BDU Decking College™

Decking Plans: Design and Function

What you will learn: the advantages of choosing a deck design which will complement the rest of your property in terms of function; popular uses for decks in homes and cottages; traffic considerations for decking.

As a decision-maker who is as interested in safety, and in observing budgetary constraints, it is worth your time to think about the issues of both function and aesthetics when considering your choice in deck plans. Appearance and utility are two important considerations in your decision to have a deck installed in the first place! But, what sort of impact should the design have on the rest of a property, assuming that the chosen plans will make for a sturdy, long-lasting addition?

One of the first reasons to think about is how a good deck design is linked to the overall value of a property. It’s not just beauty and convenience that will be gained from the right deck plans; the right deck plans and the resulting deck project means a greater return on the initial investment in the property as a whole.

Deck plans: multi-purpose

A major consideration when choosing deck plans is the purpose you have in mind for your deck. It is important to consider the functional role your deck will serve. As such, a number of factors should be addressed as far as a deck’s role in the layout and function of the overall property. For example:

Low level traffic – e.g., use as an outdoor foyer or an upper balcony off a hallway or bedroom
High-level traffic considerations – e.g., use as an extension of a living room or kitchen, for pools, gardens, or even for use as docks and piers
Access and clearance – e.g., sliding doors, French doors
Use of outdoor appliances such as summer kitchen counters, large barbecues, hot tubs, etc.
Use of furniture – e.g., deck chairs, tables

For higher traffic, many sets of deck plans take in an indoor/outdoor dynamic into account – that is, an outdoor extension to an indoor space, with a lot of traffic from one area to the other. Perhaps, for instance, your deck will incorporate an outdoor eating area, or even a fully functioning outdoor cooking facility off of an indoor dining room, complete with burners and countertops. As you can see, the ideas of geography, design, access, and activity should all be taken into account in your chosen set of deck plans in order to get the best results from a deck design.

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