Deck building tips, plans, information and advice for everything from porches to pool decks.

Deck building is a great home improvement project for anyone with a few carpentry skills and some bright ideas. You’ll not only increase the value of your home, but you’ll have an outdoor space which you, your family and friends will enjoy for many years to come. You’ll find a wealth of information on designing and building decks, porches and pool decks, including plans, instructions and lists of equipment and materials either online, or in any of a number of DIY and home improvement publications. Most deck building projects will only require a few simple carpentry tools, such as a circular saw, power drill, hammer or nail gun, and measurement tools such as a level, a tape measure and a combination square.

Things to consider before you begin.

Many deck building projects require prior approval by local authorities, even if you are planning a relatively small, simple structure. Make sure you check that your plans comply with local building codes, and that you have obtained all of the necessary authorization before you begin building.

For any kind of deck building project, including porches and pool decks, the first and most important decision you will need to make is the type of material you want to use. This will determine the overall cost of the project, the look and feel of the finished structure, and the amount of ongoing maintenance the deck will require. There is a wide range of materials to choose from, including natural timbers like red cedar, pressurized lumber, and high tech low maintenance products like wood composites.

Factors to consider as you plan the size and shape of the deck include how you plan to use the deck, ventilation and sunlight, how the style of the deck will fit with the architectural style of your home, the view from the deck, how the deck will be accessed from the house, and safety considerations.

Another good tool when planning a deck is to use deck design software. If you are interested in designing your own deck, please review this article and then you can purchase and download deck design software. It even comes with a free deck building Ebook.