but this can also save you a whole lot. Basically, the idea here is to make sure that you are up for your own personal design in this social area of the house. Patios are usually placed either at the front or back side of the house. The placement of the patio can also contribute to the type of design you might be interested in.

There are three types of patio decks:

Concrete

The first type is the concrete type. This is the basic type of patio that is durable, low maintenance and easier to do. Concrete is almost like clay which can be textured and molded into whatever pattern you would like to have in your patio. There are slabs that can simply be put together like a big puzzle to create a dazzling pattern. In clean and well-kept gardens, most homeowners usually use concrete to hinder the growth of weeds -- that is, if the patio is next to the garden. For more innovative ideas, you can check the newest designs in home interior magazines, and if you need some of the suppliers, the yellow pages is a good place to start.

Flagstones

Flagstones or other natural rocks and bricks have also been increasingly popular among patio deck designs. That is because of the readily available supplies and easier management of the patio. In this type, you have to be able to fit the stones according to the vision or inspiration that you have in mind without having to end up with an overly structured patio. One good thing about the natural stones or bricks is that they can withstand the extremes of weather. This is a good investment for those who plan to have low maintenance and long-lasting design.

Wood

Of course, do not forget about the wooden patio decks. Not many homes can afford to have a wooden patio as the weather conditions can get in the way. Another thing is that there might be a little bit of uncertainty in the level of how long the structure could last. On the other hand, there are types of sturdy woods that can take on extreme weather, but these are usually more expensive than the conventional ones.

There are so many things that you can do when it comes to the design of your patio. This depends mainly on the material that you are planning to use. So, always be sure of the design you want, plan it, and purchase the necessary materials for building the patio. With your determination and personal touch, your patio deck would likely be the favorite social part of the house.

Choosing the Best Material For Your Perfect Backyard Patio Deck

You want to build a deck on the back of your house, but you can't decide what material you want to use? This is a common problem especially with all the different types of woods and composites you can choose from these days.

First thing you need to decide is how much time do you want spend maintaining your deck because it doesn't matter how well built a deck is it will still need maintenance from time to time. Depending on what type of material you use will also determine how often.

Let's take a look at the choices we have first then you can decide on what you want to do. Wood is an option that a lot of people choose. It has been the number one deck building material for decades and is still used widely today because it's readily available for a reasonable price.

Some of the benefits of wood is that it will last for many years if it's taken care of properly. You need to purchase treated lumber and maintain it regularly by cleaning it with cleaning compounds and protecting it from the harsh weather with a sealer.

Your next choice is composite wood it is made of wood flour and a polymer. The best types are made from furniture quality maple wood flour and encapsulated in strong 100 percent virgin high-density polyethylene.

Using composite boards over wood has some unique advantages. For one it will not rot, splinter or crack like regular wood does. The polymer totally encapsulates the wood leaving it water resistant and free from mold and mildew attack.

Composite boards made of recycled plastic and wood have an advantage over 100% plastic also by being more ridged because of the reinforcement provided by the wood fibers.

If you still think that wood is a nicer material because you like the look of the wood grain then you should realize that composite boards come in 4 different wood colors and are shaped the same as regular boards and they show a wood grain.

You can saw, fit, router, and work with composite boards the same way as you do with regular wood with one real big added bonus. You don't have near the maintenance that comes with a 100% wood deck. One thing you should know is that after installing your composite deck you will notice some fading as it gets acclimatized to its new environment.

Sealing A Deck

A deck is an extension of your home’s living space and where you will spend much of your time during the summer months. Consequently, it needs to be treated and cared for as much as your home’s inside rooms.

Most important to the care of your deck is regularly sealing it. This is particularly true if you want your deck to maintain the natural color of the wood.

Sealing a deck is critical in order to preserve the life and look of the wood. The sealant preserves the beauty of the natural wood by protecting it from both water and sun damage.

When to Apply the deck Sealant

In order to preserve the natural wood look for many years, I typically apply the sealant every year. Also, I usually apply it in late summer/early fall as I live in New England. I do this because of the concern of snow lying on the deck for long periods of time during the winter months. My concern is in the acidity of the water in the snow. By putting on a sealant just prior to snow season, I can provide peak protection against the prolonged damaging effects of the acid contained in the water. In hotter climates, where there is less snow, I would suggest applying the deck sealer in late spring.

Clean the deck prior to sealing

First, remove all of the deck furniture off of the deck.

Prior to sealing it is then best to power wash the deck and let it thoroughly dry. You may need to use a stiff bristly brush to get off any material that is not being removed by the power washer. Pine pitch frequently requires the services of this tool. There are also a variety of products offered by sealant manufactures that can also assist in the deck sealant preparation.

After power washing it may take 24-48 hours, or even longer, for the deck to thoroughly dry, pending weather conditions. Make sure the deck is completely dry prior to applying the sealant. Otherwise, the sealant may not be appropriately absorbed into the wood’s surface.

Once the deck is dry, and you are about ready to begin sealing, use a leaf blower to remove any debris that may have fallen onto the deck’s surface since you power washed it. If you do not have a leaf blower, than simply sweep the deck.

Sealing the deck

First, the deck sealer should not be applied if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and if rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours. Otherwise, the sealant may not absorb properly, nor dry properly.

Using a brush apply the sealant around all the deck edges and posts. Once the edging is complete, use a sprayer, brush or roller to apply the sealant to the deck surface. Make sure that the sealant is firmly pressed into the wood surface to maximize the penetration of the sealant into the wood.

Four Ways to Make Your Deck More Inviting

When the weather allows, a deck or patio is a fantastic place to have any kind of event. However, many people overlook the wonderful decorating opportunity that comes with an outdoor hang-out area. Adding some pizazz to your deck or patio can be done fairly easily, quickly, and inexpensively, so it's a perfect spring project to get into the groove of outdoor chores. Doing it in spring also means you'll be ready for those summer parties!

When planning your deck or patio décor, you'll want to keep in mind how you want the space to function. Will you be having lots of big parties and barbeques? Small get-togethers? Maybe it's primarily the place where you go to relax with a book and coffee. This should determine what kind and how much furniture to use and where to place it. You should also consider what you want the theme or feel of the space to be. Do you want it modern and jazzy? Warm and earthy? Somewhere in the middle? These can be achieved with both the furniture, colors and décor.

Before you Decorate

Before you start with the decorating itself, however, you'll need to make sure that your deck or patio has received the proper care. You should clean and re-seal the wood once a year, and keep it in good repair. This is especially important in the Midwest, where the weather can be harsh. You can do these things yourself, or hire a professional.

Tips for Décor

1. Paint, whether vibrant or neutral can make your deck beautiful and distinct. Many people elect a paint scheme similar to the color of the house, but this isn't necessary. Using the correct complementary colors, and applying it in subtle areas (such as posts and handrails), will make a unique and fun area.

2. Adding fabrics to any room will make it more welcoming, and a deck or patio is no exception. Putting curtains on the windows, and adding throw pillows and rugs will be reminiscent of a comfy sitting room, and will put your guests at ease. However, keep in mind that rain can not only ruin fabrics, but encourage mold and mildew growth. So you'll need to either take cloth items inside during a rainstorm, or clean them frequently. Either way, it is a good idea to pick a durable and water-resistant material.

3. Adding lights is wonderful for a deck or patio, especially if you plan on having many nighttime gatherings. There are so many options for outdoor lighting: hanging lights, paper lanterns, solar lights, and much more. Peruse a hardware store or the internet, and you'll be sure to find lighting that's right for your deck or patio.

4. There are many ways to use furniture as decoration, many of which are inexpensive. You can repaint an old table using stencils to add your own design. You can use tree stumps for seats and tables. Look around your local hobby and craft store; they are full of unusual outdoor décor and furniture that will add your own type of charm to your deck or patio.

Plants to Decorate a Shady Deck

The woody wonderlands of Washington provide a plethora of species that can flourish around the shady areas around your deck, while encouraging native wildlife to thrive.

1. Pink Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia)
Small, pink, bell-shaped blossoms grace the pink wintergreen in late spring. This woodland herb has glossy green leaves and stalks that grow to 20cm in height. Consider placing one in a planter on your cedar decking, Washington homeowners. This will provide the right combination of moist, quick-draining soil that the Pink Wintergreen craves.

2. Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora)
With whimsical white - or purple-fringed flowers, the fringecup can grow to two feet in height. Around cedar decking, Washington homeowners will find fringecup plants are wonderful for lining the deck's perimeter. Well-drained, moist soil in fully shaded areas will allow your fringecups to burst with blossoms from April to July.

3. Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum)
The stalks of the tiger lily can exceed three feet in height! That makes them a wonderful plant for a cedar deck; Vancouver homeowners can outline the perimeter of the structure with stunning orange tiger lily blossoms. It is best to grow Tiger Lilies from bulbs or in containers, since they don't transplant well. When growing Tiger Lilies around a cedar deck, Vancouver green thumb types should use compost and soil that drains well.

4. Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)
The oak fern's delicate fronds are an excellent way to soften the look of your cedar deck. Vancouver residents can place oak fern-filled planters on cedar deck rails to create the look of cascading leaves. Alternatively, oak ferns are wonderful accent plants on the decking itself, or next to nearby shrubs or trees. shady areas with moist, well-drained soil allow the oak fern to thrive. (Are you seeing a pattern yet in the soil conditions for these woodland plants?)

5. Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)
The Vine Maple is native to the woods of Washington and Oregon, where it grows as a shrub or small tree, always within 300 km of the Pacific Coast. The Vine Maple's green leaves turn orange-red in the fall - assuming the plant is in partial shade, that is. In full sun, the Vine Maple takes on a red hue in the autumn, and in shady locations it puts out a golden glow. Small white flowers with red or purple highlights flowers bloom on Vine Maples every May and June.

A stunning way to incorporate a Vine Maple in your decking design is to grow it as a bonsai. Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing a plant in a shallow dish. This allows you to carefully control the plant's height and shape. Planted this way, a Vine Maple provides a striking focal point for a shady cedar deck. Vancouver residents will appreciate that a Vine Maple bonsai may be kept on the decking all year long, as this plant thrives in partial and full shade.

To grow a Vine Maple as a bonsai on their cedar decking, Washington homeowners should purchase a shallow, quick-draining dish, along with specially-made plant food and potting soil for bonsais.

Cantilevered Decks: Top 23 Waterproofing Tips

Covered patio or second floor deck leaking? Here are 23 simple moisture-proofing strategies to help prevent damaging water intrusion into your deck system.

Cantilevered structural deck systems safely separate exterior habitable areas from the surrounding ground surface environment. When covered, these deck (a. k. a. terraces, patios, etc.) structures shelter occupants from the undesirable effects of direct exposure to the outside environment. When elevated and structurally connected to building walls, these deck systems allow unobstructed panoramic views while safely supporting their occupant loads.

Building material products sensitive to adverse weather such as hardwood floors, unprotected structural wood members, and sheetrock must be adequately protected to prevent their damage and decay. Dry wood structural members can expand, twist, distort, and deflect unpredictably when exposed to ongoing excessive moisture. If rainwater infiltrates into the deck and wall structural cavities, it provides a continuous moisture source to the dry wood structural components supporting each deck (North and southeast decks). The result: structural component deflection which transfers excessive tension stress to its connected brittle material coverings causing visible stucco and tile separations. Here are twenty three tips to help waterproof your cantilevered patio deck:

1.Stucco penetrations such as metal deck railing should be properly flashed or integrated into the water-resistive barrier before lath and stucco installation.

2.Water-resistive barriers degraded by moisture exposure or damaged by tearing should be replaced before applying the stucco.

3.Place water resistive barriers to assure all exterior moisture sensitive material surfaces are completely covered.

4.Install wood based deck sheathing panels in accordance with APA requirements with 1/8 inch spaces between all meeting panel edges.

5.Water-resistive barriers that have been degraded by moisture exposure or damaged by tearing should be replaced prior to the application of stucco.

6.Place water resistive barriers to assure covering the entire exposed surface of the floor support beams and girders where possible without having to remove undamaged materials or demolishing functional structural connections.

7.Paper backed stucco lath shall have at least one barrier layer of an approved water resistant paper backing.

8.An approved water resistive barrier is one layer of No. 15 asphalt felt, free from holes and breaks, complying with ASTM D 226 for type I felt, or an equal alternative or better. Equal alternatives are DuPont Tyvek (Home wrap, Commercial wrap, and Stucco wrap) or equal.

9.Placement of at least two water resistant barrier layers is recommended (not required) between stucco metal lath and any untreated natural wood surface to enhance long term prevention of moisture infiltration into the stucco system.

10.Assure OSB sheathing substrates are classified as Exposure 1 or Exterior Grade.

11.Assure wood framing and wood based sheathing is reasonably dry with a moisture content of 19% or less when the water-resistant barrier and lath are installed.

12.A framing inspection should take place before a lath inspection. Appropriateness of flashings, treatments of penetrations and rough openings should be evaluated at that time.

13.Water-resistive barriers should be installed with staples that do not protrude through the back side of the sheathing.

14.Water-resistive barrier should be installed flat and taut to the substrate surface.

15.All flashings and water-resistive barriers should be installed for positive drainage.

16.Metal flashing materials should be a minimum 26 gauge galvanized sheet metal or anodized, coil coated or painted aluminum.

17.All trim accessories should be galvanized steel, zinc alloy or anodized aluminum.
18.Joinery of abutting ends of trim accessories should be spliced or lapped and sealed with appropriate sealant.

19.Joinery of flashing sections should be appropriately lapped, sealed and mended together by application of sealants, adhesive backed membrane or other appropriate means of continuity.

20.Any water-resistive barrier or membranes covering OSB joints should be lapped across said joints where appropriate and should remain unbroken where possible.

21.Expansion joints should be located at points where significant building movement is anticipated: Wall penetrations, structural plate lines, junctures of dissimilar substrates, existing construction joints (stone), columns and cantilevers.

21.Pullout resistance of drill and drive fasteners, power or powder actuated fasteners should meet the requirements of the fastener manufacturer.

23.If there is any question about the effectiveness of the pullout strength of drill and drive fasteners, power or powder actuated fasteners into concrete or concrete masonry block, sample testing is recommended.

How To Build A Deck Step By Step The Easy Way

Once you have a solid set of instructions and sound decking plans to work with, building a deck need not be a difficult process, even for an inexperienced carpenter.

The technique I explain in this article is a professional deck installation method which can be used for deck heights between 350mm to 1.8m above ground level.

Inserting timber posts

1. Draw up your deck plan on paper first. (If you are stuck for ideas, there are plenty of resources online that supply deck plans) To be able to properly draw your deck design you will need to work out exactly where to position your posts and your purlin structure and joists.

2. Lay out the perimeter of your deck with string or line. If you are building a square deck , be sure to check diagonal measurements.

3. Mark the positions of your posts using an ink marker or chalk. Your posts should be approximately 1.5 - 1.8m apart.

4. Now dig the holes for your posts going approximately 400mm deep. Insert your posts into the holes, lining them up and bracing them, making sure that the bracing will hold them in place while the concrete sets. The post will be cut later so it doesn't matter how high they extend out of the ground.

5. Ensure your posts are plumb (level in the vertical plane.)

6. Pour some ready made concrete into the holes, filling them to the top.

7. Allow the concrete to set for 48 hours before pulling the timber bracing off and cleaning any concrete off the posts.

Purlin Stage

Purlins are horizontal beams running along the length of your deck to support the decking boards. The purlins are supported along their lengths by posts.

The purlin structure will run the same direction as the finished deck boards, which is normally parallel to the house / patio doors.

Decide what level you want your finished decking to be, then work out your post heights from this - calculate backwards.

Use a self-levelling laser level on a tripod to set levels over a large deck. Ensure any laser-level you use has been calibrated within the last 6 months.

Bolt 6" x 2" planks on their edge to either side of the posts, stagger your joists so that you don't end up with two joints on the same post. (Timber locks can be used instead of bolts as they are just as strong and much faster to use. Pre-drill the 6" x 2" timber first, insert at least two bolts or timber locks.

As an extra reinforcement insert a 4" x 2" dwarf leg between the 6" x 2" and the concrete base and attach it to the post with screws or timber locks. This will ensure that your substructure will last 20 years plus. This will transfer the load to the ground.

Water Run-Off
To create a water run-off you must create a slight slope on your decking. We will aim for a slope of about 1 in a 100. To achieve this we will set our levels using builders line. 50mm in 4.8m will create a 1 in 100 slope.

Dwarf legs can be used to reinforce the purlins. Once the purlins are positioned and bolted / timberlocked the purlin structure is now complete.

Joist Stage

Setting out the joists is now straight forward (ensure that the joists 4" x 2" (or 5 6" x 2") are regularised (that the joists are actually of same dimensions) - this is very important otherwise the deck could be uneven.)

Lay your joists out on top of the purlins at 90° to the purlin structure. The joists must be spaced at 250mm (10") apart. The joists can be fixed to the purlin structure using 80mm stainless steel screws or 3" galvinised nails. This should ensure the strength and durability for your decking to last two decades of use.

Now all that remains to be done is to insert bridging pieces between the joists to strengthen the joist structure. Use 10" (250mm) pieces to do this.

Bridging pieces 250mm (10") should be inserted between the joists to ensure a rigid, strong joist structure.

Simple Guide To Planning a New Deck - How to Effectively Get Started

The basic plan for a deck is the place that you want to build it. If you can plan that effectively then you have almost won the battle.

A deck can have more and more provisions in it, based on the space availability. It can have two or three chairs to relax, some flower plants and lighting arrangements. Even though hard wood flooring cost us more, it can give us the royal look to the deck that we want.

Planning both the area and location to help us judge the cost and the accessories we can add to the deck to make it look more attractive is important. This makes our work partially done, then deciding the type of deck we want to have is next. For this we don't need to stress as it is available in the market with different shapes and designs.

Coming to the design we have to select it based on the environment where our house is located. Say for example if we are located near a river or mountain we can have a deck facing them with all the side walls opened to let fresh air into the deck.

If we are located in the center of the city with none of the above located near us, we can have it facing the garden and a few steps can connect the garden and the deck. Even if we are residing in the first floor or above, we can have a small deck to have some evening tea or a moon light dinner.

A deck can be made using metal railings, stone or wood. Then the selection should be made after considering the cost, material availability, appearance and maintenance. A metal deck is easy to be maintained but they don't give a special look to the deck.

Coming to the woody deck, they need frequent maintenance as they are easily affected by external humidity and moisture. They also need extra care to protect them from rodents and bugs. Metal decks are not preferable in the sea shore areas as salty air gradually erodes them.

Last but not least coming to the decoration of the deck many accessories are available to help us to do it as easy and simple as we can. Simple decorative lights can convert your simple deck to a royal and rich look. Also we can have some hanging lights, colored lights and crystal luminaries.

Artificial Grass for Patios and Decks

Aside from entire front and backyards, as well as fields and parks, artificial grass can be used for other areas of the house, including outdoor patios, decks, and gazebos. For many homeowners, an outdoor niche or veranda is a relaxing place to host parties, entertain, or simply gather with family and friends. Thus, it is important to keep areas like this looking good throughout the summer, or throughout the entire year for sunny areas in which leisure time is spent outdoors. artificial turf is an easily customized landscape surface that blends well with any outdoor landscape. When used for patios and decks, it enhances the space, giving a lively lush look that requires minimal maintenance.

Since artificial turf is specifically engineered to withstand environmental elements and conditions, it is perfect for landscaping outdoor areas such as patios and decks. Many newer artificial turf products on the market are manufactured with a UV coating on the blades to deflect sunlight and maintain color throughout the years. These polypropylene and polyethylene fibers are sturdy and feel like natural grass. Even with hot and humid weather, artificial grass does not fade but instead stays green and healthy looking throughout harsh weather conditions. With many suppliers and installers all over the world, there are different options to choose from in regards to selecting the perfect addition to your outdoor patio.

Whether you have a small or large patio area, artificial turf can be installed specifically to your measurements and dimensions. Even if you already have major landscaping done, artificial turf blends well with different landscape elements, such as sand, stones, concrete, rock, real grass, and more. Installers of artificial grass ensure that it is installed well, for a clean and fitting look for your patio. Artificial grass is a great alternative to composite decks, as well as decks made from other materials because it adds aesthetic value to your home outdoor area that flatter concrete patios do not have. The lushness of artificial grass is inviting for guests, family members, friends, and even pets. patio areas with hanging gardens or plants blend very well with artificial grass to tie in the natural aesthetic. However, unlike plants, artificial turf needs absolutely no watering, which can cut down on costs and bills tremendously.

Though it requires no watering, however, artificial grass does not get ruined when it comes into contact with water and other liquids. For example, patios and outdoor areas with pools can still benefit from artificial grass and not be soggy or wet, due to its state of the art drainage system, which manually drains water and liquids, thus preventing bacterial spores from forming. artificial turf transforms your patio into a great communal outdoor area, where guests can feel the comfort with bare feet and pets can roam around freely with little hazard or mess. From barbecues to pool parties, you will enjoy the look and feel given by artificial grass. Revamp your patio or veranda with artificial turf, the eco-friendly alternative that keeps your outdoor area looking natural and inviting for several years to come.

Installation Of Waterproofing Decking and Deck Coating Systems

Below is a detailed and systematic installation process that will help protect your deck, exterior floors, walkways and stairs from the hardest rains year after year. This deck coating process offers superior protection and has been tried, tested and proven. Process: 2.5 galvanized metal lath, polymer modified concrete, fiberglass and bonder 480, slurry deck coating, anti-slip grip protection texture, and specialized floor paint sealer. Every one of the layers is purposely designed to shield water and strengthen decks from bubbling cracking, and long-term sun damage. Decks in South Orange County are important to seal correctly and thoroughly because of our hot and arid summers and our heavy rainstorms in the winter. Here is an in depth description of the procedure we use when resurfacing your deck.

1. Galvanized Metal Lathing(2.5 lbs per square yard)

Once a thorough inspection of the deck and surrounding structure is complete, the metal lath is secured to the wood sub floor using 24 galvanized 16 gauge staples per square foot.

2. First coat of Polymer modified concrete

Next comes the polymer modified concrete. This is spread evenly across the metal lath creating the ideal foundation layer for your Orange County deck. After the polymer-modified concrete has completely dried you can proceed.

3. Fiberglass and Bonder 480

Now we apply ¾ oz. cloth fiberglass on top of the polymer-modified concrete. Fiberglass is cut carefully to make sure it fit around drains, railings and posts. Bonder 480 is generously applied onto the fiberglass soaking and bonding directly to the first layer of polymer-modified concrete. This is a crucial step to keep out water.

4. Second coat of Polymer modified concrete

Once the bonder has bonded and dried another layer of polymer based concrete to give your deck double the strength and flexibility. This extra step is to make certain your deck will not crack.

5. Finish Texture Coat

Once the second coat of polymer modified concrete is dry, your choice of anti-slip grip texture finish is applied. This texture keeps its grip in even the highest foot traffic areas.

6. Specialized Paint Sealer

The finishing layer for deck coatings in Orange County, is 2 coats of specialized paint sealer. This is applied on top of the texture coat with your choice of 16 different colors, making sure your newly resurfaced deck matches your home or commercial building.

This deck waterproofing process is also perfect for balcony and rooftop decks near the beach. This deck coating process is widely used throughout Orange County including: Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, San Clemente, and Huntington beach.

Timber Decking Kit - Installation Guide

Safety First
Always remember to use gloves when handling any kind of timber, and be sure to wash your hands after handling it - particularly before eating. Never burn the treated off-cut timbers, as they are likely to contain chemical preservatives. Always remember to dispose of treated timber offcuts as refuse.

Where possible, wear eye protection when using a pressure washer on your deck, or when applying chemical cleaners or restorers to it's surface. Keep young children away from the decking area until after the installation is finished and until all of your kit and tools have been stored away safely.

Fixings
Timber decking kits usually contain complete fixing kits, which have everything you need to complete the deck build.

Top Tips
Try to lay out the decking joists in place before actually fixing them together. Similarly, lay out the decking boards separately if space permits. By allowing the timber to become surface dry, you will make the timber much, much easier to work with - whilst also minimizing the effects of timber shrinkage. Drill pilot holes wherever you need to insert decking or joist screws, a this will vastly decrease the risk of timber splitting.

Lastly, be sure to cover the ground area underneath your deck with a high quality weed control membrane before you begin to build the deck. Try to ensure that cut ends, notches etc are all well protected from rot using a high quality brush-on timber end-grain preserver.

Oversite preparation
Make sure the site onto which you intend to mount the completed deck is as free draining as possible, or at the very least, has a gradient of 1:40 or above. This will help aid water drainage after rainfall.

If yours is a ground decking kit, you might want to excavate the top 100mm of soil before starting. Fill this space with compacted-down gravel stones or with hardcore - this will help provide a really solid and free-draining site, where otherwise this may not be the case.

Constructing the Joist Sub Frame
Timber decking kits include all the timbers necessary for the construction of joist sub frame undercarrages. This is basically a structurally-sound base onto which the decking timbers can be directly fixed. Start by laying down all but 2 of the timbers in a line, at 60cm intervals. These timbers will act as what the trade calls 'regular joists'. Next, lie the final 2 joists along the top and bottom of this row, to create a grid. These joists run at 90-degrees to the other timbers and are called 'cross joists'. Next, cut down the regular joists by the width of the two cross joists (typically 47mm x 2) so that the deck is correctly proportioned for the specified size.

Next fix the crossjoists to the two outer joists from the row of regular joists, to create a square or rectangular frame. Then fit the remaining joists at equal spacing (no more than 600mm centres). Bear in mind that your joist timbers may have to be trimmed to size before completing this step where you have been provided with oversized joists (say 4.8m lengths rather than 4.2m lengths). Timber decking kits occasionally include oversized joists where stock is limited.
N, we are ready to install the deckboards.

Bear in mind that throughout the seasons, your deckboards will swell and shrink slightly in according to changes in the climate. If possible, make sure the boards are dry when yo come to install them. Lay them at equal spaces and approximately 5mm apart. Once you are happy with their positions, drill each board twice where it falls onto each joist (remember, the deckboards should be running at 90 degrees to eachother). Using pilot holes first, fix the deckboards in place.