Your living space doesn’t stop at your front or back door, and neither does the potential for renovating your property. There’s a reason that designers talk so much about “indoor-outdoor flow”; it makes your property more attractive, more liveable, and more valuable. Decks are a fantastic way to extend your living space and give your home a new lease of life. Here are four important things to consider when building a new deck.

Usage

The first thing to think about is how you intend to use the deck. Will it be somewhere to entertain outdoors, with furniture and a barbeque? Perhaps you want somewhere to dry the laundry on a rainy day. Then you might want to consider covering the area with an awning, canopy, or clear roofing – either fixed or retractable. If you’re exposed to wind or overlooked by neighbours, you may want to enclose one or more sides of the deck with a screen. Note that, depending on your choice, this may require building consent. If you need somewhere safe for the kids to play, then fencing and gates will likely be a requirement.

Height

If your new deck is under 1.5 metres, it will normally not require a building consent. A low deck wrapping around the back of your property is a great way to extend your living area and make a muddy, grassy area much more useable. You can also create extra outdoor space by building a deck off the upper level of your house, which is especially nice if you have a good view you’d like to maximise.

Style

It’s a good idea to have a look online for inspiration. There are so many great extras you can add to a deck – planters, built-in seating, accent lighting, split levels – even a spa pool!

Materials

There are generally three options for decking in New Zealand – softwood, hardwood, and composite wood. Treated pine is a popular choice as it is the most affordable option, although it may not look as high-end as the other options and is easily scratched or dented. Hardwoods like kwila and vitex are attractive and hardwearing. However, the darker stain can leach out in wet weather and discolour surrounding structures. They are also more expensive. Composite decking is the most costly option, but because it is not real wood, it lasts longer, resists mites and borer, and doesn’t require staining or oiling to keep it in good condition.

If you’d like to add a deck to your home (or replace an old one), or any outdoor renovation work we can help you select the right design and materials to create your perfect outdoor space.

Get in touch with us to find out more!