Backyard Deck - please help to get me started.

[Todd Burch]

I want to build a backyard deck inexpensively. I'll have to buy new lumber. Here's a picture of my backyard. We installed the French Doors recently, and need to put in a deck. Here's the backyard showing the location.

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The right side of the deck will be just on the other side of the hose bib (under the right stile of the square <kitchen> window), and extend towards the far corner. I'l thinking 20 to 24 feet long, stopping short of the two far windows. Deck will come out away from the house about 16 feet.

I have to have the yard graded before I build the deck. Right now, at 10' away from the house, the grade is probably 6"-10" higher (it changes) than the foundation line.

The deck will be low to the ground, but still elevated off the ground. I'm thinking mainly flat with some built-in seating at corners and a couple stairs down into the yard on the end closest to the photographer.

I've searched for some construction plans but haven't found anything that was great. TOH had a Tom Silva tutorial that was pretty good, but it assumed I was bolting a ledger to the foundation. I would be OK with doing that, but I'm not too keen on ripping out new siding to accommodate flashing. I have to take into consideration the two foundation vents on either side of the French doors and keep them breathable. On the other hand, I also don't want to create a space that I can't mow or weed between the deck and the house either.

I'm assuming I'll have 1 to 2 steps off the French Doors to get onto the deck. These stairs can extend out onto the deck platform if need be. Or, if the deck is pulled away from the house, say, 4-5', perhaps just a ramp at whatever angle needed to match the threshold up with the deck surface. ??

Anyone got a favorite tutorial for DIY decks or suggestions? Once I understand the construction requirements (footing or piers, beam sizing, joists, fastening reqs…), I can draw it out and build it.

Thanks! Todd.

[Andrew Fleck]

Personally I would build a freestanding deck with a walkway that goes right up the doors, but not connected to the house with a ledger board. Maybe put the main deck 4' off of the house with a walkway the width of the french doors connecting the home and deck, but not mechanically if that makes sense.

[Jamie Buxton]

Why build a deck instead of a patio? A deck involves lots of wood. A deck requires maintenance. A patio just wants flagstone, placed on the ground. Less cost, less maintenance. Decks are good for when there's a big difference between grade and the floor altitude, but you don't have that situation.

Yeah, you have to build a couple of stairs to get from the patio altitude to the French doors. And there should be a little landing just outside the doors, so you don't have to start down the stairs immediately as you exit the doors.

If you're tight on budget, don't do built-in furniture; buy it. You can almost always buy factory-built furniture for less than you can make it.

[Von Bickley]

Why build a deck instead of a patio? A deck involves lots of wood. A deck requires maintenance. A patio just wants flagstone, placed on the ground. Less cost, less maintenance. Decks are good for when there's a big difference between grade and the floor altitude, but you don't have that situation.

Yeah, you have to build a couple of stairs to get from the patio altitude to the French doors. And there should be a little landing just outside the doors, so you don't have to start down the stairs immediately as you exit the doors.

If you're tight on budget, don't do built-in furniture; buy it. You can almost always buy factory-built furniture for less than you can make it.

I agree with Jamie...... I would go with a patio with stone or brick pavers. I think most decks really take a beating and end up taking away from the house.

[Mike Cozad]

+2. I am trying to figure this out now myself. We want a covered patio so we can sit outside in the rain. The existing deck has taken a brutal beating from the weather and needs to go. At least with stone or pavers a good pressure wash every few years and it looks brand new again. Agree with the small landing outside the door to make navigating entry a bit easier....

[Jim Matthews]

How much rain do you get, each year?

Anything that's right on the ground will be subject to even minor flooding.

My suggestion:

backyard shade.jpg

[Lee Schierer]

Before building a deck you need to see what your local and state building codes allow and see is you need a building permit to do the project. Most states have adopted a uniform building code and your tax laws may require a building permit so your property value assessment can be properly adjusted.

[Brian Tymchak]

+2. I am trying to figure this out now myself. We want a covered patio so we can sit outside in the rain. The existing deck has taken a brutal beating from the weather and needs to go. At least with stone or pavers a good pressure wash every few years and it looks brand new again. Agree with the small landing outside the door to make navigating entry a bit easier....

+3. I built a large deck on my old house because there was a substantial change in grade. But, in my current home I have a 3'x8' deck outside our sliding doors and then 3 stairs down to the brick patio. About a 30" drop. Much prefer the patio. Way less maintenance and although the patio was there when we bought the place, I bet it would have been easier and maybe less expensive than building a 600 sq ft deck. You are going to have to put weedblock and gravel under the deck anyway to keep weeds from growing up. Not a whole lot of difference in building a compacted base for a patio. Actually, with the very low change in height from doors to ground, your deck beams will probably be sitting on the ground so I would worry about getting air movement under the deck to keep it from rotting.

WRT attaching ledger boards, since the deck is so low to the ground, build a free-standing deck. You likely will not notice any movement if built properly. Not sure if your ground freezes where you are but with a free-standing deck, you have no issues with seasonal movement. Actually, decks will move some with dry-wet cycles too. Also, in my area, low height free standing decks do not require building permits.

[Matt Meiser]

Why build a deck instead of a patio? A deck involves lots of wood. A deck requires maintenance. A patio just wants flagstone, placed on the ground. Less cost, less maintenance. Decks are good for when there's a big difference between grade and the floor altitude, but you don't have that situation.

+1000. We were excited about the large deck at this house when we bought it 10 years ago....shopping for our new house, I considered a deck a negative. The house we are buying has large stamped concrete patio. Not that concrete is without issues but with a deck there's the cleaning and the staining and cleaning and staining and .... Not to mention the animals that live under the deck and the dogs trying to get to said animals under the deck.

[Mike Wilkins]

Agree with the patio paver suggestion the others have stated. Less maintenance than a deck (staining/cleaning), less labor to build. You are correct in dealing with the grade before anything is done; it is always a good idea to prevent water from invading your foundation. And if you go with the paved patio, you will need to grade to below the topsoil anyway. I have a covered patio with the pavers from the local big box store on a compacted sand base. Lots of back breaking work moving those bad boys. I opted to have them deliver rather than deal with loading, unloading and placing them.

[Pat Barry]

+1000. We were excited about the large deck at this house when we bought it 10 years ago....shopping for our new house, I considered a deck a negative. The house we are buying has large stamped concrete patio. Not that concrete is without issues but with a deck there's the cleaning and the staining and cleaning and staining and .... Not to mention the animals that live under the deck and the dogs trying to get to said animals under the deck.

I'm not quite +1000, but at my house I have a low deck, not attached to the house, actually sitting on an old concrete patio. The old concrete patio was in pretty bad shape, decks were fashionable, and I built the deck. Now, many years later, we dread the spring time cleaning of the deck and the annual maintenance that goes with it - its under 2 large maple trees that release red colored buds and the requisite helicopter seeds. The red buds cause staining, the wood collects dirt. I have seen the dog digging after a bunny or whatever lives under there, and nature has prevailed (tree roots) to cause the deck to shift and raise. IF I had it do to again, knowing what I now know, I would have jack-hammered and removed the old patio, and built a new patio. Much simpler to keep it clean with a quick leaf blower and power wash.

[Al Launier]

I'm definitely with the others. Decks look great when first built, but lose their "shine" afterwards, plus they'll develop wood rot & require repair or replacement of the rotted wood.
Go with the patio, use paving stones, or whatever you prefer, & you'll never regret it.

[Harry Hagan]

A patio for sure.

Go with BRICK. Not concrete pavers that will fade and deteriorate.

The brick won’t fade or have high maintenance issues if you choose one that doesn’t require mortar or polymeric sand joints. Also, if you install the brick with the proper foundation, you’ll have many years of low maintenance service and it will look much better than the wood or concrete pavers will, even a few years down the road.

[Todd Burch]

Wow. Y'all present a good argument for a patio. Makes sense too. Concrete guy will be here tomorrow to stake out for the driveway I've already agreed to pour, so I contacted him and he'll give me a bid on a patio too. Stay tuned.

[jeffrey bailey]

I would go with the patio and either have it reach from door to door or put in a paver walkway to the closest door in the picture.