Deck Building time!

**O-Face**

Well, almost.  H is designing and pricing the deck materials.  I am very excited.  Our deck was some cobbled together monstrosity that is pretty unusable because a majority of it is like a hallway that I have to travel to get to the stairs on a daily basis.

SO...I'm very excited.  Any tips that anyone here has?  Just curious.

6fsn

Consider if you want to paint/stain/seal on the regular or you want one of the composites.  Composites are a bit more to start but don't have nearly the upkeep.  Also look at drainoff, shade, and views.  I'd also make sure you consider what you want to put out there and do a mock up layout to make sure tables and chairs or a grill or whatever will fit.

**O-Face**

Yeah, he uses google sketch-up to build most of his projects.  It's really nice for someone like me because I can SEE it.  I'm not good at visualizing things.  Actually we almost got into an argument because he was trying to get me to visualize something and I just wasn't able to. 

And we're definitely pricing composites, he is a big fan of that pricey stuff.  But yes...I forgot about sealing and whatnot. 

GBCK

remember that aluminum (if you use that for things like deck rails) eats treated wood.  (which isn't a big deal, you can just put a stainless washer between the AL and the wood--that's what we did)--but it's a small PITA that makes me want to do composite

ditto what you want out there--if you want flower baskets and a framed up tiled spot for the grill, fit those in now.

DG1

Consider the invisible fasteners. Basically brackets that go underneath the boards vs screwing from the top. Takes longer to install, but NO visible screws makes it look so much better and is much easier to maintain. We were warned off of composites for a few reasons they hold a lot more heat, and a few makers have been sued because it didn't hold up as well as advertised. Finally, when considering size, also consider maintenance. I love our huge deck, but I hate how long it takes to restain. I'm not sure I would make it quite as big if I had it to do over.

DG1

Damnit. I promise that had paragraphs. Sorry.

**O-Face**

Oh, good point DG.  I will make sure that H researches that. Also, he mentioned squeaky composites...so there is that too.  The deck is going to be something like 28' x 4' or something equally ridiculous.