How do you guys come up with yours? I have been hired to build one and will need to come up with a plan. Any advice will be appreciated.
How do you guys come up with yours? I have been hired to build one and will need to come up with a plan. Any advice will be appreciated.
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Replies
Here's a better question. How do you get hired to build a deck with no plans and obviously no price?
For the plans if it's other then the basic rectangle I have the customer hire an architect.
Hire an architect for a deck? That would be pretty rare around here.
What I do is ask a lot of questions about why they want it, how big the family is, what furniture they imagine being on it, whether they entertain much, anticipated traffic flow once it is built, etc. I imagine it's my house, and what would I want if I lived there?
Then I draw it to scale from the dimensions I took of the existing part of the house it will be attached to. I may come up with one idea, or a few.
I'm no architect, but I have a degree in design and have built a lot of decks and paver patios. You develop a feel for what will work in the space and also give the people what they need and want. Be a good listener. Good luck.
Bear
Edited 4/5/2002 9:00:57 PM ET by BEARMON
I don't know if yours is a better question but I will answer it anyway. I have done a lot of work for these people in the past which they are very happy with and the trust me to build them a nice deck at a fair price. I am just curious about how orthers approach things.
Lugal, some of my best pcs. of deck design info have come after socializing (drinking beer) on other decks. You take the usuable friendly ideas, couple that with some interesting or complementing shapes, add some nice looking features, and you have a design. Adapt that to the house and figure the proper way to frame it. Way more complicated than just getting a deck book and having them give you a balluster happy kit to nail together. I've had the pleasure to have only once blasted together a deck, so uninteresting that I certainly wasn't satisfied. Don't forget safety and code. Prodeck, who posts on this site, used to have some pics in the Photo Gallery that might give you some ideas. Best of luck in this venture. It can be a rewarding experience.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Lugal- Every deck should be unique to its surrounding.It should provide your customer with an outside retreat to entertain,bbq,or just sit back and relax on while enjoying their day admiring their estate.
There are hundreds of books on deck designs available for ideas.
You can obtain many ideas by just going to http://www.deckweb.com or many other deck sites on the web.
Most of all include your customer in the design process.
Would you benches to save deck space for dining or to use as a conversation area?
Would you like a perimeter arbor to offer some shade,or soften the edges of your deck by giving a climbing vine a place to grow?
Would you like low voltage lighting in the steps for safety or under the benches for some indirect lighting , inviting you out to your new outdoor space?
A couple of great deck sites are http://www.mr.deck.com and http://www.decksbykiefer.com
Enjoy the Process!
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Do any of you deck get paid in advance of doing the design?
I won't spend hours designing a deck for free only to have the customer get prices from others on my design. That's why I use an architect, the $300 charge for the drawings is well worth it and everyone is bidding on the same thing.
I am a firm believer in using all resources to their fullest.
I build for a living, the proper placement of the grill, lounge chairs, firepit, hot tub..blah...blah..blah.... ain't paying the bills. Tell me what you want. I'll get the tools, you get out of the way!
GEOB21- I guess that's the difference between you and I.
I like to design what I am going to build. That way I can make sure it is framed sound with the proper cantilevers,stair rise,and features that will coincide with what the customer wants and the permit process.
Architects are more artists than structural engineers and not that familiar with building codes.
My cad designs are just that- they are free and let the customer see what I am going to build before I build it. If they want a scale drawing for the permit process then I charge for it.I will credit that charge if they choose to have me build the deck. Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Pro-Dek-
I agree there are worthless architects but mine knows the codes. I've seen far more structural engineers stamp plans that were not to code. Undersized beams and columns make expensive sounds both when they fail or have to be removed.
All things being equal for free I'd rather spend the day fishing then listen to customers babble on about their deck needs. Soooo... find the right architect and hook up the boat!
The weather is here,wish you were beautiful!