| Part of the fun of a new deck is the planning! | | | | wooden stakes around, then to change thelayout |
| When you plan your deck, you can let your | | | | while building your deck. |
| imagination run wild and add all kinds of fun | | | | As you stake out your new deck, take into |
| features. As your planning process moves | | | | consideration any changes in elevation. |
| forward, you can whittle down your design to a | | | | You may want to consider a multi-level deck, |
| more practical (and buildable) plan. Planning a new | | | | areas for steps, or special task areason your |
| deck can be as simple as a few sketches, or as | | | | deck. Task areas may include things like a wet |
| complete as a blueprint. You can have an architect | | | | bar, a place for a grill, oreven a private sitting |
| or designer create plans for you, or you can do it | | | | area. These special task areas are what will make |
| yourself. Also, there are many new software | | | | your newdeck unique. |
| programs available to make planning easier. | | | | Once you have your deck staked out in its final |
| Before you start planning your deck, you may | | | | position, you will want to draw somefinal plans. |
| want to browse through somemagazines for | | | | You can take these plans to your local home |
| ideas. You can also search the Internet for photos | | | | center or building supplystore, and they can |
| of existing decksto give you some better ideas. | | | | create a materials list for you. You will also need a |
| There are also entire books written specifically | | | | set of plans ifyou need a building permit for your |
| fordecks and deck building. They usually have | | | | deck. Most townships or municipalities |
| hundreds of full-color photos to helpyou decide | | | | requirebuilding permits for a new deck. They will |
| what features you want to add to your deck. | | | | want to have one or two sets of planssubmitted |
| So the first place to start, is to measure the area | | | | with the building fee. The more professional your |
| you have available for your newdeck. This is | | | | plans look, the easier itwill be for you to get |
| sometimes easier if you have a long tape | | | | approval to build your new deck. |
| measure; a 50 foot long tapemeasure is usually | | | | Once you have your final building permit and your |
| best for a project like this. Using wooden stakes, | | | | plans all finished, it's time tostart building your |
| hammer theminto the ground at the corners of | | | | deck. The next series of articles will cover building |
| your deck. This will help you visualize where | | | | your deckfrom start to finish. |
| yournew deck will be. It's a lot easier to move | | | | |