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Saturday, May 14, 2011
The outdoor decks can be very ideal for families to keep a stronger bond. These do not just expand the outdoor living space; it is also a good place for families to spend quality time together apart from serving as an ideal place to entertain visitors. The idea of designing and building a deck in your house can be a good idea. Here are basic ideas for you to start building your own outdoor decks:

1. Take measurements of the space. As you need to decide which part of the house is the best location for you to keep a deck, you should also consider the dimensions that you are going to work on. Imagine that you are going to entertain friends there and family members can gather there as well, if it will be too small, who would enjoy staying in there?

2. Frame the space temporarily with the use of stakes. Having patio furniture and arranging them in the space will help you determine the best size for the deck.

3. Start creating a design for the deck. You can start off by deciding whether you should build one that is elevated or one that is level with the ground. One rule that should be taken into consideration before woodworking is that you have to be consistent in the design. Make sure that it matches that of the whole house so it will not look off.

4. Plan the budget needed for the do it yourself project. It is expected that you will spend for the materials so this is where you need to invest on. Make sure that the materials are worth the price and would last a long time.

5. Start with the woodworking. Of course it after the plan has been laid-out, you will need to start doing the tough work and that is woodwork. It will be good to have good carpentry skills to come up with a good product. If you cannot trust yourself on this, you can always ask the help of friends.http://www.routertabledepot.com/articles.html

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Outdoor decks are often found in most houses. It is a perfect home improvement project for increasing your living space and enjoy the outdoors at the comfort of your home. Below are the basic procedures that you should undergo if you plan to build a do it yourself outdoor deck.

Determine the Location
Determine the ideal location of your outdoor deck relative to your house. Most outdoor decks are situated at the rear portion of the house for privacy. Knowing where you will build your outdoor deck will also allow you to determine its ideal size. Make a rough plan on paper. 

Get the Necessary Permits
Contact the local building authorities and ask for the building permits that you will need to get before you can start building your outdoor deck.

Prepare your Materials
Determine how many posts you will need for your deck. It is ideal to use pressure treated wood posts to increase the lifespan of your deck. Make a list of how much wood you need to build the outdoor deck. You can use 2x6's for a small deck. For larger decks you can use 2x8's or 2x10;s but you will need to build joists. As for your deck floor, you can choose between 4x6 pressure treated wood boards and the more expensive Cedar. Calculate how much materials you need for your railings and stairs.

Install the Posts
You must have a little of woodworking skills to accomplish this task. If you do not have one, you can ask the help of a friend who has experience on this type of home improvement project. Dig a hole beyond the frost line if you live in a cold area. Install the posts in its proper location and make sure that each is secured firmly on its base. Align the posts relative to the beams of the house.

Install the Framing
Use joists hangers to firmly secure the deck framing to your house. For added support to the framing, use double rim joists.

Install the Flooring
Use the proper connector to install the flooring materials to the deck frame. The type of connector ideal for your flooring depends on the material of your flooring. For wood flooring, you can use nails or screws. For composite flooring, use only screws.

Install the Railings and Stairs
You can opt to buy pre-maid railings or stairs for your deck that are available at home improvement centers. Choose a style that blends well with the architecture of your deck. Apply a preservative finish to all parts of your deck to protect it against the harsh outdoor elements.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011
More Building Outdoor Decks woodworking articles



The materials and finishes that we use on the interior of our homes require cleaning and occasional maintenance; we dust, we vacuum, we mop-n-glo to keep them looking good and long lasting. Without too much effort we can stay ahead of the wear and tear from our kids and our pets.
Materials on the outside, however take a daily beating from the sun, wind, rain, temperature changes, and other environmental elements (in addition to kids and dogs). Those materials need a great deal more care and maintenance but that can be reduced somewhat by selecting the proper materials to suit your goals.
Outdoor decks are subject to a great deal of abuse - the deck surface is especially susceptible to sun and rain. Wood is the most popular surface for decks, but it's also the quickest to wear out. Fortunately there are a variety of deck surface products available that allow you to choose between appearance, cost, and the effort needed to keep your deck looking great for many years.
Natural Wood Decking
Natural wood is the obvious first choice for decking. It's sturdy, attractive, easy to work with, and it comes in a wide variety of types with different qualities and costs.
Pressure-treated wood decking is far and away the most popular decking surface in use today. Most PT lumber is made from Southern Yellow Pine, impregnated with ACQ, a chemical that increases the wood's resistance to rot and insect damage. But treated lumber is often poorer quality material so the wood shrinks, cracks, and splits more easily.
A better choice for "real" wood decks is one of the many woods that have a natural resistance to rot and insect damage. These woods include Western Red Cedar, Redwood, and some species of tropical hardwoods. While these better quality decking materials last longer and look better they also cost more. One of the very best natural deck surfaces is a group of South American hardwoods called Ipe ("Ipe" is Portuguese for hardwood). These are extremely dense, tight-grained woods, dark in color and virtually free from knots. Ipe is very hard, heavy, and difficult to work with but is also very beautiful and is nearly indestructible. Expect to pay top dollar for Ipe materials and the labor to install it.
The use of any type of natural wood decking comes with some negative environmental impact. When pressure-treated decking is disposed of, the chemicals used to treat the wood may leach into groundwater; burning it puts these same chemicals into the air. And while the new ACQ treatment is less toxic than the previous CCA (which contains arsenic) the long-term effects of the chemical aren't fully known.
Much of the tropical hardwood used for decking material is plantation-grown, but some isn't and at the retail level it's nearly impossible to tell the difference. Most folks don't want their decks built at the expense of an acre of rainforest.
Wood Composite Decking
Wood Composite decking has become very popular recently due to its longevity and environmentally friendly characteristics. It's a pretty good imitation of natural wood in workability and appearance.
Sold under names like Trex, Correctdeck, and Timbertech, composite decking boards are made from recycled plastic (usually grocery bags or milk jugs) and ground-up waste wood. It can be cut and attached like real wood and requires almost no maintenance. Composite decking mimics the look of natural wood but varies in appearance and performance depending upon the manufacturer and the ratio of plastic to wood in the mix, usually about 50-60% wood products.
Although composite decking can't be stained or painted like natural wood, many manufacturers produce boards in several colors. Since the color is throughout the material, chips and scrapes don't require restaining to maintain a consistent appearance. And because of the high wood content, the uncolored composite boards weather to a pleasing silver-gray.
As with any decking surface, the method of securing composite decking to the framing can improve or reduce the appearance of the deck. Poor installation can even affect the structural integrity of the boards. Ideally, all decking boards should be installed with concealed fasteners - more effort and expense, but the result is a better looking and longer lasting deck.
There are a few other choices in decking - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) for example, but they look much less like "traditional" decking than natural wood or wood composite. All-plastic and aluminum decking products also require the use of a large number of end caps, specialized fasteners, and other proprietary parts and pieces that can detract from the overall appearance of the deck.
Your choice of decking depends upon the desired appearance, budget, and your tolerance for the required maintenance of different materials. A good balance of those characteristics should result in a deck surface that the whole family will enjoy for many years - kids, dogs, and all.
Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans

By Richard Taylor, AIA
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Taylor,_AIA


http://EzineArticles.com/?Outdoor-Decks---Choosing-The-Right-Materials&id=519031

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People use outdoor decks for leisure in backyards and other suitable parts of a house. While hiring carpenters for building an outdoor deck can shoot expenses through the roof, learning to do it yourself will help restrict the expenses only to materials.  However, in order to get started, you may need some answers about woodworking.

The cost of materials will depend mainly on the number of landing areas and steps. The budget will also depend on area measurements of the proposed outdoor deck. It is not necessary to have outdoor decks that cover an entire face of the house. Most often, the decks cover less than 10 feet on each side of the leading door, and less than 15 feet between the door and the yard. Wood materials for such an area usually cost eight hundred to twelve hundred dollars.

You will most likely need to purchase a circular saw if you do not already have one.  They can be purchased anywhere from $60 to $200.   The key to keep in mind is investing the money in the tool that you may use in the future.  If it is something you might not use a lot, buy the more inexpensive brand.  If you plan on using it for a lot more projects then spending more is a good idea.  Before setting out to make your own deck, remember to keep a few items within reach. Its a good idea to do a little research before building the deck, you will need a lot of materials and a good place to get an idea of all that would be the hardware store.  Asking a professional will give you an idea of a basic list.

For implementing the deck design, you will need a shovel, a plumb bob, a drill, a carpenter's basic kit, bracing lumbers, a measuring tape and protective eye-wear. You will also need a wheelbarrow for mixing the support concrete. With it, you can ensure a long-lasting deck, enhancing your property value to some extent.
For more information on building outdoor decks, see our woodworking article section.

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