Deck Design Tips

• Build a slight slope into your deck design to allow water to more easily run off the deck and any steps. And make sure that this run-off corresponds to any grooves in your decking material.
  
  
• Don't forget to allow for access beneath the deck that may be required at some stage, for drain covers, cabling and so on.
  
  
• Check your deck design against the lengths of available decking boards. This will help you avoid having too many joins in the decking boards and/or minimise the cost of materials.
  
  

• If your deck is going to have hand rails or steps, make sure they are factored into the design and not added on after construction. this will ensure a more rigid and safer end result.

• If you are building a deck for an above ground pool and using wood as the decking material, ensure that the undersides are fully waterproofed.