| There are few things more enjoyable than spending | | | | projects. |
| a summer evening outside, surrounded by a quiet | | | | As mentioned previously, a deck that derives support |
| garden, tree-lined yard, or manicured lawn. Many | | | | from the home will be within a small range of |
| homeowners enjoy such evenings through the use of | | | | pre-determined heights, as it will have to connect to |
| a deck, a relatively easy and very common home | | | | joists or studs at a certain point on the outside of |
| improvement addition, yet one that makes spending | | | | the home. However, for homeowners opting for a |
| time at home vastly more pleasurable. Garden and | | | | freestanding deck, there are two additional options |
| backyard decks allow homeowners and their guests | | | | to consider. The first of these options is a ground |
| access to the tranquil, private settings of a garden | | | | deck. A ground deck sits only slightly above ground, |
| anytime, and prove perfect locations for an informal | | | | almost acting as a raised plank floor. Ground decks |
| dinner, evening drink, or afternoon tea. This makes | | | | are ideal solutions for spaces over existing concrete |
| the time and money that goes into building a deck a | | | | patios or rough (but relatively flat), un-landscaped |
| great investment for almost any homeowner. | | | | ground, and are quite easy to construct. |
| When it comes to building a garden deck, | | | | The other option for a freestanding deck is that of a |
| homeowners have a number of options. Chief | | | | raised deck, also known as a high deck. Raised decks |
| amongst these options is whether they plan on | | | | can range from rather simple to very complicated to |
| installing a deck that is directly attached to the home, | | | | build, but can be placed almost anywhere on a |
| or a freestanding deck elsewhere on their property. | | | | property. These are popular with homeowners who |
| The primary benefit of attaching a deck to the home | | | | live on properties that include sloping ground |
| is that the deck will derive the vast majority of its | | | | conditions, and can be built as balconies, bridges, and |
| structural support from the home itself. This requires | | | | even act as multi-level stairs from the upper levels of |
| a little less planning than does a freestanding deck, | | | | a home down to the garden level. Many raised decks |
| however, when a homeowner decides to attach a | | | | will also include a storage space beneath, increasing |
| deck to his or her home, they obviously limit their | | | | their utility to homeowners. |
| ability to choose the placement of the deck on their | | | | Once a type of deck has been selected, |
| property, as it must be directly adjacent to the | | | | homeowners can continue with the design process, |
| home itself. Attaching a deck to the home will also | | | | tailoring the design of their new garden deck to their |
| often require that homeowners remove the siding of | | | | needs and to the specifications of their property. At |
| their home to attach the deck to floor joists or wall | | | | this point, they will need to begin researching the |
| studs, which will determine the height of their deck | | | | various building codes of their area to determine |
| as well. | | | | which, if any, building permits will be necessary to |
| For homeowners who wish to build a garden deck on | | | | proceed. From there, they can design more detailed |
| a part of their property not connected to their | | | | plans, and move forward with the construction of |
| home, a freestanding deck will need to be built. | | | | their new garden deck, whether attached or |
| Freestanding decks are slightly trickier to construct | | | | freestanding, a ground or raised deck. |
| due to the fact that they need to support | | | | Once a deck has been constructed, unfortunately the |
| themselves, but this generally means little more than | | | | work doesn't end there. To keep a deck looking as |
| extra digging and some additional concrete work. The | | | | good as new, homeowners will need to use wood |
| fact that they can be placed anywhere on a | | | | preservatives to feed and protect the timber from |
| property, and do not involve any construction work | | | | the outside elements. A few hours painting and |
| on the home itself appeal to many homeowners, | | | | maintaining the deck once a year will be well worth it |
| making freestanding decks a very common option | | | | when your garden looks great for decades! |
| for homeowners less familiar with construction | | | | |