Building a Deck - DIY Or Pro?

Once defined by a house with a picket fence, the American Dream has expanded to reflect the nation's growing passion for outdoor living spaces. These days, homeowners are increasingly yearning for comfortable, inviting decks, the latest hallmark of "the good life." And for good reason: A well-planned deck can easily become the most alluring room in the house.

Building a deck can be an expensive undertaking, however, which is why many homeowners are considering the do-it-yourself option. With deck manufacturers and retailers selling DIY cedar and composite deck packages, building your own deck is more accessible than ever. Still, it can be an intimidating project, especially for those with only the most basic construction skills.

So how do you know whether you should tackle your own deck project or let the pros handle it? Here's a guide to help you decide.

Making Tradeoffs

By taking care of the installation yourself, you can shave up to a third of the cost off the price of your deck. In effect, however, you will be substituting that portion of the cost with your own time and labor. The most important decision when choosing between a DIY or pro install is whether that tradeoff is worth it to you. Ask yourself these questions:

Are you in a hurry? There's no getting around the fact that a professional deck builder can install your deck faster and better than you can. If want your deck built quickly, it's best the let the pros handle the job. However, if you don't mind taking a month of weekends to complete your project, then DIY is a possibility.

Do you have the drive? Building a deck takes time, sweat and hard work. Depending on your skill level, you might also be taking on a lot of frustration and extra time spent learning and making mistakes. Your burning desire to finish your deck is what will pull you through.

Does your deck have to be perfect? If you've never built a deck before, chances are you won't do everything perfectly the first time around. However, many do-it-yourselfers take enough pride in building their own projects that they don't mind if the end result has a few blemishes. If it's important to you that your deck looks, well, professional, then you might want to put it in the hands of the experts.

Keeping It Simple

A basic deck is fairly straightforward to build. It consists of a simple wood frame topped with the decking material of your choice. With some research and adequate planning, you can build a basic, freestanding deck design with only rudimentary construction skills. The key is to gather as much information and advice from professionals as you can. That means not only finding out what materials you'll need, but also researching building codes, locating utility lines and understanding basic deck terminology so you can ask the right questions.

Some deck design questions to consider, if you're thinking about going the DIY route:

How high does your deck need to be? A low-standing cedar deck is simpler to build, whereas the higher you go the more complex your project becomes. With a raised deck, more safety concerns come into play. A strong, stable foundation is essential to preventing deck collapse, and a higher deck will require stairs and handrails, which will complicate your project.

Do you want your deck attached to the house? Attaching the deck to your home requires removing siding and installing a ledger board to support your deck. Alternatively, a freestanding or "floating" deck can still be placed adjacent to your home but will be self-supporting, with footings at all four corners. you'll need to build extra footings, but you won't have to worry about messing up your house itself.

What type of footings will you use? Your local building codes will determine the number and types of footings you will need based on your deck design. A low-standing deck may only require concrete pier blocks (which you can buy pre-cast) that rest on compact soil. A taller deck will require you to pour concrete footings that extend below the frost line, usually about two feet deep. Your posts can be set directly into the concrete, or you can set metal anchors into the concrete for attaching the posts.

Partial DIY

Some retailers offer deck packages with partial installation. This means the structural framing will be installed by professionals, leaving you to attach the remaining deck boards. Leading installers will provide complete plans and instructions to help you complete the project. This allows you to take responsibility for the aesthetics of your deck without having to worry about the engineering concerns involved with making your deck structurally sound.

Taking on a composite or cedar deck building project requires a lot of planning and thought, but it can be done, even if your construction skills are basic at best.

~Ben Anton, 2010

Find great deals on cedar deck packages and installation for Northwest homes at Rick's Custom Fencing & Decking.

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