Ottawa Winter Deck Preparation: Planning
Last week we reviewed some considerations for designing your deck. This week we dive a bit deeper as we pass the Ottawa winter days by reviewing considerations for planning to build your Ottawa deck.
- Shape – Your Ottawa deck doesn’t have to be boring, but of course with creativity in shape will come extra craftsmanship and work. You’ll probably find some modifications worth it as even something as simple as an angle can jazz up a house with a long, plain wall. And if you decide to wrap your deck around a corner, adding built-in benches, or integrate a fence or screen on one side – all will add to your enjoyment of the deck and your home’s future resale value.
- Height–Usually, the decking should come to within a little more than a half meter (.6 meter) of the bottom of the access door from the house, with steps leading from the deck to the ground. Often Ottawa homeowners with a sloped yard will build a deck in multiple levels that follows the slope.
- Reinforcements – If you plan on having a spa or hot tub on your deck you will need to reinforce the deck to support the weight of the water, or you can cut a whole (we like this idea less) and set directly on a concrete slab underneath your deck. If you use cutouts for trees, make sure you leave space for growth.
- Railings – Think about it – when you look into someone’s backyard at someone’s deck, what’s the thing you notice most? The railings. Use your imagination and creativity when picking your railings – but make sure they match the motif of your home. Your railing design may be be limited by building code regulations so be sure to look into those.
- Steps and Stairs–Steps and stairs should typically be at least a meter wide so two people to be able to pass each other comfortably. The vertical distance between shouldn’t exceed 19 centimeters.
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