Decks, Steps, and Railings

Tight knot cedar deck and rail

Tight knot cedar deck, benches, table and railing

Composite (Trex) Deck

Trex deck with tight knot cedar bench

Page Outline:

Overview

Wood Decks

Composite Decks

Railings, Benches, and Planters

I. Overview

Rodda and Sons Landscapes loves building decks. Adding a deck to your house or in your garden creates a whole new outdoor room for relaxing, entertaining, and just enjoying being closer to nature. Decks, as with any well-built structure in the landscape, add visual interest to your property and increase its value. The under structure is normally built using pressure treated wood so that it lasts longer. If your deck is attached to an upper floor, you may want the area beneath it to stay dry. There are “under deck” systems that can be installed to catch rainwater and channel it for proper drainage. If you don’t want to see the nails or screws that attach the decking to the under structure, there are fasteners that can be hidden below the decking.

How do you decide on the size of your deck? Sometimes the size is dictated by the size or shape of your house or garden. But just as important is the way you intend to use your deck. How many people will it need to accommodate? How much and what kind of furniture and shade umbrellas will you set up? Are you incorporating an outdoor kitchen, hot tub, or fire pit? Do you need space for pots of annual plantings? Will the deck be one level or a series of levels with stairs connecting them? Remember that every square foot of deck adds to the cost.

II. Wood decks

In the NW, we use several types of wood for decks. Ipe wood, a type of ironwood, makes a gorgeous deck. This rich, brown wood is stronger, denser, and longer lasting than other woods. Clear cedar (that has no knots in it) is more expensive, but creates a more elegant finished deck than tight knot cedar. Tight knot cedar, while a less expensive, is a beautiful material, and the knots add interest to the finished product. Treated wood decking is also an excellent deck material. By pressure treating less expensive hemlock and fir, these woods have an extended life in the NW. Wood decks can be stained and benefit from having a wood deck sealer applied every few years.

III. Composite decks

Composite decking products, some made from recycled plastics and ground up wood. They last longer, need no refinishing, look great, but tend to be more expensive than wood decks. There are color and wood grain choices. The deck boards are not as rigid as wood decking, so composite decks and benches need closer supports than natural wood.

IV. Railings, benches, and planters

Railings and built-in benches and planters become an integral part of your deck design, separating spaces and enhancing its character and usefulness. If a deck is low to the ground, built-in benches and planters can act as railings to keep people from accidentally backing off your deck. Decks higher off the ground should have railings for safety (and to meet code). Posts and railings that repeat or compliment the architecture of the house help visually marry the deck with the house. If you have a view that you don’t want to block, glass railing systems are attractive and open up the view. Vice versa, if you want to block low down views of streets and cars or a neighbor’s unsightly back yard, a solid railing matching the siding of your house might be the solution.

Built-in benches can act as permanent furniture in your outdoor room. If you are planning to barbeque on your deck, you may want to incorporate counter areas for preparation and serving. Benches can act as lounge chairs with a sloped back. Wide benches are great for impromptu naps when you get out of the hot tub. We like putting backs with wide caps on benches, as a place to set your coffee mug or wine glass.